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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2020-07-15 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 15, 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 15th day of July, 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, Ron Wilcocks, General Mgr. of The Car Park Matt Eisenberg, Trustee Carlie Bangs, Public Works Director Greg Muhonen Absent: Engineering Mgr. David Hook 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made and seconded (Gamble/Street) to approve the May meeting minutes as corrected and all were in favor. PROJECT UPDATES: PARKING (Parking & Transit Mgr. Vanessa Solesbee) General Manager of The Car Park, Matt Eisenberg presented parking occupancy updates to the group capturing data from Memorial Day weekend through the end of June. Compared to 2019, occupancy on all Town parking lots is down. One thing to keep in mind that plays a part in the overall data shown is that the Visitor Center, Town Hall and the Library are not open and there is no Rocky Mountain National Park Hiker Shuttle operating. Member Wilcocks requested timed snapshots as shown in years past. Member Gamble suggested that the roundabout project at MacGregor Ave. & Wonderview (U.S. 34) may have also impacted parking numbers (presentation attached). PROJECT UPDATES: TRANSIT (Parking & Transit Mgr. Vanessa Solesbee) Manager Solesbee informed the TAB that the visitor numbers are down this year and the shuttle service is nearly empty on most routes. Wilcocks suggested stopping all shuttle services, banking the dollars saved and apply to year-round service. Solesbee stated that stopping service is certainly an option being considered, while weighing considerations for those locals dependent on the transit service for in -town travel. The Transit Division is also preparing a Request for Proposal for the second Town- owned electric trolley to go through the competitive bid process. The Town of Estes Park is one of a few organizations that will be participating in a data project allowing trip planning through Google Maps. This is at no cost to the Town and will be coming soon. PROJECT UPDATES: ENGINEERING (Engineering Manager David Hook) Fall River Trail Extension: The contractors are in town and have started staking and clearing along the alignment moving eastward. 2020 Street Improvement Program (STIP): Both the chip seal program for 2020 and the crack seal program for 2020 are currently Transportation Advisory Board – July 15, 2020 – Page 2 in the works and should be completed by next week. 3rd Street Traffic Calming: A neighborhood meeting will be held tonight. The first test of traffic calming will be to close 3rd Street to through traffic. Some cars have pulled onto the sidewalk to allow more room for two-way traffic on the road. The test will start July 22, 2020. Another neighborhood meeting will be held August 26 to discuss the results of the testing. The Water Division will be performing work in the area in September which may allow the opportunity for a potential street rebuild. DE-BRIEF “STAY HEALTHY STREETS” Chair Morris reminded the TAB that per direction in May regarding Stay Healthy Streets (SHS), a plan was created. There was much concern over the idea of what would occur in the downtown core. Some merchants expressed concerns regarding adequate access to their businesses during the pandemic. Morris compiled a list of the feedback on the SHS Plan and sent the SWOT analysis to TAB members last night. Curious about thoughts from members about next steps. Member Hanick informed the group that there is a significant amount of news on Facebook about the towns surrounding national parks and how safe they are. Member Wilcocks stated that it is a negative for businesses to not be a masked community. Many people will not shop, or even come downtown, due to the numbers of individuals downtown that choose not to wear a face covering, and without the SHS plan there is no social distancing ability. This sends a message that we are clearly not safe as an unmasked community. Wilcocks recommends Cleave Street as an open road, social distancing proposal. Member Gamble agrees that the downtown layout is not ideal but there is no viable alternative at this time but there may be a future for this after the DE Loop is constructed. Member Moulton recommended performing the SHS test during the off-peak season. A motion was made to have TAB write a letter of support to the Town Board stating that, from a Transportation perspective, it should be made mandatory that face coverings be worn along the downtown sidewalks as well as inside establishments. Five members were in favor, two were opposed and one member abstained. Hanick reminded the group that this letter isn’t just for the tourists as we need to m ake it a safe healthy place for residents as well. Morris requested thoughts from TAB on a potential SHS pilot test in October. Member Gamble asked Town Board Liaison Carlie Bangs, how far out from pilot would the Town Board need TAB’s input. Bangs stated that the idea was not to have a pilot in the peak season. Bangs suggested that, rather than a formal recommendati on, staff coming back to the Town Board for discussion. Director Muhonen reminded the group that the cost of barricades has to be conquered. If looking at an October pilot there may be potential to utilize barricades from the City of Loveland. Another option is to explore grant opportunities. Prior to starting anything like this, Muhonen would like direction from the Town Board. Muhonen requested TAB thoughts by the end of August. Moutlon made a motion to draft a letter for an operational test for forward-looking implementation of SHS and Member Hanick seconded. All were in favor. Trustee Bangs thanked the group for meeting and the discussions. Muhonen reminded the group that Chair Morris and Co-Chair Street put tremendous effort into the SHS planning process. There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m. Megan Van Hoozer, Recording Secretary