HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2022-4-20
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, April 20, 2022
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY
BOARD of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held
in the Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on the 20th day of April,
2022.
Board: Chair Morris; Vice-Chair Ekeren; Members Bernal, Finley,
Gamble, Hanick, and Slack
Attending: Chair Morris; Vice-Chair Ekeren; Members Bernal, Gamble,
Hanick, and Slack; Managers Hook and Solesbee; Director
Muhonen; Trustee Bangs; and Recording Secretary
McDonald. Also attending were Matt Eisenberg, Stephen
Phillips and Dana Klein (The Car Park), and Peter Gibbs
(Resident)
Absent: Member Finley
Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Recording Secretary McDonald reminded the TAB of an April 5 email they received to
provide input on the transportation portion of a community survey being prepared for
Estes Forward. The survey—a project to aid in updating the Estes Park Comprehensive
Plan—is currently live at engageestes.org.
TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE
Trustee Bangs advised that she is encouraging residents to serve on the TAB; her own
position as Town Board Liaison will be reappointed after April 26, 2022. As program
director for EVICS Family Resource Center, she may seek to present at the May 18 TAB
meeting on trails use advocacy and outreach efforts.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED MARCH 16 & 24, 2022
It was moved and seconded (Slack/Gamble) to approve the March 16 and March 24,
2022, minutes, and the motion passed unanimously.
PARKING & TRANSIT UPDATES
Manager Solesbee’s parking updates commenced with thanking The Car Park’s outgoing
general manager, Matt Eisenberg, and welcoming his successor, Dana Klein. The Town
Board approved the 2022 Seasonal Paid Parking program and parking permit fee
refinements at the April 12 Town Board meeting; one “flat-rate express pass” permit is on
hold pending further discussion by the Downtown Parking Task Force (DPTF) in April as
well as the TAB on May 19. The DPTF will also discuss, and prepare for the TAB, specific
priorities about how parking revenues can be legally, efficiently and meaningfully spent.
The June 16 TAB meeting will include a hands-on training on both the parking paystation
and the mobile app. Manager Solesbee will host an information booth at the Estes
Chamber’s upcoming event for lodging providers. Attendee Eisenberg reported that The
Car Park is pleased with recruitment progress for 2-4 parking ambassadors and an
administrative receptionist.
Transit updates included the 2022 summer transit schedule, which runs May 27 through
October 16, and is expected to offer the best service options since 2006; the provision of
bike racks on all trolleys; the May 15 planned announcement of 2022 Bustang service,
which will feature weekend-only service from Denver’s Union Station to the Visitor Center
and into RMNP beginning May 28; the current fund designation for parking revenues, and
the seeking of extra funding through the Town Board; the ending of the transit facility
design process; and the possibility of charging stations for ebikes. In response to a
question from Member Gamble, Manager Solesbee also indicated that an announcement
regarding RMNP Hiker Shuttle service would likely be coming from RMNP in late April or
early May.
Transportation Advisory Board – April 20, 2022 – Page 2
DOWNTOWN WAYFINDING PLAN (DWP)
Manager Hook advised that the Downtown Wayfinding Plan (DWP) is being implemented
and phased by the team. He delivered an abbreviated version of the April 21 community
input meeting presentation, and TAB members were invited to provide their feedback on
the wayfinding options boards. It was discussed that the gateway/monument signs
featured in the presentation did not garner public support when the DWP was introduced
in 2018. Manager Hook agreed to email the meeting flyer to the Estes Chamber this day
to encourage the participation of downtown business owners.
ENGINEERING UPDATES
Manager Hook presented a bicycle use booklet that is out of print but provides A-Z safety
guidance. The TAB circulated the booklet and agreed that it would good to have a
localized version of this type of resource. The Fall River Trail (FRT) expansion plans are
in final revision for bidding in May, and will be presented to the TAB in May; construction
will begin in conjunction with RMNP’s July remodel of the Fall River Entrance. Graves
Avenue Safe Routes to School (SRTS) involved the recent processing of easements and
is planned for bid in June. Addendum 1 to the Trails Master Plan (TMP) was approved by
the Town Board for the Estes Valley TMP. As part of the Elkhorn Lodge redevelopment,
West Elkhorn Avenue had traffic problems that should ease next week, and the redesign
of a retaining wall there is expected to be complete by Memorial Day. Two MMOF grant
applications are in process and due in June: an infrastructure grant for a new segment of
the FRT, and a planning grant for the Transportation Master Plan (TMP).
ENGINEERING & ADMINISTRATION UPDATES
Director Muhonen’s updates included the suggestion that CDOT could be invited to the
TAB to discuss Final Office Review plans for the 34/36 overlay; the status of pothole
repairs after a particularly damaging season; his request that CDOT provide the Town
with greater access to controlling lane width and use on Big Thompson Avenue; CDOT’s
lack of funds for increased curb and gutter work; whether CDOT is open to public
feedback from the TAB regarding the expansion of bike lanes; and the need to complete
pavement markings in a timely manner in a given area, regardless of project development
schedules.
Discussion points included the feasibility of recording traffic flow near Safeway this
summer, to demonstrate the necessity of a left-turn lane; CDOT’s preference for
roundabouts rather than traffic lights; the agreement with CDOT not to install mast arm
luminaries at traffic signal poles during the Downtown Estes Loop (DEL) project, since
the Town desires full illumination only where necessary; and options for the DEL schedule
and budget in this time of rising prices, which could involve nighttime construction this
summer rather than extending the construction over two summers. Direction Muhonen
advised that the DEL has funds to begin now but requested that the TAB discern and
express preference for a desired construction schedule. The CFL may send a proposal,
before the May TAB, to amend the IGA; Trustee Bangs suggested that it would be more
efficient to submit this as a Town Board Study Session, and possibly ask for public
feedback prior to taking a proposal to the Town Board.
OTHER BUSINESS
None.
There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 2:07pm.
/s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary