CDOT's Region 3 Awarded "Trail Supporter of the Year" by Eco Eagle Valley Trails Committee

NORTHWEST COLORADO — The Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT’s) Region 3 was named a 2011 Trail Supporter of the Year by the ECO Trails Committee. Other awardees include the Eagle Vail Board of Governors, Hardscrabble Trails Coalition, Vail Valley Chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association, and the town of Gypsum.

The ECO Eagle Valley Trails Committee is a group of citizens appointed by elected officials in the Eagle Valley to construct a trail system and promote shared-road safety. The committee honored CDOT maintenance, traffic, permit, right-of-way, and engineering staff from Region 3 for continued efforts made to support bicyclist and pedestrian needs. Region 3 encompasses all or part of 14 counties in Colorado, including Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Hinsdale, Jackson, Lake, Mesa, Moffat, Montrose, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties.

“We are honored to receive the ECO Trails award,” said Region 3 Transportation Director David Eller. “It is one of our top priorities to not only ensure our roadways are safe, but to also ensure that we are meeting the individualized needs of specific communities. In the Eagle Valley, the demand for bicyclist and pedestrian features on roadways is enormous and we recognize the growing need in the future. We are grateful our efforts to meet the needs of the Eagle community have not gone unnoticed.”

In addition to meeting the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians, CDOT was also honored for extra efforts made this past year to prepare for the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. To prepare for the race, crews repaired and upgraded sections of US 6 and State Highway 131 as well as portions of the Vail Pass bike path. According to the Denver Post, the race brought $83 million to Colorado’s economy and attracted more than 1 million spectators.

“We are definitely looking forward to having the race back next year,” Eller said.

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