HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2024-09-18Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, September 18, 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 18th day of
September, 2024.
Board: Chair Belle Morris; Vice-Chair Kristen Ekeren; Members Larry Gamble,
Linda Hanick, Joan Hooper, Misti Marcantonio, Carissa Streib, and Wallace
Wood; Trustee Mark Igel; Staff Liaison Greg Muhonen
Attending: Chair Morris; Members Gamble, Hanick, Hooper, Streib, and Wood; Trustee
Igel; Engineer Bailey; Manager Klein; Engineer Waters; Manager Pastor;
Recording Secretary McDonald; Mayor Hall; Claudine Perrault, Estes
Valley Library Director; Paul Hornbeck, Community Development; Max
Burkhalter and John Guffey, Public Attendees
Absent: Vice-Chair Ekeren; Member Marcantonio; Director Muhonen
Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Max Burkhalter (Town resident) voiced serious concern regarding on-street parking near
the intersection of Heinz Parkway and High Drive. A Police Department vehicle was
recently damaged while an officer was on site to investigate this concern. Customers and
staff of Bird & Jim and Bird’s Nest contribute to the area’s heavy traffic and congested
parking conditions that cause visual obstruction for drivers. The owner of these
businesses has expressed awareness of this problem and willingness to follow
recommended solutions. Following brief discussion about the use of parking boulders,
the TAB agreed to follow up with potential solutions at the next meeting.
TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE
Trustee Igel indicated that he did not have updates beyond those to be provided during
the agenda items to follow.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED AUGUST 21, 2024
It was moved and seconded (Gamble/Hanick) to approve the August 21, 2024,
minutes, and it passed unanimously.
NEW MEMBER WELCOME
Chair Morris welcomed Carissa Streib as the TAB’s newest member and invited all
members and staff present to briefly introduce themselves.
SCOPING PROJECT FOR DOWNTOWN RIVER CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS: BIKE
ROUTE DISCUSSION
Transportation Advisory Board – September 18, 2024 – Page 2
Acknowledging her June 26 presentation to the TAB and overall outreach efforts,
Engineer Waters emphasized that this Scoping Project is not a construction project but a
study—funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient
Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program—focused on eliminating the risk of
flooding downtown near the confluence of the Big Thompson and Fall Rivers. The study
complements priorities laid out in the 2018 Stormwater Master Plan, 2016 Estes Valley
Master Trails Plan, and 2018 Downtown Plan, particularly regarding pedestrian amenities,
river depth changes, and well-vetted trail concepts along the Big Thompson River south
of Elkhorn Avenue.
Through GEI Consultants, the Town will gain a technical report and 30% Design drawings
that could be used, with Town Board approval, to apply for a construction grant to
complete recommended capacity improvements in the study area; likewise, the Town
could choose to decline undertaking such work. Based on trustee responses to directional
questions posed at a September 10 Town Board Study Session (TBSS), there is good
support for an eventual project; a follow-up TBSS is planned for January 2025 before the
technical report and drawings are ready.
Discussion points included the desire to preserve views in the potential restoration area,
as required in the Estes Valley Land Trust conservation easement; how the trail elevation
in certain sections would depend on excavation factors; potential reworking of George
Hix Plaza; the desire to avoid losing 20 parking spaces in the Riverside Lot; pros and
cons of a trail underpass near the Riverside restrooms and park area near Casa Grande,
a typically congested area; and whether the benefits of undertaking an official project of
this nature will outweigh the visual sacrifice and financial cost. Engineer Waters invited
TAB members to contact her with further input before the consultant work is complete,
and to access the study resources on the Town’s Floodplain Management webpage.
PARKING & TRANSIT UPDATES
Manager Klein summarized the paid parking occupancy and revenue numbers through
September 15, reminding members to access the full reports on the Estes Parking
webpage. Due to Bond Park festivals, which require removal of 54 parking stalls,
weekends continue to see all lots at or near 100% capacity, excluding the Events Center
and Parking Structure (PS). Revenue continues to be down due to construction, with all
lots reflecting a 4.2% decrease from previous years’ average. All 395 PS stalls filled on
September 14, helping the PS achieve 85% or higher capacity 11 times this season.
With the Town’s contract with The Car Park expiring December 31, Manager Klein is
developing a parking management Request for Proposals and will be assembling a
committee for selection of the new parking management firm; he will work with Chair
Morris to secure TAB representation on this committee.
The Red Route served 15,303 guests in August, up 6.7% from 2023 despite fewer visitors
during the Alexander Mountain Fire and resulting closure of US 34. Although weekend-
only service for all non-trolley routes began on September 8, Brown Route ridership
continues to be high because of service to the YMCA of the Rockies. Scot Fest served
Transportation Advisory Board – September 18, 2024 – Page 3
1,257 guests from the Events Center to the Estes Park Visitor Center, despite the festival
canceling its parade downtown this year.
The rescheduled tabling event for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
and Regional Transportation District (RTD) was finally held at the Estes Park Visitor
Center on September 9. Since a majority of the “wheel spinners” were from out of town,
RTD gave away more promotional items than passenger tickets.
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Plan for Transit went to bid on September 11 with a
proposal due date of October 2.
Discussion points included a request for the average parking stay in the PS and whether
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) might consider expanding use of its High Drive
connector road for bus access. Manager Klein will investigate both requests.
E-BIKE INCENTIVES & SUPPORTED INFRASTRUCTURE/POLICY
Chair Morris welcomed Claudine Perrault, Estes Valley Library (EVL) Director, to initiate
a conversation regarding e-bike incentives for downtown employees. Director Perrault
stressed that she was sharing an idea, not a proposal, inspired by Denver’s Office of
Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency e-bike voucher program. Such a program in
Estes Park could reduce car use by downtown employees, who would not have to fight
traffic and limited parking during the paid parking season; this would also free up parking
spaces for downtown business customers.
Discussion points included the financial cost and logistics of such a program for the Town,
EVL, and interested businesses; agreement that such a program should initially be limited
to the paid parking season; road/sidewalk safety and other Estes Park Municipal Code
considerations; application of Policy 851 Complete Streets; program testing options, such
as an e-bike demo for potential stakeholders, starting with Town and EVL staff; and
personal experiences riding e-bikes in Estes Park, including the challenges of winter
weather and lack of bike racks. The TAB agreed that this topic deserves research and
further conversation as a future agenda item.
ENGINEERING & ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES
Engineer Bailey reported that the Downtown Estes Loop (DEL) project punch list of 70
items should be completed by September 30. Focus areas are pedestrian lights, curb and
sidewalk repairs, and landscaping.
Patching has begun on Pine Knoll Drive, with tree removal planned for September 19;
milling will follow.
Concrete paving in the Reclamation Neighborhood is currently delayed by low
temperatures, but all lanes on US 36 are now open.
CDOT’s US 34/36 Resurfacing Project continues to deal with asphalt/paving plant
problems and low night temperatures, with no work expected at all this week. Although
Transportation Advisory Board – September 18, 2024 – Page 4
Public Works staff agreed to permit daytime work Monday through Thursday, it is unlikely
that the work on US 36 will be completed this year.
Following input from the TAB and transit drivers on the conceptual design alternatives for
the Visitor Center Parking Lot Redesign, Kimley-Horn has begun the 30% Design for
Alternative B. Engineer Bailey advised that conversion to Alternative A, if desired in the
future, would not compromise the Alternative B construction work.
Kimley-Horn is drafting the Town of Estes Park 2045 Transportation Plan (MTP-TDP) for
staff to review in October; comments from the TAB and Steering Committee will be
considered before the plan is presented to the Town Board in December for adoption.
Engineer Bailey advised the unfeasibility of adding a dedicated bike lane to East Elkhorn
Avenue due to inadequate clearance and transit options. There was brief discussion
about the poor signage placement for the pedestrian crossing near the Post Office;
Engineer Bailey will raise this topic at today’s DEL meeting.
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL & COMMUNITY DESTINATIONS
Chair Morris summarized the Family Advocacy Coalition’s (FAC) first family listening
session, where residents were asked why they live here and what their needs are.
Session topics included the desire for year-round transportation options; and whether the
community is more visitor- or resident-focused when it comes to housing, childcare, and
other family services. The TAB briefly discussed how Policy 851 Complete Streets
addresses the transportation needs, and how Spanish-speaking residents are best
served by their employers and Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success (EVICS).
Chair Morris encouraged TAB members to attend future FAC listening sessions.
Member Gamble reported that a family survey regarding Colorado Highway 7 (CO 7)
crosswalk safety might be most effective in February 2025, when the Prospector
Apartments expects to reach full occupancy. Discussion points included the possibility
that survey responses, whenever collected, could change based on how long a
respondent actually resides in the area of concern; and alternative placements for
crosswalk signals. The TAB’s previous discussions regarding volunteer crossing guards
and the walking school bus option for CO 7 were summarized for Member Streib.
UPDATE ON PAST PUBLIC COMMENT
These comments were addressed earlier in the agenda.
OTHER BUSINESS
None.
There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 2:01 p.m.
/s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary