Val  St. Cloud has a great view of the mess that is Ruxton Ave. He lives on the corner of Ruxton and Hydro Street, a stone’s throw from the Barr Trail Parking lot and two throws from the Cog Railway station.

He says Ruxton has become something it was never meant to me – a very busy city street.

“Just with traffic from the Cog and Barr Trail, Ruxton has more cars on it than it was ever meant to have,” St. Cloud said. “It’s a narrow, two-lane winding mountain road and it is being pushed to the breaking point.”
St. Cloud was speaking at a Manitou Incline public meeting on Wednesday at Manitou Springs City Hall. About two dozen citizens attended to help identify traffic problems created by heavy Incline use and offer solutions. Incline hikers, private property owners and business owners split into work groups dug into a
list of Ruxton Ave. parking options prepared by Steve Pouliot, senior transportation engineer for Wilson and Company.
The parking plan will eventually be part of a larger Inlcine Management Plan that will be presented to Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs elected officials and the Cog Railway, which owns part of the Incline trail, for final approval in early 2011.
“The purpose of this meeting was to get feedback and ideas in my head,” Pouliot said. “I want people to think about parking options for the corridor. This is a real opportunity to move forward. I’m not ready to say I have a plan, but by October, we should be able to put together a draft for people to comment on.”
If Wednesday’s meeting was any indication, the plan will include paid parking in the Barr Trail lot and possibly along parts of Ruxton. All of the groups were in favor of paid parking to some degree.

The following is a list of the most popular ideas.

Re-route Incline hikers returning down Barr Trail directly to the Incline trailhead, rather than have them returning to cars via Hydro St. and Ruxton

Open parking areas in other parts of Manitou Springs (with a possible shuttle carrying users to the trailheads.

Use Intemann Trail to access Incline trail head. And develop connecting trails.

Be willing to close Barr Trail parking lot when fire danger is high or when rescue search and rescue teams need the space.

Be open to concerns of residents and provide parking for residents. (There are only about 263 parking places along Ruxton)

Investigate similar problems in other areas to find solutions. (Maroon Bells effectively works a shuttle and limited parking.)

Don’t restrict parking without having other options in place (a shuttle)

Paid parking is an option as long as the fee is reasonable.

Create an alternative entrance to the Incline, taking users off of Ruxton.
Alice Eisenhaur lives on lower Ruxton. She said getting a handle on the number of people who actually live along the street will be important. Many homes have been converted to duplexes or multi-unit residences.
“It’s just hikers that are the problem,” she said. “We need to provide parking for people who rent, too. And we don’t know how many places we need,” she said.
Ultimately, she would like to see all visitors be more respectful.
“Courtesy counts,” she said. “Don’t block our driveways. Don’t park in front of the fire hydrant. There has to be parking for people who live on Ruxton.”
The public meetings continue tonight (Wednesday) with residents tackle trails issues at 6 p.m. Tomorrow at 6, the subject will be operations and management. All meetings will be held at
Manitou Springs City Hall and everyone is welcome to attend.