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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2025-03-19Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, March 19, 2025 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 19th day of March, 2025. Board: Chair Belle Morris; Vice-Chair Carissa Streib; Members Kristen Ekeren, Larry Gamble, Linda Hanick, Joan Hooper, Misti Marcantonio, and Wallace Wood; Trustee Mark Igel; Staff Liaison Dana Klein Attending: Chair Morris; Members Gamble, Hooper, Marcantonio, and Wood; Manager Klein; Director Muhonen; Recording Secretary McDonald; Mayor Hall; Engineer Waters Absent: Vice-Chair Streib, Member Ekeren, Member Hanick Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:07 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Two public comments were received in writing after the meeting packet deadline. The first was a Public Comment Form submitted online by Cory La Bianca (Town citizen) expressing concern about a left turn arrow at the new Moraine Avenue roundabout. After brief discussion based on the submitted photo, it was agreed that Director Muhonen would respond to the concern by email. The second was a letter submitted to Chair Morris by Harry Kent (Town citizen) stating opposition to the Elkhorn Lodge Phase II Annexation, based on the potential impact to Elm Road. Since the TAB does not have a formal role in evaluating Community Development Department projects, discussion ensued about whether it should concern itself with this land use application matter in particular, or other development projects in general. With knowledge of the Strategic Plan, the TAB typically becomes engaged at the design phase of projects that can cause transportation issues. While the TAB has occasionally discussed specific projects that prompted traffic concerns, it was agreed that regular engagement in such projects would require a larger, vital discussion in the future about possibly formalizing the TAB’s role in the development application process. TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE Trustee Igel introduced the topic of the Town Board’s March 11 discussion of the action item “Resolution 19-25 Establishing 2025 Seasonal Paid Parking and Parking Permit Fees,” explaining that the lack of a TAB letter of support had impacted the final vote. Strong discussion ensued regarding the responsibilities and nature of the TAB and its Town Board Liaison; the relevance of the TAB as an advisory board to staff and the Town Board when it comes to critical topics, although some of the public perceives that it has evolved into a project-endorsement entity; how the TAB’s newer members (terms beginning April 1, 2024) have not yet had the opportunity to formally support or oppose Transportation Advisory Board – March 19, 2025 – Page 2 projects or programs that commenced prior to their terms; the importance of presenting fact-based information when updating the public about TAB activities; how TAB members expressing their opinions publicly, particularly in a letter, should specify whether the opinion is being expressed by the TAB as an entity or by the member as an individual citizen; and the TAB’s obligation and commitment to feature supporting and opposing arguments when crafting a formal letter of support to the Town Board. Since the 2025 Paid Parking Program was approved by the Town Board on March 11, it was agreed that the TAB would engage in a thoughtful, possibly moderated discussion of the topic beginning in late October; this would be after conclusion of the 2025 paid parking season and in preparation for the 2026 season. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED FEBRUARY 19, 2025 It was moved and seconded (Morris/Marcantonio) to approve the February 19, 2025, minutes, and it passed unanimously. FINAL DRAFT DISCUSSION: MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN & TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN Manager Klein advised that staff recommends taking the final Multimodal Transportation Plan (MTP) and Transit Development Plan (TDP) documents to the Town Board for approval on April 22. Staff has been addressing proofreading edits with Kimley-Horn; TAB member feedback today should focus on overall content. Director Muhonen advised that Chair Morris would take notes today for drafting the TAB’s letter of support/position; members could also email their comments to her. This letter would be voted upon by members at the TAB’s April 16 meeting, then submitted that day for inclusion in the April 22 Town Board packet. Discussion points included that the SCOTUS model of detailing majority and minority positions in its rulings would be good practice to follow when the TAB prepares letters of support for Town Board consideration; that MTP and TDP topics are distinct and should be detailed primarily in their respective documents, referenced only as necessary in each plan when their topics naturally cross over; confirmation that the project lists in each plan can be reordered or reprioritized according to need and funding availability; the benefits of having a “wrapper” statement in the plans that would acknowledge their shortcomings, emphasize their starting-point nature, and assure that modifications would be made as needed in the coming years, likely by 2030; and how MTP-TDP survey flyers were used as an outreach method to the Spanish-speaking community, but that the documents themselves are in English only. The TAB agreed that—with safety being a priority for ages “8 to 80”—sidewalk development should take precedence over bike lanes since some areas can serve both needs; that visitor growth in Estes Park demands more and safer connectivity options; that the plans should include cycling accommodations but not be so focused on them, since the analysis of cyclist needs was mostly locals-centric; and that the TDP is better developed document than the MTP. Transportation Advisory Board – March 19, 2025 – Page 3 MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN & TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN: NEXT STEPS Chair Morris will draft a TAB letter of support for members to review and vote upon at their April 16 meeting. 2025 PAID PARKING RATES: TOWN BOARD RECAP & NEXT STEPS Given the lively discussion during the Trustee Liaison Update, Manager Klein acknowledged that having a TAB letter of support at the March 11 Town Board meeting would have been helpful. On March 25, the Town Board study session will focus on Estes Park Municipal Code (EPMC) Title 10 Parking Prohibition Revisions, which are mostly focused on relaxing overnight parking restrictions for downtown residents; and Policy 842 Parking Permits Revisions, which would be informed by any ordinance changes. Staff is discussing renaming the Post Office lot as the Baldwin Park lot, for naming consistency with other lot names and local landmarks. PARKING & TRANSIT UPDATES Manager Klein reported that Bustang to Estes service will resume a 41-day, weekend- only season with two buses running round-trip for $15 per person. Applications for three projects were filed with the Upper Front Range Transportation Planning Region’s (UFR TPR) Multimodal Transportation and Mitigation Options Fund (MMOF); two were approved: Moraine Avenue Trail Design and 2026-2027 Transit Operations. The intergovernmental agreement (IGA) for the CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) grant was finally received; the initiatives will be undertaken in the 2025 season and completed in 2026. GoNoCo34, the transportation management organization (TMO) of which Manager Klein was elected Treasurer, continues to meet regularly and is building membership through a LinkedIn campaign. The Zero-Emission Vehicle Fleet Transition Plan is underway with the consultant, and a stakeholder workshop being planned. The Peak routes are being modified for safety and new stops. The Big Horn Parking Structure design contract requires a budget amendment before presentation to the Town Board on April 22. ENGINEERING UPDATES Director Muhonen reported that the design services contract for trail upgrades along Colorado Highway 7 (CO 7) and US 34 was approved on February 11. Cleave Street Improvement project updates are best followed by signing up for the weekly email. Resident Engineer Gina Fox of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will attend the April 16 TAB meeting to present a recent pedestrian study that addresses ongoing crossing safety issues on CO 7; TAB members received this report by email and should read it through before the next meeting. Discussion points included the difficulty of fully analyzing the crossing safety issues on CO 7 before the Prospector Apartments are fully occupied; the benefits of a road diet; and appreciation for the concrete work recently completed by the Street Division near the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District Community Center. Additionally, Director Muhonen summarized the TAB’s discussion earlier in the meeting about the paid parking Transportation Advisory Board – March 19, 2025 – Page 4 program; it was confirmed that the program would be analyzed again starting in October, and that no further action would be taken for the 2025 program. UPDATE ON PAST PUBLIC COMMENT Regarding comments Member Hooper had received about overnight parking restrictions at The Wheel Bar, the TAB briefly discussed that the currently proposed changes to the EPMC do not seem to provide language that meets the needs of bar patrons wishing to avoid driving; the language should allow for discretionary situations, if possible. For this type of EPMC administrative change, it was agreed that the TAB need not write a letter of support. OTHER BUSINESS None. There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 2:15 p.m. /s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary