HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2022-5-18
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, May 18, 2022
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 18th day of May,
2022.
Board: Chair Morris; Vice-Chair Ekeren; Members Bernal, Finley,
Gamble, and Slack
Attending: Chair Morris; Vice-Chair Ekeren; Members Finley, Gamble,
and Slack; Managers Barr, Hook, and Solesbee; Director
Muhonen; Trustee Martchink; and Recording Secretary
McDonald. Also attending were Dana Klein (The Car Park)
and Peter Gibbs (Resident).
Absent: Member Bernal
Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Resident Gibbs inquired about the status of applications for the TAB’s current vacancies.
Trustee Martchink advised that applicants would be notified by email regarding the
interview process.
TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE
Trustee Martchink introduced himself as the new Town Board liaison to the TAB. He
replaces Trustee Bangs and is in the process of reading through past minutes of the TAB.
The Town Board has begun the 2023 strategic planning process, and invites
recommendations and questions.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED APRIL 20, 2022
It was moved and seconded (Slack/Gamble) to approve the April 20, 2022, minutes,
and the motion passed unanimously.
PARKING & TRANSIT UPDATES
Manager Solesbee reported that the paid parking season begins May 27. Improved
signage and additional paystations will be placed next week, parking permits are being
renewed or purchased, and staff is working with IT and Trailblazer to ensure dependable
Wi-Fi access in all paid parking lots. Manager Klein (The Car Park) has secured three
full-time and two part-time staff, and emphasized “ambassadorial-focused” customer
service. The foldable 2022 parking maps were distributed. Discussion points included the
process for monitoring parking lots; the use of zero-dollar, courtesy citations (welcome
note with instructions for how to pay the next time) early in the season; how to
communicate with customers who habitually decline to pay for parking; and the issuing of
an official citation when a customer parks without credentials in a restricted space.
Communication strategies about parking and transit are options-focused and include the
Town’s website and news releases; Visit Estes Park’s (VEP) social media and newsletter;
participation in the Estes Chamber of Commerce’s (ECC) Estes Inspired Tourism
Tradeshow on May 3, and collaboration with the ECC’s lodging members to provide
materials to their guests; being featured on the “Know Before You Go” series on Channel
8 EPTV; translation of print resources into Spanish and the distribution plan for print
resources through the community; and a fun and friendly ad series for the free trolley and
animal-themed parking lots.
Daily summer trolley service also begins May 27, with the remaining five routes in service
on July 1. Bustang and the Rocky Mountain National Park’s (RMNP) Hiker Shuttle resume
service on Memorial Day weekend, with required reservations being handled by those
entities. Other transit updates included communication efforts regarding the closing of the
Visitor Center (VC) parking lot during the Farmers’ Market; pursuance of Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) grant 5339b to cover the 59 percent cost increase for completing
Transportation Advisory Board – May 18, 2022 – Page 2
the trolley facility, which will require a Town Board letter of support; and the receipt of a
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) grant agreement for redesign of the VC
parking lot (SB 267 project), for which the TAB is asked to help prepare the Request for
Proposal (RFP) this fall. Discussion points included the use of staff flaggers to direct
parking for the Farmers’ Market; concerns about turning left from the VC parking lot onto
Big Thompson Avenue; the possibility of expanding bicycle racks and ebike charging
stations; adding bicycle racks to the current parking map; and the importance of
developing the Transit Development Plan (TDP) with a mobility-hub theme.
EXPRESS PASS: UPDATED OPTIONS & DISCUSSION
Manager Solesbee invited Manager Klein to present feedback from the Downtown
Parking Task Force (DPTF) regarding the concept of a pre-purchased “Express Pass”
parking permit. The DPTF’s goals, concerns, and alternatives were discussed. Staff and
The Car Park propose seeking Town Board approval—with a letter of support from the
TAB—to pilot the pass for 2022, allowing time to collect vehicle-behavior data showing
the permit’s impact on both paid parking and the customer experience. It was agreed that
limiting the number of permits during the pilot season could compromise the data needed
to fairly assess its value. TAB indicated support of an Express Pass pilot in 2022 with
data collection and refinement mid-season, if needed. Chair Morris offered to write a letter
of support.
FALL RIVER TRAIL: COLORADO THE BEAUTIFUL GRANT
Manager Hook advised that Manager Barr is pursuing a new job opportunity, with his last
date of Town employment being May 27. Managers Hook and Barr presented the bid set
for the segment of the Fall River Trail (FRT) being funded by the Colorado the Beautiful
(CtB) grant, which features completion of the bus pullouts. There was discussion about
the need for overhead shelters for cyclists and transit vehicles along the trail, and it was
agreed that the future MTP would address this need.
ENGINEERING UPDATES
Manager Hook’s engineering updates included the recruitment planning to fill two
engineer vacancies for Civil Engineer I and II, with modifications to certain requirements;
the upcoming interview for the Grants Specialist position; progress of the Downtown
Wayfinding Plan (DWP) since the April 21 public meeting, which produced valuable
feedback on the initial signage designs from participants, as well as ongoing discussion
between the DWP team and representatives from VEP, the ECC, and the VC; the status
of the two Multimodal Transportation and Mitigation Option Funds (MMOF) grant
applications, which are due June 1; and progress on the West Elkhorn Avenue
improvements.
2023 TAB STRATEGIC PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
Chair Morris invited discussion on the 2023 TAB Strategic Planning Topics document,
which focuses on extending funding for trail maintenance and expansion; development of
the Multimodal Transportation Master Plan (MTP); and Moraine Avenue improvements.
Discussion points included trail ROW history for Otie’s Trail in the Stanley Heights
neighborhood; prioritizing of the FRT grant and 2023 construction projects; possible
outreach efforts to solicit continued support for the expiring 1A Sales Tax Fund; the
sequence of agency approval for autonomous vehicles to be prioritized in infrastructure
planning; and safety issues at the intersection of Moraine Avenue and Mary’s Lake Road,
which could be addressed in a 2024 Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant
application. The first 2023 strategic planning session was hosted by the Town Board on
May 17, with strong participation by the Environmental Sustainability Task Force (ESTF);
the second session is scheduled for June 13, for which Director Muhonen advised that
the TAB submit its letter of 2023 priorities for consideration.
ENGINEERING & ADMINISTRATION UPDATES
Director Muhonen reported that the Town Board approved the contract for the US 36 and
Community Drive Roundabout, with construction to commence this fall. The project
schedule and cost for the Downtown Estes Loop (DES) will be discussed at the May 24
Town Board Study Session. The Central Federal Lands (CFL) will ask for an increase in
local match funds to secure the additional $3 million in FLAP funds needed for the DES,
and a letter of support from the TAB will be needed following the CFL’s official request.
Transportation Advisory Board – May 18, 2022 – Page 3
OTHER BUSINESS
There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 2:06pm.
/s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary