HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2012-04-10 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, April 10, 2012
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town
of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in
Rooms 202/203 in said Town of Estes Park on the 10th day of April,
2012.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Levine, Trustees
Blackhurst, Elrod, Ericson, Koenig and Miller
Attending: All
Also Attending: Interim Town Administrator Richardson, Town Attorney
White, Director Zurn and Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION LOCATION
The Board discussed the value of holding study session meetings in Room 202/203
versus the Board Room. It was mentioned by staff, the meeting rooms would have
audio/microphone capability in the near future. The Board reached consensus to
continue holding study sessions in Rooms 202/203 because it is their intent to maintain
the informal nature of the meetings, and encouraged staff to move forward with audio
capability in the rooms as soon as possible.
NEXT BUS TECHNOLOGY & VMS/ITS SYSTEM
Murray McBride/Consultant and Matt Weatherford/Senior Transportation Engineer, Iteris
Inc. provided an update on the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) a.k.a. Real Time
Passenger Information System (RTPIS) approved by the Town Board on March 13,
2012 with Connexionz. Mr. Weatherford provided an overview of the system stating the
system improves ridership by increasing trust in the bus system. He stated Connexionz
has begun work on the system and would utilize Verizon as the provider as it is the
company’s understanding the coverage is similar to AT&T. Each bus stop has been
mapped and assigned a unique five digit code to provide information on location and
arrival time to the server to be displayed at the Visitor Center, transportation hub,
website, available to smart phone and tablet users or any third-party identified such as
Rocky Mountain Transit. Connexionz plans on delivering equipment by the end of April
to be added to the current busses to ensure the system is working prior to June when
the rest of the fleet arrives. The next steps include inputting the Town’s data to build the
website, management tool and predictions. The service should improve customer
service, increase awareness of the shuttle system, and provide a foundation of
technology for future improvements and regional coordination.
A discussion ensued regarding the use of Verizon as the provider. Trustee Koenig
restated her concerns expressed during the March 13th meeting that use of Verizon
would not work in many of the locations in Estes Park and that AT&T should be used.
She stated Connexionz should be responsible for any additional costs associated with
contracting with AT&T to make the system work properly because the Board made it
clear on the 13th Verizon would not work. Interim Town Administrator Richardson
commented Verizon would add a tower to Prospect Mountain in the near future to
improve their coverage; however, the vendor needs to ensure the system works and
would be responsible to provide the service outlined at no additional cost to the Town.
Mr. McBride would discuss the change and costs with the vendor.
Town Board Study Session – April 10, 2012 – Page 2
Additional items that could be added to the system at an increased cost include QR
codes, automatic ridership tracking for both boarding and deboarding, automatically
announce the next stop to on-board passengers, wi-fi for passengers, future
expandability to include other agencies such as the National Park. On-board monitors
could be added to the system to improve the rider experience. It was suggested the
LMD could provide the service and also add advertisement to the shuttle system.
The Board requested staff review the cost of adding counters to provide information for
each stop with time stamp because the count is currently done by hand and is time
consuming. One consideration may be the installation and removal of the units each
year due to the calibration required with each installation.
VARIABLE MESSAGE SYSTEM (VMS)
Ms. Laurie Miskimins/Transportation Planner for Federal Highway Administration,
Central Federal Lands Highway Division was present to provide an overview of the
2012 signage plan including proposed locations for Dynamic Message Signs (DMS),
proposed messaging, proposed static signage and maps, and other support and
improvements for the 2012 season. She stated the construction on Bear Lake Road
this year has presented additional signage needs. From May 29th – October 9th from
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. the road would be accessible only via the free Park shuttle. The
transportation hub would provide parking and staging for visitors. DMS and other
communication efforts would provide visitors with information related to the construction
prior to their arrival in Estes Park (Park and Town open, but plan ahead and be
prepared). Lessons learned in 2011 include the need to provide additional promotion
avenues to front range residents; provide direct links to shuttle information on both
RMNP and Town websites; encourage staff to provide a consistent and positive
message that promotes use of the shuttle; provide improved wayfinding information to
the transportation hub and to pick-up locations; encourage peak-spreading by providing
pre-trip information to visitors; highlight the word “free shuttle”; provide visitor
information from a regional perspective; and DMS are effective whereas the Highway
Advisory Radio (HAR) had limited effectiveness. DMSs would be located near Drake on
Hwy 34, Mall Road on Hwy 34, Pole Hill on Hwy 36 and east of Community Drive on
Hwy 36. The signage used for the transportation hub would be similar to the signage
used in the Front Range in an effort to make it user-friendly and familiar to visitors. A
future application includes the use of Google applications that would most likely be
available in 2013.
Trustee Koenig stated the placement of the signage in 2011 was too close to the turn
for the transportation hub, and without additional information on the number of spaces
or limited parking, visitors will continue to drive into town for parking. She stated visitors
need to be motivated to park at the transportation hub. Other comments from the Board
included the need to define the shuttles as free, however, Park entrance fees are still
required. There needs to be additional messaging that two different shuttle services are
provided by the Town and the Park. Trustee Miller questioned where additional cars
would be parked if the transportation hub and the program becomes a success.
Director Zurn stated there are additional parking spaces available in a dirt lot as well as
the school parking lot. Staff has a new signage package to be installed this year based
on the 2011 experience. Staff continues to work to coordinate parking for special
events; however, Mr. Hannon stated transit needs are highest during the day while
special events are more likely to be held in the evening.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk