Reevaluation
What is a NEPA Reevaluation?
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is the federal law that requires transportation projects using federal funds to consider environmental, social, and economic impacts before decisions are made. The Entrance to Aspen project completed this process in 1998, resulting in an approved package of improvements referred to as the Preferred Alternative.
A reevaluation is a formal NEPA step that checks whether those original findings remain valid. Instead of starting over, agencies review what’s changed since the original study—such as traffic, environment, or community priorities—to confirm the Preferred Alternative would still address the transportation needs or determine if minor updates or additional environmental study are needed.
Decision Making Roles
The City of Aspen is funding the reevaluation and managing planning, engineering coordination, and community engagement. The City organizes public meetings, ensures local priorities are represented, and works closely with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to integrate feedback into technical decisions.
CDOT and FHWA are involved in the New Castle Creek Bridge project because CO 82 is a state highway that also receives federal funding. Both organizations prepared the original NEPA documents and provide an oversight role in ensuring compliance with environmental laws.
Collaboration Among Partner Teams
How the teams work together
Three partner groups—the Project Leadership Team (PLT), Project Management Team (PMT), and Issue Task Forces (ITFs)—guide the Reevaluation by aligning community values with technical analysis and regulatory requirements.
Project Management Team (PMT)
The Project Management Team (PMT) is a multidisciplinary group of agency technical representatives from CDOT, FHWA, and the City of Aspen. The PMT is responsible for executing the reevaluation process, directing technical analyses, and documenting decisions and points of concurrence. This team works collaboratively across disciplines to ensure that project decisions are technically sound, transparent, and compliant with all applicable federal and state requirements.
Project Leadership Team (PLT)
The Project Leadership Team (PLT) brings together agency and community representatives with expertise in planning, design, transportation, landscape architecture, environmental resources, public process, and communications. Members include representatives from RFTA, Snowmass Village, Pitkin County, local open space and trails agencies, historic preservation organizations, the 21st Century Transportation Coalition, Aspen One, and nearby municipal partners such as Basalt and Pitkin County.
The PLT helps identify key issues and provides guidance to ensure the project reflects community values while advancing transportation objectives.
Project Leadership Team – Agencies
| Aspen Ambulance District | City of Glenwood Springs |
| Aspen Chamber Resort Association | Colorado State Patrol – Troop 4C |
| Aspen Fire Protection District | EOTC (Elected Officials Transportation Committee) |
| Aspen One | FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) |
| Aspen Police | Historic Preservation Commission |
| Aspen School District | Pitkin County Public Works |
| Basalt (Town of Basalt) | Pitkin County Sheriff Office |
| CDOT | RFTA (Roaring Fork Transportation Authority) |
| City of Aspen – Historic Preservation (COA) | Snowmass Village |
| City of Aspen – Open Space & Trails (COA) | Transportation Coalition |
Issue Task Forces (ITFs)
Issue Task Forces (ITFs) are formed as needed to address specific technical or community issues—such as open space, business impacts, or historic resources. Each ITF is a multidisciplinary team that includes both subject matter experts and directly affected stakeholders. ITFs focus on the details of a particular issue, work through challenges collaboratively, and provide recommendations to the PLT and PMT to support informed, consensus-oriented decision making.
Together, the PLT, PMT, and Issue Task Forces collaborate in a hub and spoke model—PLT sets community driven direction, PMT coordinates and documents the technical work, and ITFs develop issue specific recommendations—then reconvene at project milestones to share information and reach concurrence.
Project Timeline and Key Steps
The process includes technical studies, design refinement, and public engagement, with multiple stakeholder meetings and two community open houses where the public can review information and share input.
II
IV
Decision Point
V
Changes do NOT create new significant impacts
Complete Reevaluation
Changes DO create new significant impacts
Larger NEPA Process Required
Contact Us: Emily Ford, City of Aspen Communications Specialist: info@entrancetoaspen.co
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