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After years of recognition for fabulous scenery, visitor friendliness, cycling events, world class hiking and biking trails, spectacular mountains and good ol' fashioned bike-vs-train races, the greater Durango community has acquired one of its most valuable assets to date - a new Multi Modal Transportation Coordinator! Amber Blake started her new job with the City of Durango by diving into the many transit grants that fund our local bus services and "under construction" Transit Center on April 8th. As soon as she could finalize transit grants and fit in a family vacation, she jumped right into working on a Multi Modal Master Plan, expected to be completed and operational in March of 2010. Many local advocacy groups can take pleasure in this addition to city staff after working for years as "outside advisors" (or was it agitators?) to the City, County and State. Amber will have an opportunity to push for more bike, pedestrian and transit opportunities for our area from the inside. Last year Durango was awarded "Silver" Bicycle Friendly Community Status by the League of American Wheelmen, and the number one recommendation from the accompanying Bicycle Summit was for the creation of this government-based position. That Summit was put on by Bicycle Friendly Durango, Healthy Lifestyle La Plata Coalition, Trails 2000 and the Safe Roads Coalition. Amber Blake graduated from Telluride High School (just over the mountains), received her B.A. in Political Science from Villanova University, and holds a Master of Arts from the University of Montana. Prior to her move to Durango, Amber served as a Transportation Planner for the Baltimore Metropolitan Council and managed their bicycle and pedestrian planning program. Amber brings her husband David (the Destroyer) Blake, who has joined the Biology Department at Fort Lewis College, and their son Austin of 16 months. Amber's been out in the community seeking input and help from the community and has several public events coming up. She's looking for volunteers on some of these events, like the long awaited bicycle count on local roads and a bicycle parade for the festive opening of the new Durango Transit Center. To find out more, or to participate in these or other public events, see the public Calender on the Safe Roads Coalition web site or contact her at BlakeAK@ci.durango.co.us. To learn more about Amber we have several links to recent articles: City of Durango web site |
