About 40 people turned out Wednesday night for a Mancos Town Board meeting that was designed to find a way to improve a deadly intersection without harming the businesses that surround it.

Mancos Public Works Director Bill Kroeker initiated discussion of the problem intersection of Colorado Highway 184 and U.S. Highway 160 that recently claimed the life of 12-year-old Kiley Duran by expressing concern about a recent e-mail communication sent to private individuals by Rep. Mark Larson. The email urged individuals to "pack the hall" with supporters of a temporary three-color traffic signal.

Kroeker said he objected because Larson’s letter left official channels out in the cold. He informed the trustees that he had requested Larson implement some degree of communication with the town in order to resolve the issue. Kroeker was encouraged by Larson’s response, which, he said, "was very apologetic."

Larson said Friday that he regretted not speaking to Kroeker sooner, but said he had been contacted by several residents about the intersection and felt that transportation officials needed to hear "an undivided voice" from the residents of Mancos.

The primary concern residents expressed Wednesday was the effect the installation of a traffic signal would have on the businesses located along the frontage road. Richard Cover, of the Mancos planning and zoning board, took exception to the possibility of closing the frontage road, saying that the whole corridor is zoned as highway business. He suggested a pedestrian crosswalk be built elsewhere, which would at least give residents the chance to cross the highway at some point, even if it was less convenient.

Larson said that while a traffic light in Mancos would negatively affect businesses, safety had to be the highest concern.

"You cannot have safety if you have children trying to decide if they can beat a car or not," Larson said. "I’m not willing to put children’s lives at continued risk, despite the effect it will have on businesses."

According to Reynolds, CDOT does not intend to close the frontage road, but pedestrian crossings have to be placed in a manner consistent with others nationwide. He also said that "a crosswalk on the west side (of the highway) doesn’t make sense ... it will take at least six months to get even a temporary signal."

Other residents, however, did not feel they had to choose between safety and a viable economy. Louise Peterson explained that slowing traffic down could have a positive impact on business.

She suggested that Mancos invest in signs advertising businesses along the road, and that the slower-moving traffic could take advantage of what the town has to offer.

"People might actually realize that they’re in a town!" Peterson said. "They might stop and buy some western wear, or eat somewhere."

Although some frustration was apparent in those attending the meeting, the audience presented a cooperative attitude when discussing Mancos’ options with Richard Reynolds, the regional director for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

Several residents and board members expressed an interest in more signs, or in expanding the reduced speed limit zone. Nearly all seemed in favor of some sort of temporary traffic signal, despite a pricetag Reynolds estimated at $150,000. Many were also dismayed to learn that, owing to the complicated nature of the intersection, there could be no quick fix.

Reynolds explained that CDOT "feel(s) strongly that we’ve made changes that are reasonable ... nothing we could have done could have prevented it (the fatal accident)." He said that the problems stem more from drivers who simply do not expect pedestrians on the busy stretch of highway than from excess speed.

He also said that the intersection was a "real concern ... I thought we could let it go for a few years ... but not now, knowing about the accidents."

The intersection meets two of the three warrants the Federal Highway Administration imposes before a stop light is allowed, Reynolds said.

Funding for significant improvements will not be available until 2003, with completion expected to take at least two years.

In the meantime, Reynolds said, a citizens’ committee to work out a temporary solution will be formed, with Ed Demming, CDOT Traffic and Safety Engineer, and Kroeker working with the public toward this end. Reynolds also said that CDOT would continue working with Wilson and Company, the department’s consulting firm.

Mancos Town Attorney Cliff Fossum and resident Jim Lynch separately cited the example of the intersection of Colorado Highway 145 and U.S. Highway 160 in Cortez, and asked whether the existence of a traffic signal there was a good idea. In a similar frame of mind was resident Wendy Davis, who asked if a four-way stop light might alleviate the problem in Mancos.

Reynolds responded that it is "not possible to control three intersections with one light." Doing so might create traffic blockages that are just as dangerous, if not more so, he said. He informed Fossum that the intersection of Highways 145 and 160 in Cortez does not, in fact, meet certain standards imposed by the Federal Highway Administration for safety.

Demming said that the Mancos intersection debate is a community issue that goes beyond CDOT. Mancos, he said after the meeting, "needs programs, not just stop signs." Also, too many signs can numb motorists to the point that they no longer take the warnings seriously, he said.

Again, CDOT representatives said that the number one problem is motorist awareness of pedestrians, or traffic that suddenly slows.

This view was in part backed by Mayor Greg Rath, who expressed his concern that locals would use Menefee Road to cut around traffic, thereby creating another safety hazard.

Other logistical problems raised were what it would take just to get the intersection up to federal standards. The highway width would have to be expanded by 10 to 12 feet, to allow for turning lanes, a move that could interfere with drainage ditches between the highway and the frontage road.

Peterson asked for a commitment from the town board to get something to happen "sooner, rather than later...without excluding anyone."

Rath responded affirmatively, saying that, although "some people are going to lose" the town would put safety first.

The Mancos Town Board also swore in two new trustees. Michelle Black and Herman Muniz were sworn in to fill two vacancies on the board. As they were the only applicants, a motion to appoint them was made, and carried unanimously.