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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2022-1-19 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, January 19, 2022 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TRANSPORTATIONADVISORY BOARD of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held Virtually in said Town of Estes Park on the 19th day of January, 2022. Board: Chair Morris; Vice-Chair Street; Members Bernal, Ekeren, Finley, Gamble, Hanick, Moulton, and Slack Attending: Chair Morris; Vice-Chair Street; Members Bernal, Ekeren, Finley, Gamble, Hanick, Moulton, and Slack; Director Muhonen; Managers Barr, Hook, and Solesbee; Trustee Bangs; John Hannon, RMNP; and Recording Secretary McDonald Absent: Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:06 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT None. TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE Trustee Bangs reported no new information. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED DECEMBER 15, 2021 It was moved and seconded (Street/Slack) to approve the December 15, 2021, meeting minutes, and the motion passed unanimously. NEW OFFICER INTRODUCTIONS Chair Morris welcomed new members Kristen Ekeren and Javier Bernal to the TAB, and each offered a brief personal and professional introduction. Current members then offered brief introductions that specified their TAB service time and particular areas of interest. ENGINEERING UPDATES Manager Barr presented the Phase 1 and 2 plans for Graves Avenue Improvements, noting that the plans are at the 90 percent stage and eligible for review at TAB’s discretion. Presentation points included a description of the restriping for parking spaces, driveways, and sidewalks of the North Side Graves Avenue and Brodie Avenue Sidewalk Extensions; a description of the bumpout islands and crosswalk rebuilding for the South Side Graves Avenue Sidewalk Extension; and the driveway and mid-block crossing work for Graves Avenue and Community Drive. The plans will be posted to the website for public review and comment, and the Town Board will review the plans and comments in February 2022. Discussion points included grading to be done around a retaining wall and railing; temporary and permanent easements being negotiated; and the potential for 2022 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funding. It was agreed that no special TAB meeting would be held for further review of the plans; in the meantime, Manager Barr invites questions and comments. Manager Hook reported on the two design projects for the Fall River Trail, with final plans expected in February 2022; the TAB would be welcome to call a special meeting to review the final draft. The Master Trails Plan draft Addendum #1 was presented to the Estes Valley Recreation & Park District (EVRPD) Trails Committee on January 11, 2022, and to the EVRPD Board on January 18, 2022; receipt was favorable but without quorum vote. The Plan will be presented to the Town Board in February for action, with a letter of support from the TAB. Pedestrian bridge inspections continue and will be reported at the February TAB meeting. The Downtown Wayfinding project will be under contract this month, with a 2023 construction plan in development for guiding pedestrian wayfinding. The project will include a public engagement meeting with breakout sessions and discussion topics moderated by Restorative Justice facilitators. Chair Morris proposed that the TAB be involved at the project’s conceptual, 30 percent, and final stages; Transportation Advisory Board – January 19, 2022 – Page 2 involvement dates will be determined over the next three months. Director Muhonen advised that using leftover bridge trusses for pedestrian bridges that cross a river is not economical, but that such trusses would be useful for other purposes. PROJECT/ADMINISTRATION UPDATES Director Muhonen advised that the TAB new member orientation with Member Ekeren had been completed and orientation with Member Bernal would be scheduled. It was agreed that veteran members would provide valuable mentoring support, and that mentoring time could be privately arranged; Members Slack and Gamble volunteered to serve as mentors to Members Ekeren and Bernal. ESTES PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTREACH Chair Morris met with Estes Park Middle School Principal Janet Fanning, who had been unfamiliar with the work of the TAB. Discussion points of their meeting included the TAB’s collaborative efforts with various Public Works projects; the importance of expanding awareness, engagement, and education regarding alternative transportation methods (beyond “Walk to School Day” and “Bike to School Day”) into a comprehensive, whole- community effort; the value of the TAB inviting a student’s perspective on transportation issues; and the school’s interest in reviving its Wellness Committee, with TAB participation, to enhance the engagement, education, and advocacy efforts for changing daily behaviors around multi-modal transportation. It was agreed that the SRTS engineering initiatives are supported and strengthened by the TAB’s efforts to engage and educate the greater community on transportation topics and projects. Director Muhonen advised that a student participating on the TAB would be considered, per bylaws, as a public guest without voting eligibility. Trustee Bangs advised that the Youth in Action program also connects students to community board opportunities. PARKING & TRANSIT UPDATES Manager Solesbee advised that the Downtown Parking Task Force is managing parking experience feedback submitted to the Estes Chamber of Commerce in November 2021, and would invite further discussion among stakeholders in the downtown core. It was agreed that education about paid parking reveals its big-picture, environmental benefits, and that these benefits and other ideas should be on paper for the public. Collaboration on 2022 parking program updates continues with The Car Park. Presenting Estes Transit’s 2021 Year-End Report & 2022 Preview, Manager Solesbee showed that the ridership rate for both Estes Transit and Bustang recovered in 2021. Public outreach to riders and drivers garnered mostly positive feedback, with requests for expanded service and signage. Strategic partnerships continue. Sponsorship in 2021 provided more than $13k from 18 sponsors, and $17k is the target sponsorship amount for 2022. Grant dollars for both 2021 and 2022 support administration, operations, a second trolley and trolley facility, and redesign of the Visitor Center Parking Lot and Mobility Hub. After the printing of Manager Solesbee’s current report, an additional $52k was granted for 2022 administration and operations. Trolley battery and warranty issues were discussed. Focus areas for 2022 include summer service and possibly sharing a staff person with RMNP; the 2022 Bustang-to-Estes Park service season following the same schedule (May-October) as the Red Route Trolley Service; grant projects management; and seeking consultation for new branding and strategic marketing of Estes Transit, including the possible development of a Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan. TAB comments and questions included the status of planning conversations with the YMCA, and the involvement of the TAB and Town Board in those conversations; potential route and destination changes; and the current usage of Winter Trolley Service. 2021 TAB PRIORITIES REVIEW AND 2022 TAB PRIORITIES PLANNING Chair Morris will compile the 2021 TAB Priorities Review and invites topics for 2022 TAB Priorities Planning. Lists will be provided before the February TAB meeting. 2022 ELECTION & VICE-CHAIR Vice-Chair Street announced that he would not seek to renew his term. It was moved and seconded (Slack/Gamble) to renew Chair Morris’s term, and the motion passed unanimously. Chair Morris summarized the Vice-Chair responsibilities and asked for Transportation Advisory Board – January 19, 2022 – Page 3 nominations. It was moved and seconded (Hanick/Street) to elect Member Ekeren as Vice-Chair, and the motion passed unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS None. There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 2:05 p.m. /s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary