HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2024-07-17Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 17, 2024
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 17th day of July,
2024.
Board: Chair Belle Morris; Vice-Chair Kristen Ekeren; Members Larry Gamble,
Linda Hanick, Misti Marcantonio, Wallace Wood; Trustee Mark Igel; Staff
Liaison Greg Muhonen
Attending: Chair Morris; Members Gamble, Hanick, and Wood; Trustee Igel; Director
Muhonen; Engineer Bailey; Manager Klein; Manager Pastor; Recording
Secretary McDonald; Paul Hornbeck, Community Development
Absent: Vice-Chair Ekeren, Member Hooper, Member Marcantonio
Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:08 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE
Trustee Igel did not have new information to present as a formal update but indicated that
he would be glad to take back to the Town Board, at the TAB’s request, any
communication that might result from today’s meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED JUNE 26, 2024
It was moved and seconded (Gamble/Hanick) to approve the June 26, 2024, minutes
with a minor amendment, and it passed unanimously.
PARKING & TRANSIT UPDATES
Manager Klein reported that the May 24–July 14 occupancy data shows near 100%
capacity each weekend in all lots excluding the Events Center and Parking Structure (PS).
Banners, sandwich board signs, and light pole advertising are promoting use of the free
PS and Town transit, with the PS achieving capacity of 85% or higher six times since the
May 24 season launch. Overall parking revenue is down due to temporarily free parking
at the Riverside, East Riverside, and Post Office lots; however, the remaining paid lots
are earning an increase of 6% over the average reported in previous years. Payment use
is mostly balanced between the mobile app and kiosk options, and people are retaining
their stalls for longer periods. Weekly parking data continues to be posted regularly on
the Estes Transit webpage under Paid Parking Season Resources. Manager Klein will
investigate whether the Mistall Platform will feature app accessibility.
Transportation Advisory Board – July 17, 2024 – Page 2
Despite The Peak’s reduced daily operating hours this year (9am-9pm versus 7:30am-
9:30pm in 2023), Red Route ridership reached 11,859 in June, up 13.7% over 2023.
During the special transit schedule offered for July 4 fireworks, ridership was at 525.
Since May 25, Bustang to Estes weekend service has drawn 513 riders, with 137
disembarking at the Visitor Center (VC) and 376 bound for Rocky Mountain National Park
RMNP). At the VC on August 4, 8:30am-noon, Manager Klein will help promote The Peak
at a tabling event hosted by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the
Regional Transportation District (RTD). The Peak’s updated maps and event transit
service are available on the Town’s transit webpage.
Manager Klein continues to represent Estes Park in the creation and organization of the
GoNoCo34 Transportation Management Organization (TMO), which aims to promote
sustainable, regional transit options. Steer Consulting is developing the business
structure and the funding to support branding. Recruitment is underway for a part-time
(24 hours per week) Executive Director.
ENGINEERING UPDATES
Engineer Bailey advised that concrete work on the north side of Graves Avenue will be
completed by the end of this week, with asphalt patching to follow. This Safe Routes to
School (SRTS) project, which is expected to conclude by mid-August, allows two-way
traffic on Graves Avenue, with parking allowed only on the south side.
The Cleave Street Improvements Project (CSI) is on pause until October 21, 2024, when
the project will resume with six weeks of undergrounding work; if possible, the roadway
contractor may also work during that period. Meanwhile, the Street Division will water the
Cleave Street surface as needed. Staff is still working to ensure that Xcel Energy resolves
the bollard issue at the rear of 119 West Elkhorn Avenue.
Following public outreach efforts for the Transportation Management Plan (TMP) and
Transit Development Plan (TDP), Consultant Kimley-Horn is refining data and the
priorities list. The conceptual plans will be reviewed soon by staff and presented to the
TAB on August 21.
The final segment of the Fall River Trail Extension (FRT) may require slight adjustments
to the project’s final design. Bidding will take place in the spring with the goal of
construction in fall 2025.
ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES
Director Muhonen referred TAB members to the project page links provided on the
agenda for the Downtown Estes Loop (DEL) and CDOT US 34/36 Overlay projects, and
invited questions. He also advised that asphalt milling on Moraine and Elkhorn Avenues
is expected to begin July 29, followed by paving, sealing, and striping. Substantial
completion of the DEL is expected before October.
Transportation Advisory Board – July 17, 2024 – Page 3
Brief discussion points included a horse hitching post near Rockwell Bridge that has been
missing since construction began in fall 2023, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
compliance work at the intersection of Marys Lake Road and Moraine Avenue.
UPDATE ON PAST PUBLIC COMMENT
Regarding the June 2 TAB Public Comment Form about speeding on Fish Creek Road,
which was discussed at the June 24 meeting, Director Muhonen reminded the TAB that
Larimer County is responsible for signage and speed enforcement there. On roads that
fall within Town and County jurisdictions, maintenance responsibilities are shared.
Regarding Public Comment from the June 24 meeting, Engineer Bailey advised that the
suggestion for year-round Town transit service to the northeast region of Estes Park could
be considered in the TMP development. Public input on the TMP will be taken until the
plan is adopted by the Town Board.
OTHER BUSINESS
Manager Pastor reported that two firms were selected to interview in early August for the
Big Horn Parking Structure design. Public input will be invited once the selected
consultant produces three conceptual designs.
Director Muhonen advised that CDOT Engineer Gina Fox had received an internal
application call for multimodal trail funding; he requested that she submit, on behalf of
Estes Park, the application for a Moraine Avenue multimodal trail from Davis Street to
Marys Lake Road.
There was brief discussion regarding the sidewalk on Big Horn Drive; the planned polling
of school parents this fall regarding Colorado Highway 7 (CO 7) crosswalk safety;
regulations on school bus service on highways; and color guidelines for street marking.
There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 1:16 p.m.
/s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary