As part of the update to its Comprehensive Plan, Boulder County is asking for public opinion on how to best develop, manage and maintain the county’s multimodal transportation system. The Planning Commission will hear public comment on the draft policies that will guide the county’s transportation service, facility improvement and investment decisions on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse on the Pearl Street Mall.

“Looking toward the challenges of the future, we must transform our existing transportation system if we are to preserve our incredible quality of life and create the kind of future we want for our children,” said George Gerstle, Boulder County Transportation Director. “To do so will take creativity and vision in light of local and regional growth, the aging of our population, and the energy, global climate change, and fiscal challenges we are facing. We need to explore new ways of providing safe, affordable, and convenient mobility options that are environmentally, socially, and fiscally sustainable for current and future generations.”

The proposed transportation policies, which the county released in draft form last week, seek to meet the travel needs of county residents and visitors by providing choices about how to travel – by car, bicycle, bus, or on foot – and by taking good care of existing county transportation facilities. Because demands typically exceed available resources, the county is proposing that priority be given to maintaining the existing transportation system and improving mobility and safety in corridors that connect communities to each other and the region. Overall, the new policies suggest that the county’s transportation resources should focus on moving the greatest number of people in as sustainable a manner as possible.

The new transportation policies also forward Boulder County’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by addressing transportation’s role in generating these emissions. For example, like many communities throughout the country, the county is proposing that it implement a program to reduce vehicle miles traveled within the county.

“Such an approach not only reduces transportation’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, but can also reduce the demand for major facility expansion, which can be incredibly expensive and disruptive to communities and the environment,” Gerstle said.

For more information, please contact Transportation Planning Manager Julie McKay at 720-564-2662 or jmckay@bouldercounty.org.

The meeting will take place at the Altona Grange Hall at 39th Street and Nelson Road. Members of the public are invited to participate in the discussion and offer ideas about making mountain roads safer for motorists and bicyclists.

The working group, organized by Boulder County’s Transportation Department and the Sheriff’s Office, will present a draft set of recommendations that include physical improvements to roads, communication strategies that promote respect and a shared responsibility, and law enforcement strategies.

Public meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 3
Altona Grange Hall
9386 N. 39th St., Longmont

Open house: 5 p.m.
Presentation: 5:45
Discussion: 6:15

Background
An increase in cycling along Boulder County’s scenic, narrow and winding mountain canyon roads has caused tension between cyclists, motorists and mountain community residents. Some residents and others who use the roads are frustrated by cyclists, while some cyclists feel unwelcome or unsafe on the roads. The Boulder County Mountain Canyon-Cyclist-Motorist Working Group’s charge has been to develop practical ideas to address these concerns.

The Working Group met a number of times in August and September in an effort to identify ways to enhance cooperation and improve safety on canyon roads. The group is comprised of community and cycling representatives who were identified by the local communities, county Transportation and Sheriff’s officers and by the interest groups themselves.

Please contact Boulder County Transportation Director George Gerstle at 303-441-3955 or ggerstle@bouldercounty.org for additional information.

The 20th Judicial District court and probation offices will also open at 9am.

Certain direct client services such as Motor Vehicle, Housing and Human Services, Public Health, Treasurer's Office, Assessor's Office, etc. will be delayed in opening one hour this morning. The Sheriff's patrols and other public safety functions are not affected by the delayed start.

Transportation and Facilities crews have been working throughout the night and morning hours to clear county roads and building parking lots in order to allow county residents and employees access to their places of business within Boulder County. 

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Members of the public interested in proposed policy to guide the future of transportation in Boulder County now have the option of attending a workshop in Longmont on Nov. 3 or in Boulder on Nov. 4.

The workshops are designed to discuss the proposed content of the Transportation Element in preparation for release of the draft document on Nov. 10. Both workshops begin at 5 p.m. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and offer feedback.

The workshop is designed to discuss the Transportation Element of the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan. The workshop begins at 5 p.m. in the conference room of the Transportation Department’s Boulder office building at 13th Street and Portland Place. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and offer feedback.

Public workshop
Wednesday, Nov. 4
Boulder County Transportation Department
2525 13th St., Boulder

Meet and greet:  5 p.m.
Presentation and discussion: 5:30 p.m.

Background
Because of a continued emphasis on sustainability policy, Boulder County is updating the Transportation Element of its Comprehensive Plan.

The Comprehensive Plan establishes a roadmap for the future of the county and provides policy guidance. The Transportation Element of the plan specifically addresses the myriad components of Boulder County’s transportation system.

The Transportation Element includes policy for facilities and services such as roads, bikeways, transit, and trails throughout Boulder County, as well as programs to encourage a sustainable transportation future.

Please contact Julie McKay at 720-564-2662 or jmckay@bouldercounty.org for more information.

The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the Altona Grange Hall at 39th Street and Nelson Road. Members of the public are invited to participate in the discussion and offer ideas about making mountain roads safer for motorists and bicyclists.

The working group, organized by Boulder County’s Transportation Department and the Sheriff’s Office, will present a draft set of recommendations that include physical improvements to roads, communication strategies that promote respect and a shared responsibility, and law enforcement strategies.

Public meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 3
Altona Grange Hall
9386 N. 39th St., Longmont

Open house: 5 p.m.
Presentation: 5:45
Discussion: 6:15

Background
An increase in cycling along Boulder County’s scenic, narrow and winding mountain canyon roads has caused tension between cyclists, motorists and mountain community residents. Some residents and others who use the roads are frustrated by cyclists, while some cyclists feel unwelcome or unsafe on the roads. The Boulder County Mountain Canyon-Cyclist-Motorist Working Group’s charge has been to develop practical ideas to address these concerns.

The Working Group met a number of times in August and September in an effort to identify ways to enhance cooperation and improve safety on canyon roads. The group is comprised of community and cycling representatives who were identified by the local communities, county Transportation and Sheriff’s officers and by the interest groups themselves.

Please contact Boulder County Transportation Director George Gerstle at 303-441-3955 or ggerstle@bouldercounty.orgfor additional information.

Commissioners Ben Pearlman, Cindy Domenico and Will Toor officially opened the .75-mile trail link, which includes two bridges and an underpass at U.S. 287 south of Dillon Road. The Rock Creek Trail – open to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians – is now continuous from 120th Street in Lafayette, through the Carolyn Holmberg Preserve, past Stearns Lake, and up to Brainard Drive in Broomfield.

“This is an exciting day for Boulder County, especially for residents here in the southeastern part of the county,” Domenico said. “The master plan of the Rock Creek and Coal Creek trails is to link Lafayette, Louisville, Broomfield and Superior with a series of multiuse, soft-surface trails. Today, we opened a small section of trail that goes a very long way toward connecting these communities.”

Boulder County hopes to complete the western-most segments of the Rock Creek and Coal Creek trails in Superior in 2010. Additionally, the City and County of Broomfield is planning to complete its portion of the Rock Creek Trail between Brainard Drive and Flatiron Crossing.

Construction of these projects will signal the successful completion of the master plan and would provide two uninterrupted, off-street trails along Coal Creek and Rock Creek between 120th Street in Lafayette and Superior Town Hall. Upon completion, the Coal Creek Trail will span 9.6 miles through Lafayette, Louisville and Superior. The Rock Creek Trail will span 11.7 miles through Lafayette, Broomfield and Superior.

“We are very proud of the progress we’ve made to connect communities through the regional trails program,” Boulder County Transportation Director George Gerstle said. “Today’s opening is another milestone in the development of a trails network that provides both transportation and recreational opportunities for the county’s citizens and visitors alike.”

UPDATED: 12/10/2008 3:00 p.m.

(Boulder County, Colo.) - A temporary road closure remains in effect along a 200-foot section of Idylwild Trail (a county-maintained road) from Lookout Road to Harvest Road following a non-injury accident earlier this week involving a dump truck and a covered archway at the entrance to a residential Gunbarrel neighborhood. 

Boulder County Road Maintenance closed that section of Idylwild Trail on Monday, December 8, until an assessment could be made concerning the safety of an archway that spans the vehicular entrance to the HOA-maintained Gunbarrel Green neighborhood. The archway was structurally damaged when it was struck by a privately-owned and -operated dump truck around 11 a.m. Monday morning.

On December 10, a structural engineer hired by the Gunbarrel Green Homeowners' Association deemed the covered structure at Lookout and Idylwild Road to be unsafe and recommended it be removed. A contractor hired by the HOA will be moving ahead as soon as possible to remove the structure, with de-construction time expected to take three to four days once the work is begun.

After the structure has been removed the road will be opened. A tentative date for the work to be completed and the road reopened to public traffic is December 19th, although the road could be opened sooner if the contractor is able to start work immediately and work through the weekend.

The homeowners' association hopes to move forward with the construction of a new structure in the future.

The closure does not impact direct access to any individual residence, but traffic will need to be routed around the closure. Alternative access to nearby residential homes is available via Old Post Road or Carter Trail.

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December 11, 2007

CONTACT: Tim Swope, Boulder County Alternative Transportation Coordinator, 720-564-2658

County to launch new bus service in 2008

New routes connect East County to jobs, schools, hospital, US36 transit

Residents in east Boulder County will gain a brand new bus route and expanded service on an existing route in 2008, making it easier for them to access work, school, medical care and shopping.

The Boulder County Commissioners have approved the use of funds from the County’s Transportation Sales Tax to partner with RTD in providing two new bus services in Louisville, Lafayette and Erie. The first will extend the seven-year-old JUMP service to East County Line Road in Erie. The second will launch a new “LYNX” service connecting downtown Louisville and west Louisville neighborhoods to the US36 Corridor.

The JUMP currently travels though Boulder every 10 minutes, with service to the Lafayette park-n-Ride every 20 minutes. The proposed extension would travel through Lafayette along Arapahoe Road and Baseline Road, then head north through the Boulder County sections of Erie to the currently planned terminus at the Erie Town Community Center at the intersection of East County Line Road and Leon Wurl Parkway.

“Growth in Erie and Lafayette, along with continued in-commuting from areas east of Boulder County, warrant an extension of this bus service. Both RTD and Boulder County have long sought a more direct transit service to Erie, and folks in Erie have been encouraging us to start the service as soon as possible,” said Boulder County Commissioner Will Toor. “This service will carry out the commitment we made to county voters when they supported the countywide transportation sales tax.”

The new LYNX bus will offer transit service from the Louisville Library (in downtown Louisville) south to Monarch High School, Avista Hospital, the Flatirons Crossing park-n-Ride and the Broomfield park-n-Ride.

The services are scheduled to start this summer. Both services will be funded through a combination of Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grants and revenue from the Boulder County Transportation sales tax, which county residents approved in 2001. During the 2007 election, County voters approved an extension of the sales tax, beginning in 2009.

Details of the LYNX and JUMP services and the County’s agreements with RTD have not yet been finalized. “We still have to work out the details with RTD, our local partners, and the Regional funding agencies about how this is going to work,” Transportation Director George Gerstle explained. “Originally we had wanted to launch this service sooner, but we are very excited that this most recent proposal offers residents a better service at a lower long-term cost to both the County and RTD.” 

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