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Information Item: Update regarding the installation of traffic mitigation devises on Alpine Ave. WEEKLY INFORMATION PACKET TO: Transportation Advisory Board FROM: Frank Bruno, City Manager Public Works Tracy Winfree, Director of Public Works for Transportation Michael Gardner-Sweeney, Transportation Planning and Operations Coordinator Bill Cowern, Transportation Operations Engineer Teresa Spears, NTMP Liaison Fire Department Larry Donner, Fire Chief Steve Stolz, Deputy Fire Chief Police Department Mark Beckner, Police Chief Greg Testa, Commander of police Traffic Unit Sergeant Fred Gerhardt, Police Department Traffic Unit DATE: July 12, 2004 SUBJECTInformation Item – Update regarding the installation of traffic mitigation : devices on Alpine Avenue PURPOSE: The purpose of this memorandum is to inform TAB on the status of the approved traffic mitigation device installation on Alpine Avenue. BACKGROUND: In November 2002, City Council approved the Balsam/Edgewood Neighborhood Traffic Mitigation Plan. Mitigation on Alpine Avenue included: th An entry island on Alpine Avenue just east of 13 Street th A median/pedestrian refuge on Alpine Avenue just east of 14 Street th A permanent speed display (EB) on Alpine Avenue east of 15 Street th A permanent speed display (WB) on Alpine east of 17Street To be fiscally responsible, the city planned to install the Alpine Avenue and the Whittier Neighborhood devices at the same time. Issues regarding landscaping delayed construction of the Whittier Neighborhood mitigation devices thereby, delaying the installation of Alpine Avenue mitigation devices. Once all issues were resolved, staff scheduled installation of the Alpine Avenue devices. A substantial amount of time had passed since the adoption of the mitigation plan so staff sent a letter to the neighborhood notifying residents of the upcoming installation and explaining the impacts. This letter was sent in April, 2004. Some neighbors on Alpine Avenue were concerned about the adopted plan and two of them attended the May 2004 Transportation Advisory Board Meeting to voice their concerns. At that meeting, transportation staff agreed to host an additional neighborhood meeting to discuss the adopted mitigation plan. The staff wanted to determine whether there was support in the neighborhood for this plan or whether other options would need to be considered. This neighborhood meeting took place on June 30, 2004 at the Columbine Elementary School. Staff from the Police Department, Fire Department and the Transportation Division of Public Works attended the meeting. Several residents were unable to attend and called or wrote to City staff in advance to provide their input. ANALYSIS: The additional public involvement at the meeting and from neighbors providing input in advance of the meeting indicated that a majority of residents supported the original City Council adopted mitigation plan. There was consensus at the meeting for the entry median and the two speed th displays. Some concern remained regarding the median at 14 Street with respect to safety impacts for pedestrians on the sidewalk and also parking loss, but most neighbors in attendance supported the installation of the median. NEXT STEPS: Staff is confident that the City Council adopted mitigation plan is supported by a majority of the neighborhood and will schedule construction of the mitigation devices later this summer. If there are any questions about this topic, please call Bill Cowern at 303-441-3266 or e-mail to CowernB@ci.boulder.co.us.