07.12.21 TAB MinutesTAB Minutes
July 12, 2021
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CITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING
MINUTES
Name of Board/ Commission: Transportation Advisory Board
Date of Meeting: July 12, 2021
Contact Information Preparing Summary: Meredith Schleske 303.441.3204
Board Members Present: Tila Duhaime; Robert Hutchinson, Mark McIntyre, Ryan Schuchard
Staff Present: Erika Vandenbrande, Director for Transportation and Mobility
Natalie Stiffler, Deputy Director for Transportation and Mobility
Gerrit Slatter, Principal Transportation Projects Engineer
Devin Joslin, Principal Transportation Engineer
Mark Shisler, Transportation Operations Engineer
Sarah Huntley, Director of Communications and Engagement
Mike Sweeney, Transportation Engineer
Chris Hagelin, Senior Transportation Planner, Acting GO Boulder Manager
Ryan Noles, Senior Transportation Planner
Danny O’Connor, Senior Transportation Planner
Brian Wiltshire, Engineering Project Manager
Phillip Kleisler, Senior Planner, Planning
Ryan Noles, Senior Transportation Planner
Allison Crump, Transportation Planner
Jenny Godwin, Transportation Planner
Phil Kleisler, Senior Planner, Planning and Development Services
Meredith Schleske, Board Secretary
Others Present: Derek Silva, CU Assistant Vice Chancellor for Business Strategy CU Boulder; Richelle Reilly, CU
Campus Architect; Abby Benson – Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Strategic Resources and Support CU Boulder;
Bill Fox, Fox Tuttle Transportation Group
Type of Meeting: Advisory/ Regular
Agenda Item 1: Call to Order [6:01 p.m.]
Instructions to Virtual Meeting Participants – Allison Crump, technical host reviewed rules and technical operations
on the virtual platform.
Agenda Item 2: Approval of June Minutes [6:04 p.m.]
Proposed amendments to Agenda Item 8: Matters
Add:
• Comment that TAB’s desire is to reach our joint TMP goals, the safety of citizens, and the best outcomes
within our fiscal constraints.
• TAB and staff must be able to ask hard questions and express views without it being perceived as an attack
on anyone.
Insert: “of this” into “Observation that assumption of this required for effective collaboration.”
Motion: Approval of June TAB Minutes as revised.
Motion: Mcintyre Second: Duhaime
4:0 Motion Passes.
To ensure TAB quorum, motion made to reorder agenda: following Public Comment, address Public hearing and TAB
recommendation regarding Transportation Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Part III of III, resume agenda order.
Motion: Reorder agenda as proposed.
Motion: Duhaime Second: McIntyre
4:0 Motion Passes.
Agenda Item 3: Public Comment [6:13 p.m.]
• Karen Hollweg – speaking as resident who will be impacted by your recommendations to city council and
planning board regarding the CU south traffic plans and annexation. Three points: 1) Pre covid, morning
appointments out of range of SKIP bus took five changes of stoplight at Table Mesa and Broadway to get
through intersection. That intersection is already at maximum capacity. Annexation agreement needs no net
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increase performance standard in peak times. 2) Highway 36 access should only be used for emergency only;
if not, will add to already overloaded Table Mesa and Broadway intersection. 3) Support multimodal
transportation system, city should provide TAB and all decision maker estimates of additional greenhouse
gas (GhG).
• Lynn Segal –Not from south Boulder. Emphasis on CU South because of all the other growth all over town,
won’t recognize in five years. Will have transportation nightmare all over Boulder – 30th & Pearl, Boulder
Reservoir, Diagonal Plaza, Boulder Junction, Gunbarrel, 21st Street, 23rd Street, 20th Street & Pearl, 17th &
Pearl. – new condos driving up land values. Car elevators to squeeze out every inch. Alpine – Balsam, north
Boulder by Bus Stop. Unbelievable, this is not a progressive town. Boulder has to have a carrying capacity.
Delas like Flatirons Gravel, Liquor Mart. $5 million off price – good deal for CU. Liquor Mart, sold to CA
investor. Big troubles ahead. Do not do CU South, will be end of this place. Separate the floodplain.
• Kurt Nordback – compliment CIP bike tour, privileged to join. Great way for public, TAB and staff to talk
informally. Concern regarding what staff said at last city council meeting - expectation to meet
transportation-related climate emissions goals through standards and vehicle electrification. Won’t work/not
sufficient, also vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and modal shift goals, need more substantive change in how we
address transportation in the city. Request staff to clarify statement to public and city council.
• Peter Mayer – Co Chair, PLAN Boulder, reiterating comments by George Gerstle, board member, former
Transportation Director of Boulder County. Believe more needs to be required of CU in annexation
agreement, including no net traffic increase in peak hours; show how shuttle bus, pedestrians and bikes move
between campuses; safety of the proposed highway 93 access point on a steep curving hill with high-speed
traffic, clear recipe for disaster, have seen no data; specific agreement to construct bike and pedestrian
underpass connecting Table Mesa to Moorhead under Table Mesa.
• Mike Marsh – serious concerns regarding Fox Tuttle traffic study begun during covid spike when a lot of
traffic was not on the roads, used wrong multiplier in calculations (too low), compounded errors. Must be
accountable, hope TAB will take a hard look and offer critical analysis.
• Ben Binder – registered professional engineer and surveyor, urge TAB to question wisdom of adding new,
unsignalized treacherous intersection on CO highway 93 to serve CU South. High winds, aggressive drivers,
high traffic volumes, one of state’s most hazardous roads in winter with snow blowing across, described as
death trap. Urge you to exercise good judgment, common sense and reject city staff recommendation for
major intersection at that location. Surprised engineers didn’t review crash data; informed that city is not
required to review according to Colorado access code.
• Stephen Haydel –two high ozone alert days. Do we mow during those times? Transportation department
should be a leader.
Car lane added to Colorado & Regent project - there will be issues at the bottom of Colorado & 28th Street,
bikes going 20 – 30 m.p.h. into really large bollards, especially in winter or during rainstorms. Any
documentation or changes? Could not find information on website.
• Margaret LeCompte – part of neighborhood organization, Save South Boulder, opposed to any actions in Fox
Tuttle report, should not be used as a guide. Agree with Binder and Mayer regarding danger of proposed
highway 93 intersection, requirement for net zero increase in traffic by CU. Traffic is at a standstill today,
capacity is at maximum. Fox Tuttle study recommends extending left turn wait time on Table Mesa to
distance of 12 feet - longer space to stack up behind stoplight, not a solution. Remedies won’t work.
Diagram of new intersection at highway 93 is a death wish. Urge TAB to reject traffic recommendations.
Agenda Item 6: Public Hearing and TAB recommendation regarding Transportation Capital [6:35 p.m.]
Improvement Projects (CIP) Part III of III
Gerrit Slatter made the report to the board.
Executive Summary
Each year, the city goes through an annual budget process in which departments create a six-year Capital
Improvement Program (CIP). This year the time period is 2022 through 2027. The Transportation Advisory Board
(TAB) role in this process is defined in the Boulder Revised Code (BRC) TITLE 2 GOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATION, Chapter 3 Boards and Commissions, Section 14 - Transportation Advisory Board; “. . . to review
all city transportation environmental assessments and capital improvements.” This agenda item is intended to
continue TAB’s guidance with the city’s CIP development process by providing background information and analysis,
a tentative schedule and key issues for this year.
TAB will be asked to make a formal recommendation to council at the July TAB meeting. Staff appreciates the
beneficial role that TAB provides during the development of the CIP and looks forward to a collaborative effort
throughout the full Transportation CIP effort. TAB will be participating in a CIP workshop to be held shortly after the
June meeting with the purpose of the workshop being to do a deeper dive into the proposed projects in the 2022-2027
CIP and their connection to the goals and objectives of the Transportation Master Plan (TMP).
The funding situation for the Transportation Department is of vital importance to the planning and programming of
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the CIP process for 2022 and beyond. In addition to the reduced funding caused by COVID-19, there are other
background factors that are reducing the ability of the Transportation Department to fund and deliver programs and
projects consistent with the goals and objectives of the TMP. When accounting for inflation, sales tax revenue has
been flat in Boulder for nearly 20 years. Because sales tax funds nearly 70% of Transportation, and because
construction cost indexes have been outpacing inflation rates, this has led to reduced spending power and reduced
opportunities for matching federal/state grant funds. The funding outlook and condition of the transportation funds are
discussed in greater detail in the Background/Analysis section.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends TAB consider the following motion:
TAB recommends approval of the proposed 2022-2027 Transportation Fund, Transportation Development
Fund and Boulder Junction Fund CIP which supports the vision and goals of Boulder’s Transportation Master
Plan.
TAB Clarifying Questions
• Question whether staff found value to adjust expenditures to better reflect actual expenditures, if it a good use
of time.
• Inquiry if there is a total number for each of four modes and the relative percentage of each.
• Question about a way to put scheduled district maintenance under Pavement Maintenance Program (PMP)
then do some enhancements using funds drawn from somewhere else. For example, PMP will cover redoing
part of Folsom but cast in place concrete to separate the bike lane might come from VZ capital projects.
Opinion that it’s more transparent being separated out.
• Question if fiber optic fiber optic is already at other major intersections.
Public Participation
• Stephen Haydel – relating to TMP reduction of commuters, any plan to start reducing vehicle lanes? Good
opportunity to do road diet on 30th, cut budget by two-thirds. Department should start looking at climate
goals. Also Table Mesa, Broadway southbound two not six lanes. These five years of projects will not reach
TMP goals.
• Lynn Segal – you guys are stuck with what Planning Board (PB) does. You are part of the problem, cannot
meet goals because of PB plans. I don’t want to drive but hate riding bike to large stores in east. You’ll hate
your job, want to get off TAB. I stay around my area; others don’t want to ride their bikes where they live.
Bus reductions add to the problem. You must have a say to other groups in a super masterplan of all city
operation, planning, transportation and housing. You must get it worked out, all for naught in high rise
environment.
• Sue Prant- commend staff doing more with PMP, safer facilities, get stuff on road quicker. We would like to
see more working with the city for more funding, routine maintenance, making street safe.
• Lisa White – a quick glance at transportation funding by mode share, first glance looks great; now feel
numbers are misleading. 28th Street is primarily a transit project. A lot of the reason these things are so high
is due to the roadway and desire to not impact car travel. Repurpose space, lot of potential for low stress test
and bicycle infrastructure in future. Spend smartly, maybe do things that require political will.
• Kurt Nordback – agree with White, modal distribution numbers are deceptive, cost is necessitated by vehicle
use, number of signal changes for benefit of motor vehicles. Pedestrians and bikes function fine without
vehicles, don’t require signals. Would like more awareness of that, ideally from staff. TAB should look at
costs with skeptical eye.
TAB Discussion
• Comment that regarding modal distribution, this CIP reflects first attempt for transparency and delineation.
• Acknowledgement of comments from public, compliments to Slatter and team, one of best processes we’ve
seen.
• Appreciation expressed to staff, hope to do more of this kind of dialogue.
• Comment that distribution rework is very helpful – how we spend money is most telling way of analyzing
what we do and if we’re making progress, note staff’s willingness to look through a TAB lens, it’s about
progress, not as much perfection. This CIP represents progress, appreciation for Weinheimer’s comments,
multi modal breakdown, page by page breakdown in memo.
• Question about under what circumstances we would remove pavement. Support expressed, comment that
this year’s CIP is more understandable
• Comment that this CIP is not as vigorous regarding meeting climate goals, not only contributor. More
transparent, more defensible.
Motion: TAB recommendation of the 2022-2027 Transportation Capital Improvement Project to Planning
Board.
Motion: McIntyre Second: Duhaime
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4:0 Motion Passes.
Agenda Item 4: COVID-19 Travel Data Update [7:22 p.m.]
Erika Vandenbrande presented to the board. Data is posted on the Vision Zero website page. Travel is still down
10% from pre-COVID 19. Total crashes in May were reduced 40% compared to same timeframe in May 2019,
crashes still down from 2019, reduction is significantly greater in terms of the amount of travel that's come back.
Severe crashes fluctuate from month to month; in May 2021 four severe crashes represent 20% reduction compared to
five in May 2019. Statistical significance is probably within boundaries of error.
In terms of cycling travel, significant reduction internal to the city between 35% and 50% depending on the particular
area. US 36 bikeway has a 20% reduction compared with pre-COVID 19 levels.
Transportation demand and HOP service is still very, very significantly impacted – 65% less ridership than pre-
COVID 19 overall, 77% less HOP ridership January to June 2021 than in same period in 2019, a substantial hit.
However, June 2021 ridership is 59% of June 2019, and increase compared to 2020 levels.
TAB Chair Duhaime turned the meeting over to Vice Chair McIntyre.
Agenda Item 5: Staff briefing and TAB feedback regarding Arapahoe Multi-use Path [7:26 p.m.]
and Transit Community and Environmental Assessment Process (CEAP)
Ryan Noles made the report to the board.
Executive Summary
The State Highway (SH)7/East Arapahoe project’s community engagement plan is founded on a “consult” level of
engagement per the city’s public engagement framework. This means that project staff has been working directly with
the public throughout the project to ensure their concerns and aspirations are consistently understood, considered and
reflected in alternatives development as well as to share feedback on how public input influences decisions.
Information on the project is available on the project webpage and two virtual public meetings were held in Spring
2021. During the first meeting, March 17, 2021, project staff introduced the purpose of the project and solicited input
on the design options under consideration. A BeHeardBoulder questionnaire was also open March 12 -18, 2021,
soliciting feedback on design options. At the second virtual public meeting on May 26, 2021, project staff shared
results of public input and presented the preferred design option. Information on the project and the public meeting
was distributed to 1,891 residents, property owners, businesses and other interested parties through a direct mailing.
The City of Boulder distributed this information in both English and Spanish through their city email groups and
social media.
TAB Feedback
• Question regarding goal to implement continuous multi-use path, whether work will have to be undone 38th
Street to Arapahoe to accomplish the greater goal of the continuity of the path.
• Inquiry concerning what cyclists and pedestrians do to travel safely east passing Flatirons Golf Course.
• Question about width of bike lane at traveling east past the golf course, if an interim vertical separation such
as plastic bollards is practical.
Agenda Item 7: Staff briefing and TAB feedback regarding CU South Project Update [7:54 p.m.]
Phil Kleisler made the report to the board.
Executive Summary
The University of Colorado Boulder submitted an annexation application in 2019 and has prepared a multi-modal
traffic access study to inform annexation negotiations. At its November 17, 2020 meeting, City Council formally
requested that TAB provide input on the transportation elements of the project. Staff provided a high-level briefing to
TAB in December 2020 and April 2021. City staff is now sharing a summary of the proposed annexation terms
relating to transportation. The full agreement, including the transportation terms, will be shared with the board on or
around July 9 with the release of the preliminary agreement. This agenda item is intended to get board members’ input
on the approach to the annexation terms ahead of a public hearing before the Planning Board (July 22) and City
Council (September 7).
The annexation agreement outlines requirements for access to the site with South Loop Drive serving as the primary
access point, Tantra as a secondary access point, and a new access point on State Highway 93. The agreement includes
a trip cap that limits daily vehicle trips to 5,550 daily trips for South Loop Drive and 750 daily trips for State Highway
93. The agreement requires that CU monitor trip generation and allocate additional funding for mitigation programs if
trip caps are exceeded. Both parking maximums and unbundled parking for attached dwelling units are also required.
CU Boulder will be required to implement a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program and construct a
mobility hub to provide multimodal access and services. Lastly, the agreement outlines a series of on- and off-site
improvements to mitigate traffic impacts.
Action Requested of Board
No formal action requested. This agenda item is intended to receive board input ahead of the scheduled public
hearings before the Planning Board and council.
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TAB Feedback
• Question about timing of traffic count during COVID 19 during a particularly low level of vehicles on city
roadways.
• Question regarding the feeling that certain roadways around the project area are already at peak capacity,
whether it is or is not good practice to build roadways and plan transportation to accommodate worst case
scenario, or if we should not do that, and if so, why?
• Inquiry regarding concern about proposed intersection with SH 93, lack of signalization, and if it becomes
necessary, who pays?
• Question whether city wishes to change the use of Moorhead Drive and make it local access only or transit
and multi-modal, restricting single occupancy vehicles.
• Request for conceptual overview of proposed traffic regarding commuters, more traffic in Boulder, more
vehicles, how traffic is projected to occur in peak hours, definition of “trip”. Observation that study includes
ten intersections - does it include transit, does “bound by warrant” indicate serious injury? Talk of regional
bussing investment?
• Comment that TMP key metric is trip reduction; question if trip cap is aggressive enough to reach GhG goal
and avoid climate emergency.
• Suggestion that Moorhead is key element – make it beautiful, safe, pleasant experience. Rethink some of
restrictions/limits, make it a privilege to use, local traffic only. Make real commitments. Unbundle all
parking, support expressed for real market pricing.
• Inquiry about the origin of changing Tantra Drive to emergency only, question why it’s desirable versus
South Loop Road.
• Encouragement to TAB members to reach out to staff or make public comment at City Council September 7.
Agenda Item 8: Staff briefing and TAB feedback regarding Vision Zero Innovation Program [8:45 p.m.]
Devin Joslin made the report to the board.
Executive Summary
This memo provides a status update on the ongoing planning, design, community engagement, implementation, and
evaluation of the Vision Zero Innovation Program (VZIP). In addition, the memo summarizes plans for the proposed
Group II projects for which TAB feedback is requested. Many of the proposed Group II projects are focused on
implementing treatments along seven Neighborhood Speed Management Program (NSMP) complex corridors, as well
as various pedestrian crossing locations.
To accelerate progress toward Vision Zero, the city is using a portion of its Vision Zero funding to make innovative,
quick-build improvements to our streets, with emphases on corridor traffic calming and increasing pedestrian comfort
and visibility at crossing locations. Additionally, the VZIP takes a holistic approach to fulfill multiple needs identified
through existing city programs, accessibility goals, as well as community requests.
The initial group of selected treatments (“Group I” projects) were installed beginning in Fall 2020. Group I project
installations, in some cases delayed due to COVID-19 impacts and supply chain issues, will continue through Fall
2021. In addition, new treatments have been identified (“Group II” projects) for installation throughout 2021. Before
and after installation, staff will collect data and community feedback to evaluate the treatments’ effectiveness. This
data will help staff understand the effectiveness of a variety of low-cost solutions that can further the city’s Vision
Zero goals through continued crash reduction. The evaluation is also being used to inform and potentially expand the
toolbox of traffic calming treatments that can eventually be used elsewhere in the city.
TAB Action Requested
1. Do you have any additional feedback or questions about the Group I projects?
2. Do you have any additional feedback or questions about the Group I projects?
TAB Feedback
• Suggestion to pare down words in presentation to the public, comment that single page is excellent.
• Question about prospects for funding into future years.
• Question whether pictured traffic calming circles are big enough to have a positive impact; do they make it
safer rather than more dangerous?
• Inquiry if counts are balanced between each direction.
9:12 p.m. Hutchinson left the meeting.
Agenda Item 9: Matters [9:12 p.m.]
• Matters from Staff/Non-Agenda
• Design and Construction Standards (DCS) Update (Slatter) – consultant engaged, beginning work,
update likely in September.
• Matters from the Board [9:14 p.m.]
• Pedestrian Action Committee (PAC) Update (Duhaime) – last meeting was held, participants felt
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heard and made impact. Good example of community engagement, appreciation of Amy Lewin’s
work.
•Vision Zero Partnership Update (Duhaime) – now facilitated by Boulder County. Pride in growth,
several looking to City of Boulder’s initiatives, great interest in speed kidney, city has support as a
leader.
•Greenways Advisory Committee (GAC) (McIntyre) – materials unavailable in advance,
recommends restoration of dedicated staff position, increased funding. Counter comment that other
departments who might be asked to contribute, such as Parks & Recreation, Library, and Open Space
& Mountain Parks, are essential for some disabled populations.
•Open Board Comment
•Schuchard attended June 22 Study Session regarding Access Management & Parking
Strategy (AMPS) in response to invitation for a TAB representative. Noted that TAB would
like City Council to direct staff to be more aggressive, parking policy is key way to reduce
GhG in the transportation sector. City of Boulder has direct control over that. It was a
positive discussion; TAB was encouraged to look at parking as a climate tool.
Suggestion that TAB conduct a working session after August TAB meeting.
Two concerns regarding AMPS dialogue: do not see VMT or mode-shifting anywhere;
transportation as a system of energy.
Climate plan concerrning transportation –key discussion points: what are GhG
performance trends? How are we going to integrate VMT and mode shifting and related
Vision Zero goals into the kind of plan that we already have in our transportation master
plan?
•Appreciation of Schuchard’s background, information, renewed sense of urgency.
Also for CIP working sessions, supports focused session on climate. Opportunity
for TAB and staff to join in urgency in support of City Council’s climate
emergency declaration.
•Schuchard to forward notes and thoughts, proposed steps forward, then figure out
how to move with speed and urgency within framework.
•Duhaime – update on re draft TAB rules and procedures is coming soon.
Agenda Item 10: Future Agenda Topics [10:01 p.m.]
•Thursday, July 15, 6:00 p.m. - Joint Planning Board/TAB Working Session: 55th & Arapahoe Station Area
Master Plan and East Boulder 60% Recommendations
•Monday, July 26, 6:00 p.m. - Greenways Advisory Committee (GAC)
•Climate and Transportation, August
•Pedestrian Crossings, TBD. Request not just for design, also how locations are determined, etc.
•Automatic speed enforcement, state code barriers? Relevant information to be forwarded to newest
member Schuchard.
Agenda Item 11: Adjournment [10:07 p.m.]
There being no further business to come before the board at this time, by motion regularly adopted, the meeting
was adjourned at 10:07 p.m.
Motion: Moved to adjourn: Duhaime Second: Schuchard
Motion passes 3:0
Date, Time, and Location of Next Meeting:
The next meeting will be a regular virtual meeting on Monday, August 9, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise decided
by staff and the Board.
APPROVED BY: ATTESTED:
___________________________________ ____________________________________
Board Chair Board Secretary
___________________________________ ____________________________________
Date Date
An audio recording of the full meeting for which these minutes are a summary is available on the Transportation Advisory Board
web page.
Tila Duhaime per attached email Meredith Schleske
8/11/2021 8/11/2021
From:Tila Duhaime
To:Schleske, Meredith
Subject:Re: Final July TAB minutes for your approval
Date:Wednesday, August 11, 2021 1:17:29 PM
External Sender
Thank you, Meredith.
The July minutes are approved.
Tila
On Mon, Aug 9, 2021 at 9:04 PM Schleske, Meredith <SchleskeM@bouldercolorado.gov>
wrote:
Hi Tila,
For your approval/signature.
Thanks, I LOVE your haircut!
Meredith
Meredith Schleske
Administrative Specialist
O: 303.441.3204
schleskem@bouldercolorado.gov
Department of Public Works
Business Services Division
1739 Broadway, Boulder 80302