HomeMy WebLinkAboutPACKET Transportation Advisory Board 2023-08-16
August 16,2023
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD
12:00 p.m.
REGULARMEETING Town Hall|Board Room
AGENDA
In-Person Meeting | Board, Staff,and Public
12:00 pmPublic Comment
12:05pmTrustee Liaison Update Trustee Martchink
12:10pmApproval of Minutes dated July 19,2023(packet)
12:15 pmMobility Services Update Manager Solesbee
12:35pmEngineering Update EngineerBailey
1:30 pmAdministrative Update Director Muhonen
1:55pmOther Business
Adjourn
8/10/2023
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 19, 2023
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TRANSPORTATIONADVISORY
BOARD of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held
in the Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on the 19thday of July,
2023.
Board:ChairBelle Morris;Vice-ChairKristen 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;Vice-Chair Ekeren; MembersFerko, Finley,Gamble,Hanick,
Igel,and Slack;Trustee Martchink; Director Muhonen;Manager Solesbee;
Engineer Bailey; Supervisor Klein; Recording Secretary McDonald
Absent:Member Bernal
Chair Morriscalled the meeting to order at 12:07p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE
Trustee Martchinkdid not haveofficialupdates,but recounted a very positive experience
riding the trolley (Red Route) and enjoying the Town’s activities and beautifully
maintained parks with his family.
APPROVAL OF MINUTESDATED JUNE 21, 2023
It was moved and seconded (Gamble/Slack)to approve the June 21, 2023,minutes,
and it passed with Member Ferko abstaining.
MOBILITY SERVICES UPDATE
Supervisor Kleinreported on field operations for parking and transit.With more events at
Bond Parkthis year, lots are averaging 85% occupancy. The Key Performance Indicator
(KPI)reports continue to be refined; the next round will be posted July 21 on the transit
webpage, and the TAB’s feedback is encouraged. The parking structure’s new “Free
Parking & Trolley” banners have been mounted, and it is hoped that thisadvertising will
increaseusage of the structure and theEstes ParkVisitor Center(VC). All transit routes
have been running since July 1, and timing issues are being tweaked; in particular, the
Gold and Brown Routes have experienced significant delays due to construction zones.
English and Spanish versions of The Peak’s foldable transit mapsare being handed out
by field staff.
Manager Solesbee advised that Bustang ridership in May and June was up from 2022,
thanks to the collaborative marketing efforts of various agencies. The contract for the
Transportation Advisory Board–July19, 2023–Page 2
Multimodal Transportation Plan (MTP) and Transit Development Plan (TDP)will be
presented at the July 25 Town Board meeting; if approved, a staff/consultant kick-off
meeting would be held July 28 to ensure that the MTP and TDP efforts integrate the Estes
Forward Comprehensive Plan. TDP tasks will take priority, and the TAB’s engagement
will be encouraged. Due to administrative delays at the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT), thegrant agreements for both theTrolley Barn project and the
Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Plan are still pending.The Visitor Center Parking Lot
Redesign/US 34 Corridor Study is on track for a late September Request for Proposal
(RFP).Electric vehicle (EV) datacontinues to be collected; charging station use is up,
and station expansion is being discussed with the Power & Communications Department.
Discussion points included how inclement weather impacts parking structure use; factors
affecting VC; the observed increase in trolley ridership this year; past and future trolley-
tracking plans for data collection, and how very high frequency (VHF) signals may be
more reliable for service-trackingin this region;highlights of the state’s Zero Fare for
Better Air (ZFBA) initiative, and The Peak’s commitment to ZFBA participation during the
high air-pollution months of June through August; and the pending status of the
Transportation Management Organization’s (TMO) initiatives with CDOT, particularly
regarding transit services on US 34.
ENGINEERINGUPDATE
Engineer Bailey advised that the Cleave Street Improvement (CSI) project is moving
along, with a $250k Revitalizing Main Streets (RMS) grant application underway forstreet
furniture, lighting, and planters. Cleave-area merchants are being asked whether they
prefer August or September to have the required sanitary sewer line and electric
undergrounding work donebefore the CSI construction officially begins in October. Staff
is seeking a full-time, site-based construction manager to handle daily business and
contractor operations.
The Fall River Trail Extension (FRT) project has secured the $2.4m in grant funds
requested through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to finish the project.
For this current construction phase,the last 20-foot sectionis close to being poured, and
the temporary traffic signals should be removed by the end of July. The final phase should
begin in fall 2024 and conclude by Memorial Day 2025.
Director Muhonen advised that phase one of the Downtown Wayfinding Plan (DWP) will
be complete after typos on select signage is corrected.
Discussion points included an extensive exchange regarding Cleave Street’soriginal
visionas a shared, multimodal destinationarea in the 2018 Downtown Plan, and the
nuances between making structural improvements on the street and changing its
essential functionality for merchants and residents; prioritizing bike racks in the CSI street
furniture;the need for Cleave-area merchants to arrange for costly off-hours deliveries
due to construction-related impacts on Elkhorn’s routinely congested traffic;the protocol
for having an idea or project formalized in the Town’s annually updated Strategic Plan;
possible detour routes during the West Elkhorn paving project, which requires one-lane
Transportation Advisory Board–July19, 2023–Page 3
traffic through late July; current chip seal work on Big Horn Drive; and whether the “sharp”
corners on the DWP benches can be smoothed with a grinder.
ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
Director Muhonenadvised that Larimer Countyrecentlyinvited agencies to summarize
their maintenance project needs. Input for Estes Park includes US 34 & US 36
resurfacing; trail and intersection improvements on US 36, west of Fun City to Marys Lake
Road; and regional transit connectivity to Estes Park from US 34 communities.
For the Downtown Estes Loop (DEL) project, WestRiversideDrive should reopen to one-
way traffic on July 21. Night work has been approved through mid-October. Concrete
paving, earthwork fill, and curb and gutter work are in process.
Curb and gutter placement continues for the US 36/Community Drive Roundabout
(CDRBT). To complete the curb and paving work, the contractor is requestingthe Town’s
approvalof two-way traffic alternating in one lane on US 36 between July 27 and August
10. Director Muhonen asked for the TAB’s input on this closure. After discussion, it was
agreed that this inevitable work be done on two consecutive weekends—July 29 and
August 5—with amanual flaggermanaging trafficby day and a signal at night;ensuring
access and visibility for emergency vehiclesat all hours;and utilizing variable message
signs (VMS) to encourage detour routes on Mall Road and Fish Creek Road.
The 1A Town sales taxis up for renewal vote on the November 2023 ballot. If it is renewed
by voters, staff recommended to the Town Board the following funds allocation: 46% for
street maintenance (Street Improvement Fund/STIP), 17% for trail expansion,9% for
wildfire mitigation, and 28% for stormwater improvements.
OTHER BUSINESS
Member Slack advised the TAB that the ebikesrented fromEstes Park Mountain Shop
and Backbone Adventures are Classes 1and 2only. Per Town ordinance(Municipal
Code Chapter 9.18.050), the speed limit on trails and sidewalks is 6mph; it was agreed
that an enforcement presence would be beneficial.
Recording Secretary McDonald advised that the TAB will continue meeting in the Town
Hall Board Room at least through December 2023. The standing Google Calendar
invitation will be updated to reflect this location change.
There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at2:08p.m.
Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary