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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2015-7-15Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 15th, 2015 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Rooms 202 & 203 of Town Hall, in said Town of Estes Park on the 15th day of July, 2015. Present: Kimberly Campbell Amy Hamrick Gregg Rounds Belle Morris Stan Black Bryon Holmes Also Present: Greg Muhonen, Director of Public Works Kevin Ash, Public Works Civil Engineer Jen Imber, Public Works Administrative Assistant Brian Wells, Shuttle Coordinator John Ericson, Town Board Liaison Abscent: Cory LaBianca Ann Finley Thom Widawski Chair Campbell called the meeting to order at 12:14 p.m. GENERAL DISCUSSION Paul Fishman offered public comment on the downtown parking issue, specifically commenting on frustration for the discussion at the June TAB meeting. Mr. Fishman also distributed a letter from the Downtown Parking Task Force requesting there be no official recommendations from TAB on downtown parking at this time. Glen Malepeide also offered comment on the parking issue, asking TAB to work with ongoing efforts in the community to solve parking problems. Minutes from the June 17th, 2015 meeting were reviewed by members. It was moved and seconded (Black/Holmes) to approve all aforementioned minutes, with the motion passing unanimously. No shuttle committee update was provided. The board discussed the lane realignment of the intersection at Highways 34 and 36. CDOT realigned the intersection on June 22nd and 23rd to improve northbound traffic. TAB members feel the project was a success. STAFF UPDATES ON TOWN PROJECTS Kevin Ash updated the board on the Dry Gulch Road Improvements project. No bids were received at the close of the July 2nd deadline, mostly due to contractors schedules being currently full through the end of the year. Several options are being looked at to make the project more attractive to potential bidders, with main construction beginning in March of 2016 and a longer overall construction period. The Town is looking to start the trail extension and Sombrero Ranch intersection construction this fall so part of project could be completed in 2015. Director Muhonen reported on a progress meeting he recently attended on the Loop project. Difficulty designing bridges to accommodate a 100 year flood will result in many more properties affected and a much higher property acquisition cost. The Town is exploring with CDOT whether rigid guidelines will be implemented or if a variance to measurably improve the situation will be approved. Transportation Advisory Board – July 15th, 2015 – Page 2 A roundabout in the Donut Haus location is under evaluation as a potential option when the Loop project advances. Transit Hub Parking Structure is scheduled for Planning Commission in August. The Town is still working with the Bureau of Reclamation and EVRPD on footprint and placement of the structure. EVRPD has requested the open stairway feature be removed or enclosed due to the close proximity to the golf course. Barnes Dance timing is currently implemented at Elkhorn/Moraine and Elkhorn/Riverside intersections. Data is being collected on the weekend under different pedestrian traffic scenarios. Director Muhonen is hoping for a response in Fall 2015 on the Tiger Grant. Another application is being submitted for a grant for two permanent variable message boards. Final plans for Fish Creek flood damage repairs were presented at a recent meeting. Trail and road repair are included in the plans. DOWNTOWN PARKING STRATEGY The board was cautioned that being too specific with recommendations regarding parking could hinder grant opportunities; a better approach would be to offer guidelines instead. Stan Black shared a recent parking study that was completed in conjunction with the Performing Arts Center. This July 2nd, 2015 study showed plenty of empty parking spaces in the downtown corridor available on a Saturday evening in July. TAB believes the ideal time to implement a paid parking plan would be in conjunction with the opening of the parking structure. Paid parking would ideally be enforced every day from the beginning of June until the end of September. Trustee Ericson strongly encouraged basing this recommendation on facts instead of perceptions. Chair Campbell will get Visit Estes Park lodging data to correlate with the Highways 34/36 traffic numbers. Visitor Center and Fairgrounds parking will remain complimentary. A tiered system for hourly rates was discussed, with the possibility of free parking in remote lots, intermediate rates in perimeter lots and premium rates for the core downtown area. Premium lots in the downtown area were identified by TAB and the idea was discussed to altogether eliminate the concept of perimeter lots, consequently determining all downtown parking areas to be premium. Trustee Ericson suggested going with the defined area of the downtown corridor as voted on by the Town Board as premium locations instead of arbitrary selections made by TAB members. A large portion of the downtown area already has a three-hour parking limit. TAB discussed the possibility of all paid parking being charged at the same rate, with time limited parking being implemented in the downtown area in accordance with the current time-limited lots and areas. It was largely agreed that paid parking could solve the problem of downtown employees parking in premium downtown locations all day. With no other business to discuss, Chair Campbell adjourned the meeting at 2:01 p.m.