Hello,

This is my contribution for Citizen's Discussion at Tuesday's City Council meeting:

Good morning,

I was originally opposed to the legal opening of the Manitou Incline because Incline return traffic makes hiking up the Barr Trail a nightmare.

I only withdrew my opposition to the legal opening of the Incline because we were promised that an alternate route down would be built.

We were never told that a NEPA process that takes at least 2 years was necessary.

No commitment to build an alternate route down is in the Site Development and Management Plan.

I need an explanation for that.

Does this mean that the Incline is not required to build an alternate route down?

I was not the only citizen upset about the quality of Barr trail hikes being harmed by the Incline return traffic.

Did the Task Force know that it might not be possible to ever build the alternate route down?

I asked and asked for years about the alternate route down.

Finally in 2020, Karen Palus told the city of Manitou Springs during one of their City Council meetings that a NEPA process for the alternate route down would begin during the coming fall or winter.

Did the NEPA process begin last winter?

I have a need to know.

Is the USFS taking public comment on the proposed alternate route down?

Has the NEPA process begun?

If it has not begun, I need to know why.

The Manitou Incline Task Force conducted a public comment process.

The Incline was then legally opened because a plan was devised that would satisfy a the public's legitimate complaints and concerns.

The Task Force has not fulfilled its commitments.

If the public had been told that no alternate route down would be available 8 years after the legal opening of the Incline, the Incline would have been rejected.

The public would have told the Task Force to come up with an alternate route down, and then ask us if the Incline may be opened legally.

People would have said “for now just close it because it is doing too much harm to the Barr Trail”.

Today I say to you all: please just close the Incline until you can produce an alternate route down.

When will the alternate route down be available?

Has the legal process for that trail begun?

The task force did not end up putting a commitment for the alternate route down in the Site Development and Management Plan.

I was shocked when I found out.

During the public comment process, when the Task Force needed something from me, they told me what I wanted to hear.

Today the entities running and maintaining the Incline refuse to even answer my questions about the alternate route down.

I now urge the USFS, and both cities to close the Incline until you can convince me that an alternate route down is in the works.

Better yet, Barr Trail hikers and backpackers have suffered too many years of unnecessary pain and suffering because of the Incline, please close the Incline until the alternate route down is open.

Barr Trail users have suffered and sacrificed, now let Incline users take their turn.

Thank you, Carl Strow