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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2024-10-16Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 16, 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 16th day of October, 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 Dana Klein Attending: Chair Morris; Vice-Chair Ekeren; Members Gamble, Hanick, Hooper, Streib, and Wood; Engineer Bailey; Manager Klein; Manager Pastor; Recording Secretary McDonald; Mayor Hall; Paul Hornbeck, Community Development Absent: Member Marcantonio, Trustee Igel Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Member Gamble relayed two public comments that were verbally posed to him. The first comment addressed the placement of downtown wayfinding signage near the Parking Structure (PS) and east of Kind Coffee; signage in both locations is set too far back from the sidewalk to be seen by people using a wheelchair. The second comment addressed whether Estes Park provides adequate parking and signage for longer vehicles towing a fifth wheel or other large vehicle. Discussion points included the adjusted placement of certain wayfinding signage; the reminder that oversize vehicles have parking accommodations at the Events Complex; Visit Estes Park’s website list of parking locations for larger vehicles; and use of the Town’s variable message signs (VMS) and parking app to reinforce such messaging for oversize vehicles approaching the downtown area. Manager Klein reminded TAB members to submit these types of comments online using the draft links for the Multimodal Transportation Plan (MTP) and Transit Development Plan (TDP). TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE Trustee Igel had advised by email that he could not be in attendance today, due to obligations at his business; in the same email, he had suggested that the TAB revisit the discussion of the best meeting time, now that three new members have recently been appointed. Discussion ensued regarding why the Town no longer offers Zoom virtual attendance, and which other day/time options might serve members and the public. It was agreed that Recording Secretary McDonald would check the Board Room calendar and email Chair Morris about weekdays that would be available for an 8:30 a.m. TAB meeting. Engineer Bailey advised that Chair Morris could also contact Trustee Igel directly regarding the planning or format of meetings. Transportation Advisory Board – October 16, 2024 – Page 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 It was moved and seconded (Hooper/Streib) to approve the September 18, 2024, minutes with a minor amendment, and it passed unanimously. ESTES PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY: DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Chair Morris spoke on behalf of the Estes Park Housing Authority’s (EPHA) Executive Director, Scott Moulton. EPHA’s current and future projects include housing locations across from The Rock Inn on Colorado Highway 66 (CO-66) and on Fish Hatchery Road. Discussion points included potential transit needs and issues for future residents of these locations; topics to be addressed in the traffic impact studies; grant opportunities and other funding sources for transit improvements; the current opportunity to provide public input while the Estes Park Development Code is being revised; and the value of having the TAB participate in the development planning process for new housing properties. Discussion during this agenda item flowed into the following two agenda items. MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN: DRAFT DOCUMENT DISCUSSION Discussion points for the draft MTP included the importance of meeting the needs of disadvantaged and temporary workers; how the Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan should be referenced earlier in the document, since its values inform the MTP; the need to synchronize and refine priorities with specific goals; the insufficient emphasis on addressing traffic congestion; and the disadvantage of the census information being gathered in the month of April. Given the 176-page length of the draft, it was recommended that TAB members focus on Chapter 5 (Recommendations) and the Project Prioritization (page 158), working backward to understand how priorities were measured and set. TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN: DRAFT DOCUMENT DISCUSSION The draft TDP was naturally referenced in the previous two agenda items. Further discussion included the need to modify Estes Park’s existing spoke-hub model to improve connectivity, and how The Peak’s route changes can affordably address this need. Manager Klein reminded TAB members to review and provide their online comments in both the MTP and the TDP drafts by October 25, to ensure that their input is considered during the revision process. PARKING & TRANSIT UPDATES Manager Klein summarized the paid parking occupancy and revenue numbers through October 6. Capacity continues to be at or near 100% each weekend in all lots excluding the EC and PS, helping the PS achieve 85% or higher capacity 15 times now this season. As previously requested, it was calculated that the average stay in the PS is 2-4 hours per vehicle. The Post Office lot resumed paid parking status on September 26. Overall parking revenue is down $217k from 2023 due to construction-related lot closures throughout the season. Transportation Advisory Board – October 16, 2024 – Page 3 The Peak’s Gold, Silver, Brown, and Blue Routes concluded service on September 29. The Red Route, which served 14,555 guests in September, continues service through October 20. As of September 30, The Peak has served 100k guests this season, which bodes well for future grant opportunities. Staff is applying for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Multimodal Transportation and Mitigation Options Fund (MMOF) Grant for three projects: Moraine Avenue Trail Design, Trolley Facility, and 2026-2027 Transit Operations. Manager Klein requested a TAB letter of support for the Town’s pursuit of this zero-match grant opportunity. Another application is being prepared for the Safe Routes to School Grant toward the Community Drive Multiuse Trail North Segment; for this grant, the TAB is asked to provide a letter of support to the Upper Front Range Transportation Planning Region (UFRTPR) and CDOT. Manager Klein attended the October 3 board meeting of the GoNoCo 34, which remains in the development phase. Three responses were received for the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Transition Plan for Transit request for proposals, and the top two firms were interviewed. Discussion points for parking and transit included the “cascading congestion” during Elk Fest weekend, as drivers seemed determined to find a parking space downtown rather than heed the VMS messaging about availability at the EC and PS; the desire to preserve parking options on Cleave Street; the need for more Community Service Officers (CSOs) and shifts; the possibility of adding a traffic control fee to the Town’s Event Permit, to help the Police Department budget for such needs; and the demand for transit service from downtown to The Stanley Hotel. Additionally, it was agreed that road congestion is exacerbated when people decide to drive themselves into Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) instead of honoring their seat reservations on the RMNP Hiker Shuttle, which then becomes another partially occupied vehicle on the roadway. During the off-season, Manager Klein’s team will be studying transit route changes and other vital topics for the 2023 year-end parking and transit report to be presented to the Town Board. ENGINEERING UPDATES Engineer Bailey reported that the Cleave Street Improvements Project (CSI) resumes on October 21 with undergrounding work and the unplanned accommodation for a fifth grease trap on Cleave Street. Staff is hiring a construction manager to be on-site daily. This project phase will be difficult and require ongoing adaptation toward the goal of substantial completion in May 2025. Paving in the Reclamation Neighborhood will be delayed until spring due to the discovery of old, shallow Xcel service lines. The Town’s Water Division will provide a temporary covering on the concrete during the cold season. Transportation Advisory Board – October 16, 2024 – Page 4 CDOT’s US 34/36 Resurfacing Project continues with occasional daytime work that compromises traffic flow. Transitions will be completed during this US 34 phase, with work on US 36 postponed until spring. GRANT APPLICATIONS IN PROGRESS FOR MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION AND MITIGATION OPTIONS FUND This item was addressed by Manager Klein earlier in the agenda. UPDATE ON PAST PUBLIC COMMENT Regarding the September 18 public comment by Max Burkhalter about parking conditions on High Drive, Engineer Bailey advised that his team had visited the site to monitor parking behavior. No problems were observed during that site visit, but Public Works staff will follow up as needed if rules are being violated. Parking boulders, rather than delineators, are the Town’s preferred parking deterrent method because a vehicle can hit them without damaging the product. OTHER BUSINESS None. There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 2:03 p.m. /s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary