HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2021-03-17
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, March 17, 2021
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board of the
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held virtually on the
17th day of March 2021.
Committee: Belle Morris, Tom Street, Janice Crow, Ann Finley, Larry
Gamble, Linda Hanick, Scott Moulton, Gordon Slack, Ron
Wilcocks
Attending: Belle Morris, Tom Street, Janice Crow, Ann Finley, Larry
Gamble, Linda Hanick, Scott Moulton, Gordon Slack, Ron
Wilcocks, Trustee Carlie Bangs, Public Works Director Greg
Muhonen, Engineering Mgr. David Hook, Parking & Transit
Mgr. Vanessa Solesbee, The Car Park General Mgr. Matt
Eisenberg, Rocky Mountain National Park John Hannon
Shuttle Committee: B Wells, Karin Swanlund, Teri Salerno
Absent:
Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No electronic submissions of public comment were received prior to the deadline and no
public was in attendance.
Chair Morris announced to the TAB that today’s meeting would be Member Janice Crow’s
last meeting. Crow shared with the members that she’s very appreciative to have been
involved in this board, and for the knowledge shared by the other TAB members.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made and seconded (Gamble/Slack) to approve the February meeting
minutes with minor edits and all were in favor.
BIG THOMPSON RECREATION AREA (Parks Supervisor Brian Berg)
The Town’s Parks Supervisor Brian Berg shared with the TAB, the visioning to the final
plan for the Big Thompson Recreation Area. An aesthetic approach was taken and
prices have risen considerably since originally proposed. Berg first discussed it with
Elizabeth Fogarty of Visit Estes Park (VEP). The conversation stalled until recently, but
is gaining traction and VEP recently provided $50K for costs specific to a climbing
boulder for this area. Two grants have now been awarded for this project totaling $95K.
Berg shared plans with the TAB reflecting an ADA accessible concrete walkway from
the bridge directly to an accessible picnic shelter; and another walkway from the bridge
directly to the climbing boulder. A perennial bed will be added, along with river access
by embedding the rock steps into the bank. A tree berm would be installed for visual
and audible barrier from the highways, which would include ponderosa and/or lodgepole
pine trees. Berg wants people’s experience to involve hearing the river while recreating.
Berg is excited to get the project started. Currently the Grant Agreement with VEP is
pending final approval. Once approved, Berg will order the boulder which takes 10-12
weeks to arrive, and the shelters which will take 3-4 weeks. All work is to be completed
in 2021.
Muhonen stated he’s hopeful that this would be a connection to a future multi-use trail
from the parking structure to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Member Crow
shared that she loves the plan and the quality location for visitors and ties into the
existing Riverwalk.
Transportation Advisory Board – March 17, 2021 – Page 2
2021 SEASONAL SHUTTLES (Parking & Transit Mgr. Vanessa Solesbee)
Solesbee shared that the 2021 Service Planning presentation is coming. She let the
group know that slight changes to the packet were required. While the bulk of this
presentation will look familiar to the information shared in January’s information, the
intention is to recap throughout the entire month of February and provide the updated
information.
The Shuttle Committee members were invited to today’s TAB meeting to share with
TAB what goes into shuttle planning including background analysis by staff.
The presentation shown laid out the staff considerations for the planning: Operational,
Safety & Accessibility, Rider Experience, Outreach, and Budget (2021 similar to 2020)
as well as supplementing with Federal aid. Safety is always Solesbee’s primary
consideration for both pedestrians and drivers during the season and she always tries to
gather diverse perspectives. This was reflected in the determinations made for 2021.
In prior years shuttle location tracking utilized DoubleMap. However, the functionality of
the software proved very unreliable and the agreement with DoubleMap has since
ended. At this time there is no tool for shuttle locations.
Member Gamble asked if there was a possibility of providing drive access from the
Steamer Driver intersection to the Visitor Center. Solesbee confirmed this possibility
and said she’d speak to that more in her next update. Member Crow stated that this
process has considered all different aspects and she appreciates all the efforts.
Morris appreciates the dialogue had with Solesbee after the February meeting, circling
back regarding the move of the shuttle stops to the Visitor Center. She still feels the
shuttle stops should be at the parking structure and believes in a shared space. She
stated there is a solution if it’s thought through more fully.
Rocky Mountain Transit Manager (RMTM) Brian Wells stated that, based on feedback
received on the RMTM side, he looks forward to moving shuttles back to the Visitor
Center.
Trustee Bangs asked Muhonen if there are any plans to add elevators or added
accessibility for the parking structure? Muhonen stated there are no plans to perform
those upgrades.
Visitor Center Manager Teri Salerno shared her agreement with the decision to move
the shuttle stops back to the Visitor Center and commended Solesbee for being very
thorough and gathering feedback from all the appropriate stakeholders while
maintaining safety first.
Solesbee proceeded to discuss potential Senate Bill 267 funding, further stating that
she does not want grant opportunities to guide the Town’s projects. Muhonen shared
ideas related to the funding and the pedestrian issues with the state highways. Ten
percent of grant funding can be spent on design which equates to approximately $100K.
TAB members showed general support of a corridor study.
SIDEWALK/TRAIL INVENTORY TASK FORCE UPDATE (Chair, Belle Morris)
The Task Force has created both a Gap Map and a Deficiency Map to outline next
steps for SRTS planning. Morris requested TAB member participation broken down by
street, to rate the conditions. Gamble added that it may not require walking all streets in
person, but that some can be done using Google Earth. Morris asked for an email or a
call if interested.
PARKING UPDATES (Parking & Transit Mgr. Vanessa Solesbee)
Manager Eisenberg updated on the 2021 Seasonal Paid Parking implementation which
will be presented to the Town Board in March, also providing 2020/2021 off-season
statistics.
Transportation Advisory Board – March 17, 2021 – Page 3
Eisenberg shared that the pay stations were ordered and shipped last Friday. The
installation is anticipated to begin the week of May 10. Mobile payment setup is
complete, and The Car Park is currently hiring two full-time staff. Parking wayfinding
signage is in the works and is out for bid. He also shared that significant public outreach
has taken place, providing presentations to several different stakeholder groups, as well
as TAB.
ENGINEERING UPDATES (Engineering Mgr. David Hook)
Manager Hook provided project updates since the last meeting.
Parking Wayfinding:
Bids have been published/solicited and over 30 companies have already downloaded
the bid packet. The Town will be opening bids on March 25 and anticipate completion
by Memorial Day 2021.
Fall River Trail: Another segment of this trail was completed and a different section
funded by grants from the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP), which are federal
funds managed by CDOT, and the Multi Modal Options Fund (MMOF) which are state
CDOT funds.
Graves Ave. Improvements:
Design is under way and there is strong potential for a more expansive design
discussion at the April meeting.
Town Development Reviews:
Elkhorn Lodge redevelopment plans are ongoing. Hook reminded members that, as part
of this redevelopment, a new sidewalk will be installed leading to Mrs. Walsh’s Garden.
The Stanley Carriage House Restaurant and Film Center are currently in review and will
require new sidewalk commitments. Updates will provided as reviews progress.
PROJECT / ADMINISTRATION UPDATES (Public Works Director Greg Muhonen)
Director Muhonen stated that during the March 9 Town Board meeting there was an
update to the Memorandum of Agreement and the Reimbursable Agreement related to
the Downtown Estes Loop. The updates were primarily administrative, but one addition
was a previous verbal agreement to overlay West Elkhorn. This had not been
documented prior to this update and requires no Town funds. Muhonen reported that
the Town Board provided unanimous support. Previous floodplain concerns have been
discussed and solved.
OTHER BUSINESS (Chair, Belle Morris)
There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 1:58 p.m.
Megan Van Hoozer, Recording Secretary