City of Aspen Engineering Department
The engineering department is responsible for providing City departments, the City Manager and the City Council with engineering and technical support services.

The city’s engineering department has the responsibility to maintain the design and construction standards for the public right-of-ways. This includes sidewalks, curbs, streets, and all right-of-way permitting by the public.

Important areas of the city continue to require sidewalk improvements. While improvements can be complicated with multiple layers of priorities such as historic irrigation ditches and mature trees, creative engineering solutions can accomplish city goals for public safety.

The department in conjunction with other city departments has been directed by City Council to implement a stormwater utility for the city. The stormwater utility will develop a sufficient and reliable funding source for the city’s stormwater program.

The purpose of the stormwater program is to protect the Roaring Fork River from impacts that occur within the city. When many people think about water pollution, they imagine large factories discharging waste products or illegal dumping of toxic chemicals into streams. Few people realize that their everyday activities affect the amount of pollution in our waters.

The program also includes conveying stormwater to minimize impacts on city infrastructure. Rain, especially Colorado afternoon thunderstorms, causes water to flow down streets. Stormwater systems collect this stormwater and convey it to the Roaring Fork River. Many of the systems in the city, inlets and pipes, are aged and undersized and lack any technology to filter out pollutants. The city’s stormwater program will maintain, upgrade and expand this important system.

The department also plays an important role in the review of right-of-way impacts from private development. Through the encroachment and right-of-way permit process, the public infrastructure, pedestrian and community interests are protected and construction impacts are mitigated.