HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2023-09-20Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, September 20, 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 20th day of
September, 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; Vice-Chair Ekeren; Members Finley, Gamble, Hanick, Igel,
and Slack; Director Muhonen; Manager Solesbee; Engineer Bailey;
Recording Secretary McDonald
Absent: Member Bernal, Member Ferko, Trustee Martchink
Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE
None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED AUGUST 16, 2023
It was moved and seconded (Gamble/Ekeren) to approve the August 16, 2023,
minutes with minor amendments, and it passed unanimously.
MOBILITY SERVICES UPDATE
Manager Solesbee reported that Supervisor Klein recently achieved his Certified
Community Transit Manager (CCTM) status, and that in his absence today she would
present the parking and transit operational update.
Parking space average occupancy is up about 2.5%, with peak occupancy up about 4%.
Labor Day weekend saw every lot and the parking structure full for more than one hour
on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday; Event Center overflow parking and shuttle access
were advertised but underutilized. Parking structure use continues to grow; on average,
2023 is reporting 34 more cars per day than reported in 2022. Parkers in all areas are
staying longer. Business is expected to be heavy over the next several weekends for
Autumn Gold & Rails in the Rockies (September 23-24), Elk Fest (September 30-October
1), and Pumpkins & Pilsners (October 7), as well as for Rocky Mountain National Park’s
(RMNP) free entrance on September 23 for National Public Lands Day.
Transportation Advisory Board – September 20, 2023 – Page 2
August ridership on The Peak is up 27% from 2022, with 26,155 passengers. The fall
service schedule commenced on September 4; the Red Route continues daily, and all
other routes are weekend only through Elk Fest. August ridership numbers for Bustang
to Estes were consistent with 2022.
The August 22 audit by the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Division of
Transit & Rail (DTR) covered 12-13 categories, including Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) compliance; the Town successfully passed this Subrecipient Information Review
(SIR) site visit.
Initial tasks for the Multimodal Transportation Plan and Transit Development Plan (MTP-
TDP) include extensive data collection for consultant Kimley-Horn. The Steering
Committee will meet soon to review a community engagement plan draft and possibly
conduct some transit ride-along opportunities. Committee members include Public Works
and Community Development staff; the TAB’s Chair Morris and Member Ferko; John
Hannon (RMNP); and representation from the Estes Chamber of Commerce and
community service agencies. Rut Miller of the Estes Valley Investment in Childhood
Success (EVICS) will serve as liaison to the Spanish-speaking community.
The request for proposals (RFP) for the grant-funded Visitor Center Parking Lot
Redesign/US 34 Corridor Study is planned for release October 5. Chair Morris and
Member Finley are serving on the Selection Committee.
With the CDOT contracts for the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Transition Plan and the
Trolley Barn project not expected for another 2-3 months, the trolleys will be housed
outside for another cold season.
Manager Solesbee, Engineer Bailey, and Director Muhonen continue with planning tasks
for the Big Horn parking structure.
Discussion points included requests for Local Permit and RMNP Hiker Shuttle usage
reports; the successful partnership with the Estes Valley Library in registering 339 Local
Permits as of July; and parking availability related to construction fencing placement in
the Post Office lot.
ENGINEERING UPDATE
Engineer Bailey reported completion of the Fall River Trail Extension’s (FRT) current
segment; an upcoming news release will advise of grant funding for the FRT’s final
completion in July 2025.
The securing of 1A sales tax renewal funds in November, as well as work by the Town’s
Water Division and Estes Park Sanitation District (EPSD), will precede any street repairs
in the Reclamation Neighborhood. Discussion with residents will be a priority.
Current work for the Cleave Street Improvements (CSI) project include EPSD sewer line
relocation; undergrounding of overhead electrical; and lowering of Xcel gas lines and
Transportation Advisory Board – September 20, 2023 – Page 3
CenturyLink duct banks. This work must be staggered and requires Public Works
permitting; the Town’s phase of the project should begin in January 2024 and conclude
by Memorial Day.
Discussion points included concern over the FRT’s ultimate exit point .25 miles before
Fall River Court, which was originally planned according to the project’s available budget;
the possibility of Public Works developing standard signing and markings for all users
where trails cross driveways and streets; recent observations about ebike user speed on
the Lake Estes Trail and downtown; whether Safe Routes to Parks (SRTP) funds could
be pursued for Reclamation Neighborhood street repairs, since the area provides access
to Cherokee Draw and the Lake Estes Trail; and easement-granting issues related to 4
of 25 Cleave Street properties, and how work can be modified around those areas now
but fully completed later if the easements are eventually granted.
ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
Director Muhonen reported that curbs for the US 36/Community Drive Roundabout
(CDRBT) have been poured for the central and splitter islands. Paving of the US 36
westbound lane should be complete on September 22. One-way traffic flow continues for
weekday construction, with two-way flow allowed for weekend traffic. Final pavement
work is expected next week; median, guardrail, and seeding work will follow. Community
Drive should reopen by October 18 with temporary streetlights.
The next public meeting for the Downtown Estes Loop (DEL) is planned for September
27 (4:30 p.m. in the Town Board Room). Temporary traffic control plans are under review,
and Flatiron Constructors, Inc. (FCI) hopes to address the plans at the meeting and start
the permanent one-way pattern on Elkhorn Avenue, Moraine Avenue, and Riverside Drive
on October 2. Roundabout concrete work is underway, and stormwater pipes are being
installed during night work. Post Office lot accessibility will be heavily impacted from
October 1 through April 1, although concessions are being considered for patrons and
delivery trucks during the holiday season.
Director Muhonen was contacted by Engineer Gina Fox of CDOT Region 4, who is
seeking CDOT’s Nonattainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Enterprise (NAAPME)
funding for trail work on Moraine Avenue (Crags Drive to Marys Lake Road) and CO 7
(Peak View Drive to Graves Avenue). Such work was identified in a survey conducted for
bicycle- and pedestrian-focused communities approximately 18 months ago. Engineer
Fox has been invited to present to the TAB at a meeting in the near future. NAAPME-
eligible projects reduce traffic, encourage multimodal transportation, or otherwise directly
reduce air pollution. Member Ferko is a NAAPME Board member.
TAB members are encouraged to participate in the Town’s budget study sessions on
September 28 and October 5 (both 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Town Board Room).
Public Works staff will present an overview during the October 5 session.
Discussion points included roundabout design and landscaping features, which are
planned to reduce driver choices and visual distractions that could impede traffic flow; the
Transportation Advisory Board – September 20, 2023 – Page 4
need for trails funding to focus on accessibility and maintenance issues before expansion
projects should be considered; muddy and unkempt conditions on the recently completed
US 36 underpass, which the contractor and Estes Valley Recreation and Park District
(EVRPD) are responsible for addressing; and the Town’s current lack of receipt of a
petition against the DEL night work.
OTHER BUSINESS
Member Slack continues to observe certain Blue Route drivers running well ahead of the
transit schedule; Supervisor Klein is regularly monitoring the timing for all routes. This led
to the topic of whether on-demand transit service is viable for Estes Park; Manager
Solesbee advised that the TDP process will address this topic.
There was brief discussion about the transit program budget, which was generously
subsidized by pandemic-era funding in 2020 and 2021, and then with paid parking
revenue in 2022. A current shortfall of $200k will see some compensation from CDOT
(starting at $70k, with additional funds likely), but the Town’s primary budget concern at
this time is whether the 1A sales tax will be renewed. Manager Solesbee will engage the
TAB when the time comes to initiate transit program budget discussion with the Town
Board.
Chair Morris reminded TAB members that the bylaws address regular attendance to
meetings, while acknowledging that all members have complex schedules. (Recording
Secretary’s note: Section VI. Attendance: In the event any member misses three (3)
consecutive regular meetings or a total of four (4) regular meetings in a calendar year,
the Town Board may remove its appointed member for neglect of duty and designate a
new member to fill the vacancy.) A brief discussion ensued regarding whether another
time of day would be more effective for TAB member attendance and also promote public
attendance. It was agreed that changing to an 8:00 a.m. start time on the third
Wednesdays is desired; Recording Secretary McDonald will consult with the Town Clerk’s
office about room availability and the protocol for this change.
There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 1:59 p.m.
/s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary