We’re a multimodal trail-loving bunch in the Southwest. It’s in our collective DNA. On Thursday, Durango resident Bob Wolff made a great gain toward a Hermosa to Durango Bike Trail becoming a reality. And we are excited about it.
Wolff, who wrote a guest column about his trail project on the west side of U.S. Highway 550 in The Durango Herald on Sunday, persuaded the Southwest Transportation Planning Region to add the proposed trail to the 2045 Long Range Plan. In fact, STPR’s commission of reps from 16 political jurisdictions from Archuleta County to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to Dolores, voted unanimously for it. This step into the system is more like a quantum leap.
Not only because project plans will gain momentum. The STPR can bump up the trail ranking, prioritizing it to land on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s 10-year plan. But that wide representation in favor shows a multimodal trail is something people can get behind. It makes sense, and not just for residents between Hermosa and Durango.
Apparently, CDOT is not planning to add projects to its 10-year plan for at least four years. But there may be another way. Getting plans in front of CDOT’s board could fast-track the trail.
Public will for the trail is already there, as evidenced by the runners, pedestrians, bicyclists – gosh, the increased number of e-bikers alone – who have turned the Highway 550 shoulder into a makeshift lane or social trail of sorts. But it’s just too dangerous. Same for county roads 203 and 250. Might as well make it safer for everyone with a new trail.
Wolff, an architect, former developer and “designer at heart,” doesn’t see obstacles ahead. “It’s small potatoes,” he said. “It just needs money.”
He made clear the money part isn’t an obstacle. Wolff sees a lot of green in the federal system right now in the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, the Inflation Reduction Act and more. Other buckets of money, too. Nothing but abundance for this trail.
Overall, the trail is “crazy easy to do,” Wolff said.
Here’s the plan. Construction would start on the north end of the valley with a pedestrian bridge over Hermosa Creek. A few miles of trail would extend from the bridge for Hermosa residents. The trail would eventually connect with the Animas River Trail. Trail work would be comparatively breezy with no private property issues.
Connectors from County Road 203 would come later with some public and private crossings. But it’s not a heavy lift to figure out. Again, Wolff doesn’t see problems. “I have to live on the optimistic side of life,” he said.
While he’s at it, Wolff is dreaming big. Once the initial 8-foot-wide trail is in the works, he envisions a parallel compacted gravel trail – nice for runners – that would be a reliever during busy times. Separate and circuitous.
We appreciate Wolff’s can-do attitude. He’s right: It’s time for a Hermosa to Durango trail. We need to accommodate commuters and recreators alike. Hermosa Valley and its population base continues to grow.
In his guest column, Wolff said, “If it is going to take 20 years to get a trail into the system, we need to act now.” With those two decades ahead in mind, we noticed little tykes on the sidewalk between ice berms taller than they were, on their Strider bikes. The trail would be for them. And future grandkids.
Later, in talking with the Herald, Wolff said he hopes the trail comes years sooner. Maybe it’s his sunny nature. Or maybe one day, we’ll be on that trail, too, while we’re young enough to use it.
Let’s keep moving on this project. For more information, visithermosatodurangobiketrail.com.
