We need traffic calming in our neighborhood and all around Pagosa Springs.
Locals are constantly complaining and posting on social media about others who drive dangerously and are speeding, even taking pictures and trying to turn them in to the sheriff. We have had some horrific fatal accidents in the last few months. I drove by several on Highway 160.
We live in a nice, small neighborhood in uptown by the lakes. Holiday Avenue, our 1-mile-long road, starts up by Piedra and crosses Park Avenue.
At some point, the county made Holiday Avenue a “throughway”. That means it is a shortcut to the lakes area from downtown and can be used by all vehicles, including county, state, and private business construction vehicles, such as concrete trucks, front loaders and other tractors, dump trucks, and lumber delivery. The list goes on and on.
We also have locals and visitors who use our roadway continuously. We had no idea when we bought this home that we would experience traffic to this extent. We have no sidewalks or trails, and there are families with children. Residents try to walk their dogs. It can be dangerous.
We have posted slowdown signs all along the road to little effect.
The speed limit is 25 mph. The speed limit on Piedra is 35 mph. The speed limit on Park Avenue is 25 mph in our area and goes up to 30 mph at some point. Almost all drivers speed past the limit. We have been trying for four years and have asked the County many times to find a way to provide traffic calming in our area. We have given them many ideas, such as painting SLOW DOWN on the road, installing speed bumps, and other ideas. I am sure we are not the only ones. We feel that until drivers are held accountable for their speeding, it will not stop.
There is little thought given by the drivers on the road to the impact speeding and loud noise have on our lovely little neighborhood. We are asking that, no matter where you live, please be more aware of the impact your driving has on the neighborhoods in Pagosa Springs and the surrounding areas.
Please slow down!
Carl & Laurah Young
Pagosa Springs, CO