Steamboat Pilot & Today

A group of Routt County residents has been assembled to help county commissioners prioritize improvement projects for county roads.

The Routt County Board of Commissioners this week appointed eight community members to a road improvement committee.

The group will review needs of the current road system and will prioritize roads for reconstruction, maintenance and surface change upgrades -- paving a gravel road. Members also will review funding mechanisms and their impact on the budget. County Commissioner Doug Monger has said the county doesn't have money to increase services for roads and that the committee can prepare ideas for ways to spend money when it becomes available.

"The (Board of County Commissioners) is looking for a broad citizen group to prioritize future capital projects and make suggestions on revenue sources, including surfacing (paving or chip) on roads that are currently gravel," said Paul Draper, the county's road and bridge director.

To accomplish these goals, the group will take a series of tours. Draper hopes the committee is ready to report to the commissioners by June 15.

In January, County Manager Tom Sullivan said at least 18 county roads need improvements to handle increased traffic. He identified Routt County Road 16, a gravel road that runs past the Eagle's Nest townhomes in Stagecoach, as an example.

George Krawzoff, who will be the committee's Steamboat Springs representative, said he wanted to represent the interests of bicycle riders in the area.

"I spend a lot of time on the county roads as a bicyclist," said Krawzoff, the city's director of transit and transportation services.

As a former Pitkin County planning commissioner and county commissioner, Krawzoff said he is prepared to look at all sides of road issues. By sitting on the road committee, Krawzoff said he expects to learn about budget demands and how the county can find financially sound solutions to satisfy people's road-related requests.

"I'm aware of the balance that is struck between cost-effective solutions and the kind of solutions that people want," Krawzoff said.

-- To reach Dana Strongin, call 871-4229 or e-mail dstrongin@steamboatpilot.com