HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2023-02-15Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, February 15, 2023
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 15th day of
February, 2023.
Board: Chair Belle Morris; Vice-Chair Kristen Ekeren; Members
Javier Bernal, Jessica Ferko, Ann Finley, Larry Gamble, Linda
Hanick, Mark Igel, and Gordon Slack; Trustee Patrick
Martchink; Staff Liaison Greg Muhonen
Attending: Chair Morris; Members Bernal, Gamble, Igel, and Slack;
Director Muhonen; Trustee Martchink; Manager Solesbee;
Supervisor Klein; Jeff Bailey, Town Engineer; Recording
Secretary McDonald; Assistant Recording Secretary Laura
Blevins
Absent: Vice-Chair Ekeren, Member Ferko, Member Hanick
Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE
Trustee Martchink reported that 2023 parking and permit fees were approved at the
February 14 Town Board meeting. During the Study Session, the Town’s potential
involvement in a Transportation Management Organization (TMO) between Estes Park
and Kersey was addressed. VanGo would pilot its service between Loveland and Estes
Park, and the TAB briefly discussed the benefits of including a bike rack on VanGo
vehicles.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED JANUARY 18, 2023
It was moved and seconded (Gamble/Morris) to approve the January 18, 2023,
minutes, and the motion passed unanimously.
COMPLETE STREETS POLICY
Chair Morris advised that this item was addressed at the January meeting; there was no
further discussion.
MORAINE AVENUE FEDERAL LANDS ACCESS PROGRAM (FLAP) TASK FORCE
Chair Morris reported the early planning efforts for a TAB task force and Rocky Mountain
National Park (RMNP) representative to assist in application efforts for a new Federal
Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant for Moraine Avenue. However, Member Gamble
Transportation Advisory Board – February 15, 2023 – Page 2
reported that a February 6 website update by the Federal Highway Administration shows
that the next call for FLAP grant applications is not scheduled before 2026.
MOBILITY SERVICES UPDATES
Manager Solesbee advised that the 2023 parking and permit fees were approved by the
Town Board, and that the well-received recommendations of the Parking Revenue Task
Force (PRTF) would require a budget amendment.
For parking updates, Supervisor Klein reported that the Express Pass (with 1, 2, and 3-
day options to benefit day-trippers) would be piloted in 2023 with blackout dates. Parking
spaces and particular lots are not guaranteed since all paid parking spots are first-come,
first-served, but the advance-purchase option allows visitors to bypass the kiosk or mobile
app transaction process. Push-pull credit card readers, which allow off-hours batch
processing, have been ordered in an effort to compare processing time to that of card
chip readers. The 2023 parking maps are being designed with The Car Park.
Parking discussion points included details of the new Special Event Vendor permit, the
benefits of surveying vendor needs, and how vendor sales impact Town businesses;
usage patterns for the parking structure, and how the transit branding project will promote
its use; the purpose and benefits of adjusting the Local 60 Permit to cover an additional
30 or 60 minutes; and the need for EV education on charging during the winter months.
For transit updates, Supervisor Klein reported a ridership of 167 for the February 4 Wine
and Chocolate Festival. An electric vehicle (EV) Ride-and-Drive event will be sponsored
during the April Bigfoot Days; the TAB is invited to promote this event and to provide
guidance for an April 11 Town Board Study Session on implementing the EV Readiness
Plan. Research into transit programs in mountain recreation communities similar to Estes
Park revealed the utilization of bus ads, street media, and Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) Section 5311 funding.
US 34 TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
Manager Solesbee advised that the February 14 Town Board Study Session on the US
34 TMO and VanGo featured representatives from the North Front Range Metropolitan
Planning Organization (NFRMPO) and Transportation Commissioner Bracke. Seed
funding for the TMO is largely from grants and includes a small local match from
participating communities between Kersey and Estes Park; the Town was asked to
provide staff time and approximately $3100 for 2023-2024 expenses. A TMO staff person
has been hired to build the business plan. For the VanGo pilot service, which was
requested by the Town Board, 2-6 people would share the van and coordinate their own
pick-up and drop-off; users would be guaranteed a ride home. To gauge local interest,
the VanGo service dates and details will be presented to Estes Park employers and the
Estes Chamber.
ENGINEERING UPDATES
Director Muhonen advised that a three-week construction schedule had been provided at
the DEL weekly coordination meeting, and that Riverside’s weather-related closure today
Transportation Advisory Board – February 15, 2023 – Page 3
would be rescheduled. Current focus areas are the Ivy Street bridge removal, utility
relocates, and roundabout earthwork.
For the US 36 & Community Drive Roundabout project, notice of award was issued last
week immediately after the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT)
concurrence letter was received. The contractor expressed concern about the
construction end date, and the signed contract is pending. Alternative plans could include
negotiating a spring and a fall phase for construction; delaying the whole project until fall;
or starting over with a new bid.
The Cleave Street Improvements design continues to move forward to 90%.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was brief discussion about the $8.30 per rider for Estes Transit, which is in line with
national average as reported in the 2021 National Transit Database Summaries & Trends
cost per rider; Bustang’s average of 15 riders per trip; and the possibility of using the
Green Route on weekends.
There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 1:32 p.m.
/s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary
/s/Laura Blevins, Assistant Recording Secretary