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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2022-7-20 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 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 July, 2022. Board: Chair Morris; Vice-Chair Ekeren; Members Bernal, Ferko, Finley, Gamble, Hanick, Igel, and Slack Attending: Chair Morris; Vice-Chair Ekeren; Members Bernal, Ferko, Gamble, Hanick, Igel, and Slack; Managers Hook and Solesbee; Director Muhonen; Trustee Martchink; Recording Secretary McDonald; and Jessica Garner, Town of Estes Park Community Development Director Absent: Member Finley Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:06 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT None. TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE Trustee Martchink reported no updates. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED JUNE 15, 2022 It was moved and seconded (Igel/Bernal) to approve the June 15, 2022, minutes, and the motion passed unanimously. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE Director Garner presented the Estes Forward (EF) Draft Goals and Policies document and invited the TAB to provide comments and questions during and any time before the next draft due out in mid-August. The EF plan, which is intended to boldly improve upon the 1996 comprehensive plan, outlines its vision, guiding principles, goals, and policies under the categories of Natural Environment, Economy, Health & Social, Housing, and Transportation & Infrastructure. Discussion points included the importance of updating comprehensive plans approximately every ten years; the cross-category nature of certain goals, and how all goals will be prioritized in the final EF plan; the possibility of separating transportation and utility infrastructure goals; how the plan will affect the Estes Park Development Code and Building Codes; the plan’s priority of featuring an implementation table of actions and scheduled review to ensure accountability; integration and promotion of EVs and bicycling, including the need for education on these options; emergency vehicle access, particularly in congested areas, and whether medical providers will be consulted on health-related aspects of the plan; how the plan addresses the Transportation Advisory Board – July 20, 2022 – Page 2 regional/demographic nature of mobility options, and the resulting impact on equity and inclusion efforts; and the plan’s collaborative efforts with Larimer County since mobility users should not have to consider where Town/county boundaries lie. Director Garner emphasized the “should” nature of a comprehensive plan versus the “shall” language of the Development Code, Building Code, and other regulatory sources that will be updated according to the approved plan. The TAB is encouraged to attend the August 3 Community Conversation event and follow all EF’s activities and progress by visiting https://engageestes.org/. PARKING & TRANSIT UPDATES Manager Solesbee reported that June trolley ridership was up 32 percent from 2021, while Fourth of July ridership was down 6 percent. According to CDOT, “Bustang is hitting it” this year with ridership already at 60 percent of the 2021 passenger total. The Transit Branding RFP has a proposal deadline of July 28, and Manager Solesbee invites a willing TAB member to serve on the selection committee for this grant-funded project; email her for details. EV charging station data for June was summarized. The Car Park’s manager, Dana Klein, will be at the August TAB meeting to present a mid-season report on paid parking. Manager Solesbee’s “walking tour” of downtown businesses during the Fourth of July weekend revealed busy but manageable activity. The parking webpage continues to be updated with Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reports. The Park-n-Walk program was expanded to include registration for those commuting downtown using alternative modes of transportation (cycling, EVs, walking, etc.). Discussion points included what types of data would help promote, educate, and “tell the story” behind the green technology of EVs; whether privately-owned, local charging station numbers could be acquired for comprehensive analysis; and the issue of “range anxiety” for some EV users. Trustee Martchink inquired whether the availability status of the electric vehicle (EV) charging stations could be featured on the Estes Parking app. ENGINEERING UPDATES Manager Hook reported the ongoing vacancies of the Grants Specialist and Civil Engineer positions; some discussion ensued about the high demand for engineers and the overall struggle for companies to fill these and other vacancies. The Downtown Wayfinding Plan (DWP) is in the public survey phase on design options; online and manual survey access is being promoted at the Farmers’ Market during July. Fall River Trail (FRT) expansion plans are being finalized for bid in August, and the goal remains for construction to coincide with Rocky Mountain National Park’s (RMNP) construction of its Fall River Entrance Station. Graves Avenue Safe Routes to School (SRTS) plans are being reviewed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for right of way plan clearance. Elkhorn Lodge redevelopment continues with the building of the retaining wall. DOWNTOWN ESTES LOOP Director Muhonen advised that he would be presenting the Town Board with a proposed amendment to the two Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD) agreements due to escalating construction costs for the Downtown Estes Loop (DEL); if the local match increases by $500k, additional Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant funding can be secured. The DEL goes to bid in September. The construction timeline is Transportation Advisory Board – July 20, 2022 – Page 3 likely to experience significant delay; Director Muhonen will also present the Town Board with an amendment to the Estes Park Municipal Code’s noise ordinance to allow for nighttime construction in the right of way, which would expedite the project. Discussion points included community perspectives of the DEL; the project’s cost-benefit analysis for downtown business owners; the impact of the CFLHD amendment on other areas of the budget; the possibility of modifying the noise ordinance amendment to apply on a per-project basis, or whether the public should have another opportunity to provide feedback on nighttime construction; and whether the TAB is in favor of writing a letter of support for either or both of these DEL items scheduled on the July 26 Town Board agenda. It was moved and seconded (Slack/Ferko) to write a balanced letter of support for the CFLHD amendment item, and the motion passed by quorum. The TAB declined to write support for the noise ordinance amendment as it stands. ADMINISTRATION UPDATES Director Muhonen advised that the Estes Park Police Auxiliary is discussing the pros and cons of adding speed limit signs where they are not readily visible. Discussion points focused on options for clarifying the speed limit only in neighborhoods that allow a speed limit above the statuary speed limit of 25; the existence of multiple signs in some areas already; whether posting more signs will influence driver behavior; and whether reducing the limit from 25 to 20 would significantly impact the safety level. OTHER BUSINESS There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 2:14 p.m. /s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary