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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2025-02-05Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, February 5, 2025 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Estes Park Museum in said Town of Estes Park on the 5th day of February, 2025. 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, Marcantonio, Streib, and Wood; Trustee Igel; Manager Klein; Director Muhonen; Engineer Bailey; Recording Secretary McDonald; Mayor Hall; Paul Hornbeck, Community Development; Barb Boyer Buck, Estes Valley Voice; Gordon Slack, Public Attendee Absent: Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT None. TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE Trustee Igel advised that the Town’s Development Code revision, which is currently underway, provides a great opportunity for community involvement in a long-term decision-making process with lasting impact. He also reported that he and Town Administrator Machalek have discussed the goal of regularly streaming and/or recording future TAB meetings to improve accessibility and retain a comprehensive meeting record for posterity. Brief discussion ensued about the benefits of the Zoom platform; Trustee Igel advised that this option is not currently being considered. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED DECEMBER 18, 2024 It was moved and seconded (Gamble/Morris) to approve the December 18, 2024, minutes with minor edits, and it passed unanimously. MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN & TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN: FINAL DRAFT DISCUSSION Chair Morris opened discussion on the draft Multimodal Transportation Plan (MTP/Plan), emphasizing that any recommendations put forth by the TAB should reflect efficiency and engagement with the community’s priorities. Members were then called upon individually to share their analysis of the MTP’s pros and cons. Transportation Advisory Board – February 5, 2025 – Page 2 Discussion points included the need to correct grammatical and spelling errors (a flash drive capturing these errors was provided for routing to the consultant); the need to reorganize certain topics throughout the Plan; factual errors, such as the number of signalized intersections; the importance of generalizing language where appropriate and avoiding the overuse of specific terms like roundabout and HAWK, particularly when solutions are still being analyzed; the utilization of bullet points to summarize sections through the Plan; concerns that comments received after October 6 were not considered in the final plan, as suggested by language on the community engagement table, and that the consultant’s summary of comments should verify that all comments were received and considered; the lack of trails shown on the gap analysis, the omission of the Fall River Trail on multiple pages, and the inaccuracy of describing the trails network as comprehensive; the suggestion to move the transit sections from the MTP to the TDP; the lack of consideration for congestion factors, particularly during the busiest months; acknowledgment that the number of streets will not change, and that the adding of 500 parking spaces is not a long-term solution to congestion; how congestion can be mitigated by directing RMNP-bound vehicles to the Fall River Entrance via Wonderview Avenue; general support for cycling opportunities and acknowledgment that the mode is increasing in popularity, but reluctance to expand cycling services if they are prioritized over pedestrian safety; areas of inadequate pedestrian access and parking downtown, particularly on West Elkhorn Avenue and Big Horn Drive; the need to develop perimeter parking solutions that respect the distance between the parking area and downtown, and that those parking areas feature bike rental opportunities; pedestrian crosswalk safety concerns throughout downtown; prioritization of a US 34/Steamer Drive roundabout to facilitate transit operations from the Visitor Center; general acknowledgment that roundabouts continue to be a controversial topic; the need to facilitate a left turn onto US 36 when exiting the Parking Structure; attention to the transit needs of seasonal workers; balancing the service considerations for people visiting Estes Park only with those visiting Rocky Mountain National Park only; the Downtown Parking Management Plan (DPMP) and Visit Estes Park as references for MTP data and development; how the DPMP phases should be allowed to unfold before solid recommendations can be made about where and how to expand downtown parking spaces; and the MTP’s insufficient focus on active transportation and how it promotes a healthier lifestyle for the general community. It was agreed that the MTP’s length and overall scope is a challenge to read and comprehend; that the community should be helped to understand the impact of the MTP’s 79 recommended projects between now and 2045; and that the Plan lists more problems than solutions. Although its impact on the whole Estes Valley matters, the MTP should be downtown-focused, with the TAB serving as its long-term think tank. Engineer Bailey advised that the MTP is the revision of a 20-year-old document and that it should be reviewed approximately every five years from the time of adoption. It will be a living document that suggests primary—though not essential—needs for consideration and will serve as a notice of vetted projects for the coming 5-10 years, which means the project number will fluctuate. The Town’s obligation to the MTP would be prioritizing its recommended, publicly supported projects as funding allows. Transportation Advisory Board – February 5, 2025 – Page 3 Due to time constraints, the TAB did not discuss the Transit Development Plan (TDP). MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN & TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN: NEXT STEPS Based on vital concerns raised during today’s discussion of the MTP, and the need to secure its loose ends and clarify its overall priorities, the TAB agreed to postpone preparing a letter of support to the Town Board for the Plan’s adoption on February 25. Instead, the TAB will meet again on February 19 to review Kimley-Horn’s comments tracking spreadsheet, formalize its position on the MTP, and conduct the delayed discussion of the TDP. Engineer Bailey advised that, at this point in time, any substantial revisions to the MTP, such as parking policy changes or recommending a major development like a downtown tram service, would require seeking further funding from the Town Board. 2025 TAB OFFICERS ELECTION Chair Morris indicated that she was willing to continue serving as the TAB Chair unless another member announced interest in the role; no member did so. Vice-Chair Ekeren indicated that she wished to step back from the Vice-Chair role to allow another member the opportunity. Chair Morris briefly described the Vice-Chair’s duties; after brief discussion among the members, Member Streib announced a willingness to serve in the role. It was moved and seconded (Hanick/Hooper) for Chair Morris to continue as the TAB Chair and for Member Streib to serve as the TAB Vice-Chair, and it passed unanimously. UPDATE ON PAST PUBLIC COMMENT None. OTHER BUSINESS None. There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 1:55 p.m. /s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary