HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Board 2023-08-16Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, August 16, 2023
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 16th day of
August, 2023.
Board: Chair Belle Morris; Vice-Chair Kristen Ekeren; Members Javier Bernal,
Jessica Ferko, Ann Finley, Larry Gamble, Linda Hanick, Mark Igel, and
Gordon Slack; Trustee Patrick Martchink; Staff Liaison Greg Muhonen
Attending: Chair Morris; Vice-Chair Ekeren; Members Ferko, Gamble, and Slack;
Trustee Martchink; Manager Solesbee; Engineer Bailey; Recording
Secretary McDonald
Absent: Member Bernal, Member Finley, Member Hanick, Member Igel, Director
Muhonen
Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 12:06 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATE
Trustee Martchink did not provide updates.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED JULY 19, 2023
It was moved and seconded (Slack/Gamble) to approve the July 19, 2023, minutes
with minor amendments, and it passed unanimously.
MOBILITY SERVICES UPDATE
Manager Solesbee advised that the upcoming Bond Park events season should result in
a full parking structure through Elk Fest weekend, September 30-October 1. Thus far this
season, full capacity has been reached four times—a 27 percent increase over 2022
utilization; usage has increased 43% overall since the recent installation of banners
advertising “Free Parking & Trolley,” which DMS messaging has also featured. The July
Park-n-Walk Challenge drawing revealed 35k unique plate-reads for the month. The Car
Park staff is experiencing more tired and/or frustrated customers, which is not unusual as
the summer tourism season wanes each year. Use of the Barnacle immobilization device
is being replaced by a self-service smart boot device due to the Barnacle’s tendency to
further damage windshields with existing cracks; the change of device does not impact
the Town’s policy and process for vehicle owners with repeated parking violations.
The Peak shuttles transported over 35k riders in July, trending with the peak monthly
ridership of 44k in 2016. Bustang to Estes ridership also increased by 14% in July.
Transportation Advisory Board – August 16, 2023 – Page 2
The Town Board approved the contract award for the Multimodal Transportation Plan
(MTP) and Transit Development Plan (TDP) on July 25, and an internal kick-off meeting
was held. Manager Solesbee provided Kimley-Horn with ideas on selection committee
membership and invited participation from two TAB members; Chair Morris and Member
Ferko volunteered. The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Visitor Center Parking Lot
Redesign/US 34 Corridor Study is planned for late September; Member Finley and Chair
Morris will serve on the selection committee.
The Town is scheduled August 22 for routine audit by the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT) Division of Transit & Rail. This ADA compliance audit is required
every three years for entities receiving Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds. The
FTA 5311 operating grant award for 2024 is $71k, but the Town remains eligible for an
expansion grant to bridge the gap to the actual amount needed for operations; the parking
fund may also provide supplementation. The grant agreements for the Trolley Barn
project and Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Plan are still pending CDOT action.
Discussion points included parking structure usage stats and current signage promotions;
current shuttle routing around the parking structure and Visitor Center, and alternatives
that could be developed through the TDP; the underutilization of the Events Complex for
free overflow parking; the inconsistent route schedules of certain shuttles, which is being
addressed by Supervisor Klein; decreased ridership on the Brown Route; the placement
strategy of “free ride” messaging and sponsor advertising on the shuttles; and how Cleave
Street area parking and business delivery patterns are impacted by project construction.
It was agreed that the TAB page on the Town website should provide an invitation and
instructions for public comments at any time, and that a button/link to a comments form
existed on the TAB page of the Town’s former website platform. Recording Secretary
McDonald will ensure the restoration or creation of a public comments form on the current
TAB webpage and also request that the Public Information Officer send a news release
reminding the public that their comments are always welcome by the Town’s boards and
committees.
ENGINEERING UPDATE
Engineer Bailey reported that the complex Cleave Street Improvement (CSI) project was
further complicated last week when the Estes Park Sanitation District (EPSD) informed
property and business owners that it would begin a four-week sewer main replacement
project on September 11. Because the project is expected to impact all through-traffic on
Cleave Street, Public Works had advised EPSD to contact owners before announcing a
specific start date. Five property owners remain unresponsive about temporary easement
requests; it will be evaluated whether the project can commence without the easements.
Roadway work will follow the more extensive underground utility work phase. The Town
was awarded $241,300 in Revitalizing Main Street Grant funding for CSI street furniture,
lighting, and planters.
Transportation Advisory Board – August 16, 2023 – Page 3
For the Fall River Trail Extension (FRT) project, two-way traffic resumed August 4 on Fall
River Road. Mill and overlay of the eastbound lane along Wall 1 is planned for early
September. Attenuator installation is planned for August 28. Staff developed a project
completion punch list, and a news release will be issued when the section is officially
completed.
The Civil Engineer I/II Limited Term position remains open after three declined offers, but
an offer has been extended to a recently interviewed candidate, and another application
is being reviewed.
Discussion points included a situation involving postal carriers and their placement
preference for cluster boxes opposite the pullouts on Fall River Road; gas line relocation
work expected on Moraine Avenue; and the potential for Cleave Street business delivery
traffic issues, which will be managed by a construction manager.
ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
In the absence of Director Muhonen, Engineer Bailey distributed a written summary of
project updates for the Downtown Estes Loop and US 36/Community Drive Roundabout.
(This written summary page is included in the TAB’s August 16, 2024, archived meeting
packet in the Town of Estes Park Public Records Portal.)
OTHER BUSINESS
Discussion points included inviting Larimer County as a stakeholder for TDP topics
concerning county roads; the welcome addition of 37 new diagonal parking spaces on
Moraine Avenue between Snowy Peaks Winery and Molly B Restaurant; the custom
temporary signs announcing “More Food & Shopping” for Gaslight Square Shops, which
the business owners appreciated; the status and quality of overlay and patching on West
Elkhorn Avenue; and the benefits of having TAB-led biking tours and walking audits
around the community to raise awareness of multimodal safety issues, which Manager
Solesbee will suggest to Kimley Horn as part of the MTP-TDP.
It was agreed that the TAB may revisit, on a future agenda, the topics of meeting time,
frequency, and location.
There being no further business, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 1:31 p.m.
/s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary