HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2020-11-18
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, November 18, 2020
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board of the
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held virtually on the
18th day of November 2020.
Committee: Belle Morris, Tom Street, Janice Crow, Ann Finley, Larry
Gamble, Linda Hanick, Scott Moulton, Gordon Slack, Ron
Wilcocks
Attending: Belle Morris, Tom Street, Janice Crow, Ann Finley, Larry
Gamble, Linda Hanick, Scott Moulton, Gordon Slack, Trustee
Carlie Bangs, Public Works Director Greg Muhonen, Parking
& Transit Mgr. Vanessa Solesbee
Absent: Ron Wilcocks
Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No electronic submissions of public comment were received prior to the deadline and no
public was in attendance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made and seconded (Gamble/Slack) to approve the October meeting
minutes and all were in favor.
SIDEWALK / TRAIL INVENTORY (Chair, Belle Morris)
Chair Morris introduced the concept of defining a separate task force or subcommittee
to discuss the specific focus of the data collection of needed work on sidewalk s and
trails, beginning around the schools. Referencing a plan put together in February
regarding trail needs, she stated there is a good start on the downtown trails. Member
Moulton created a spreadsheet allowing the documentation and categorization of
identified improvement needs.
The suggestion is to utilize the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) overlay, starting from the
school and establishing a one-mile radius to determine safety. The key is to identify
deficient, crumbling, or otherwise degraded areas along the sidewalks and trails;
provide associated locations; and identify a ranking each by importance of the areas.
Once the one-mile radius is complete, the group will then evaluate the two-mile area,
while continuing to repeat the process and establish a basis for potential future SRTS
grants, as well as making recommendations to the Town Board. This will also serve
issues of connectivity and is in-line with the Estes Valley Master Trails Plan, established
as a guiding document.
Member Gamble stated that he’d spent some time on the internet after the last TAB
meeting and found a tremendous amount of information on SRTS with tons of resources
available – guides, checklists for parents/students, etc. to help define safe rou tes.
Gamble suggested not reinventing the wheel and utilizing the established methods
provided. He also suggested a small group be defined to view what is readily available
and how to make this process more streamlined.
Finley suggested, if a small group is created, that the information found be brought back
to the TAB for discussion and additional TAB direction. Morris stated she wants to
define a formal subcommittee to document infrastructure. With the Brodie Avenue
SRTS being the leading need, the champion of the subcommittee would work with
Public Works on education and outreach in addition to infrastructure needs. She stated
there needs to be a defined order and structure to this initiative.
Muhonen said it could also be a potential task force, a subset of TAB with or without
public participation. Morris added that the student/staff encouragement and education
Transportation Advisory Board – November 18, 2020 – Page 2
are a requirement of the SRTS grant. Morris said that one or two TAB members may be
able to work alongside Public Works in the Brodie and Graves Avenue areas to see how
it works. The findings could then be reported back to the TAB, rather than having subset
of existing TAB members.
Gamble stated that in his research, a number of communities have utilized consultants
to get started. This is a big process and is more of a community undertaking and he
understands that Public Works may not have the capacity to champion this focused
effort on their own. To do it well, it requires a significant amount of effort. He suggested
that the TAB could encourage someone in the community to champion this effort that
could be more heavily involved.
Member Slack stated that the current Chair to the successor organization for Families
for Estes may be willing to take this on as a project and should be contacted. Morris
suggested she would step up since the work is in the school area and she has a good
grasp of the Graves Ave. project and what TAB is doing. Trustee Liaison Bangs stated
that may be a good start as the organization is involved with the education foundation
as arm of the school district.
Manager Solesbee knows an individual that would like to be more involved in the
community as well. The woman has a tremendous amount of experience with SRTS
and has the time available. If desired, Solesbee would be happy to connect her with
Chair Morris for work on the Graves Ave. project. Chair Morris accepted the offer.
Muhonen stated that Grant Specialist Crosser shared that she also has a citizen that
would be interested in participating in the process. Morris stated again that she would
like to see a task force be formed.
The TAB Members that would join the task force are Members Finley, Gamble, Hanick
and Chair Morris. Finley stated she’d like to start with looking at the information found
by Gamble. Gamble asked members of Public Works if this is something the Town
Board would have to approve. Muhonen shared an example of a task force created by
one PAB member, Ron Wilcocks, as a subcommittee to the PAB. That subcommittee
only had one advisory board member so it was not considered a public meeting for the
PAB. It was run entirely by the subcommittee and Wilcocks reports back to the PAB .
Either way it is a separate meeting track and generally contains interested citizens from
the community.
The individuals that will be reviewing the information discovered by Gamble are
Moulton, Morris, Hanick, Finley and Gamble. Once a meeting time is identified the
Public Works Administrative Assistant will be notified for needed advertisement of the
public meeting.
PROJECT / ADMINISTRATION UPDATES (Public Works Director Greg Muhonen)
Director Muhonen provided updates to the TAB on ongoing work and/or discussions
since the last meeting.
Downtown Estes Loop: Muhonen shared with the TAB, an updated engineering drawing
showing a crossing at Davis Street on Moraine Ave. To add that crossing, it will take two
diagonal parking spaces. He suggested recommending a change to that design by
moving the crossing to the South and freeing up two parking spaces. He further stated
that this change would help those traveling on the West side of the road. Gamble
agreed and sees no fatal flaws while servicing the pedestrians better. Members Crow,
Finley and Hanick agree. Muhonen will move forward with the recommendation and will
confirm with the design team of Central Federal Lands (CFL) about including a rapid
flashing beacon at that location.
Another comment to the CFL project manager that Muhonen would like to address is
the previous discussion about enhanced concrete material. The continued uptick in cost
continues to be a threat. Muhonen would like to recommend that rather than use this
material in all crosswalks, that they just be used in areas identifying the Riverwalk. The
enhanced concrete material is basically just fancier and costs more. He would like to
Transportation Advisory Board – November 18, 2020 – Page 3
propose using traditional crosswalks for the cost savings. CDOT is pushing back on
some other areas of decorative concrete. The change would not propose a safety
reduction for pedestrians.
The area of pushback is at the intersection of Elkhorn Ave. (US-36) and Riverside Dr.
The existing proposal shows the decorative concrete in an ‘X’ shape to allow for the
Barnes Dance. Muhonen’s proposal would be to have the standard thermoplastic be
added in that form to show pedestrians they can cross any dire ction.
Gamble doesn’t recommend putting up a fight about how the crosswalk is identified in
the intersection, as long as it is identified. Morris disagrees and thinks it will pose a
safety hazard for Community Service Officers. Muhonen will be offering the
thermoplastic crosswalk inlays as a compromise to the decorative concrete.
Community Drive Roundabout: Muhonen shared that there will be a meeting tomorrow
and that he will share the final design in a public way. He will plan to have special
presentation at a future TAB meeting.
3rd Street Traffic Calming: The contractor has come up to Estes Park and performed
striping on 3rd St., North Ct. and South Ct. for the new traffic concept in the reclamation
neighborhood.
PROJECT UPDATES (Parking & Transit Mgr. Vanessa Solesbee)
Parking:
Manager Solesbee shared with the TAB that staff will be presenting a resolution on
November 24, 2020 at the Town Board Meeting to establish 2021 parking fees. She
thanked the TAB for the letter of support submitted for this item. Solesbee and The Car
Park’s General Manager, Matt Eisenberg are already planning for 2021. They’re
planning robust outreach and communication efforts with both locals and visitors. If the
Town Board approves the resolution, the outreach will start with residential and
employer/employee permits. Communication will then be targeted to guests and visitors.
The Downtown Wayfinding project will be resuming under Engineering Manager Hook.
The initial phase of the project is directed to paid parking. Solesbee would like to come
back and share the final designs for the parking signage. She also plans to provide an
update on items being discussed with the Police Department. These items are related to
parking ordinance updates, code changes, and escalated enforcement if needed.
Chair Morris has heard that some communities have provided an option for those
individuals with high parking fees. In lieu of payments, they have accepted canned food
items or other forms of community service. Solesbee stated she will investigate different
options. Solesbee stated that there will be no graduated fine structure due to lack of
effectiveness per research found.
Chair Morris asked if, along Graves Ave. for example, construction vehicles are
permitted to park on the side of the road. She asked what the Town has in place so they
can’t just park their vehicles and equipment along the road. Solesbee stated she will be
visiting with the Police Department next month and this goes into a larger conversation
about on-street parking and how to better manage those areas.
Transit:
Solesbee reported that there is a lot going on in the Transit world. The winter pilot
service begins today. She thanked those that helped get the word out. A map will be
going on the website to show what the new service will offer. Solesbee has received lots
of positive feedback but looks forward to seeing what ridership is like.
Solesbee is submitting two award projects related to the electric trolley. Both awards are
very competitive but worth our time. She invited the TAB, if so inclined, to provide a
letter of support as part of the nominations. Would like TAB’s permission to have Belle
write a letter. The TAB was supportive of this letter being written.
Transportation Advisory Board – November 18, 2020 – Page 4
The Town Board approved the contract for the Town’s 2nd electric trolley last week. The
new trolley should be delivered by May 2021 and will be coming from the same vendor.
Other big project is possible because of a bus facility grant from CDOT. The project is
likely to get kicked off in the spring and will be managed by the Town’s Facilities
Manager. Completion is anticipated to be in the Fall of 2021.
The Shuttle Committee will be meeting in early December. Solesbee will update the
TAB and the next regularly scheduled TAB meeting.
Member Moulton shared information received regarding the winter pilot program
schedule. The primary comment was that it is too bad the pilot is not scheduled to run
early in the morning. Solesbee shared that one reason for the schedule is that she had
worked with school officials on when students may need access. Another reason is that
the electric aspect of the trolley may operate better, in the winter, in the afternoon and
would reduce the potential for cancellation during the colder weather.
The Electric Vehicle (EV) Plan will be ready and delivered to by the end of November.
Once the documents is nearly finalized, she will share it with the TAB, post it on the
Town website, and share with stakeholder groups to gather feedback throughout
December. The project manager, Sarah, will come to December meeting. At the end of
January the plan will be presented at the Town Board Study Session, with hopes to
finalize the plan at the February 8, 2021 Town Board Meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS (Chair, Belle Morris)
There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 1:27 p.m.
Megan Van Hoozer, Recording Secretary