[bouldercouncilhotline] Hotline: Re: Boulder County Bus then Bike Shelter at Boulder Junction is in serious jeopardy- action needed now

[cmosupport at bouldercolorado.gov]

Sender: Morzel, Lisa

Thanks, Edward, for this information. Could you please provide for us the details of the bike shelter, size, etc. ?
And also could you provide us some options for where on site this bike shelter could be conveniently located for bicyclists using the bus, assuming we don't worry about the FAR restrictions?  That would be very helpful for trying to resolve this situation.
 I'm wondering how this project could get this far to completion without the critical bike shelter as an important component being included. 


Thanks much. I'm curious about options council has to address this on site. 

Lisa


303-815-6723


"Polite conservationists leave no mark save the scars upon the Earth that could have been prevented had they stood their ground." 
- David Brower (1912-2000)




In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. 

Thomas Jefferson 


On May 26, 2015, at 5:27 PM, "Stafford,  Edward" <StaffordE at bouldercolorado.gov> wrote:





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City staff continue to work with Boulder County, the developer and RTD to evaluate options for locating this important bicycle shelter.   The location near
 the RTD station was recently identified as a potential site that required further research.    Follow up included the need to talk with the property owner (Pedersen development and RTD) as their permission and approval would be necessary, along with confirming
 that city regulations could be met. 
 
Upon further review, there are several factors that make this location less feasible, including a zoning FAR limit that has been reached for the overall site,
 construction timing concerns for the Boulder Junction project and the need to complete more engineering analysis and design.  Given these issues, this location may not be feasible and staff is continuing to evaluate other locations.
 
The FAR limit does preclude the location of the shelter within the plaza or exterior areas of the current development project if it is larger than 450 square
 feet.  A council legislative action would be required to allow an increase in FAR beyond the current zoning regulations.  Staff is also evaluating other options and will be talking with RTD about potentially reallocating some vehicular parking in the garage
 for this purpose.  Locations in the city right-of-way are also being examined.  

 
Staff will share our continuing work on the analysis of these options with Community Cycles.
 

Edward Stafford, P.E., PTOE
Development Review Manager - Public Works
City of Boulder

 


 




From: Sue Prant <sue at communitycycles.org>
Date: May 21, 2015 at 4:27:17 PM MDT
To: "Council at bouldercolorado.gov" <Council at bouldercolorado.gov>
Subject: Boulder County Bus then Bike Shelter at Boulder Junction is in serious jeopardy- action needed now










Dear Council members-

I write you because we have exhausted all options and are running out of time.

A few years ago Boulder County started the Bus then Bike program of protected, key card access bike shelters at transit locations. The program has been very popular. We have 4 shelters up and 3 more coming on
 line next year in the US36 corridor. Others are also being planned. The shelter at the 14th & Walnut station is the crown jewel, with 180 spaces, a bike repair stand and a bike vending machine. It has only been up since Jan 28th and even with lousy weather,
 we have seen key card request increase 42% and bikes parked in the shelter up 300% in the last (rainy) month.


Of course it makes perfect sense to have a Bus then Bike Shelter at the Boulder Junction- Boulder's transit centered development and the terminus of the US36 BRT. It makes so much sense, the county easily acquired
 a grant for construction of a facility at the BJ. But because it is coming along late, no one seems able to make concessions to make this happen and the whole idea of the an accommodating multi-modal place seems to be getting lost in this battle.


There were a number of sights proposed and for various reasons, most of them did not work. There were issues with the sight lines to the old depot, safety access issues for bikes/peds, an understandable desire
 not to remove space from the public plaza and an equally understandable desire on behalf of the county not to locate it more than a football field away from the RTD station. (Note the county and city are paying to move the Iris and 28th street shelter, which
 has usage much below the other shelters, because it is not near the bus stop.) 


On Monday we had a site review with the county, GO Boulder, Transportation, Planning, Landmarks and the BJ project manager. We all agreed the best site was one right next to the RTD station that is still under construction and when built
 will just contain planters and a wall. Molly was also satisfied with it. But since then, other issues have come up:








1. Adding this next to the RTD building increases the FAR beyond what it is currently allowed. It is a very small amount, but under the current FAR, the
 shelter would be way to small. We need a few hundred extra feet. 
2. RTD has some objections over the light into their building. This would be where the escalators are and the shelter would be at least 1/2 under grade from the grade of the RTD building. The planned
 large trees we believe would block more light than a glass structure that is only about 6 feet high or so at grade. We believe if the city strongly supported this, RTD would drop this objection.

3. Timing- this area is scheduled to be filled in with dirt in 3 weeks. Fixing this now will save time and money.
4. Scott Pedersen- Right now this is his property. It turns over to the BJ HOA (which the city has 3 votes on) after construction. Scott is not willing to entertain this idea. We think it may be because it blocks his "leasing" sign (though we feel that
 could be solved) and because he just doesn't want to bother this late if he doesn't have to.



5. There are some other issues with drain pipes, etc that are all easily solved and cheaper if we do it now. Alex Hyde-Wright who is the project manager for the county has extensive drawings on how all these
 issues could be mitigated. 


Community Cycles has been working on a very successful DRCOG TDM project to promote the Bus then Bike shelters (and biking to transit in general). Our intention was to apply for the next round of funding (June)
 to promote the BJ Bus then Bike shelter as well. This funding would commit DRCOG funding to promote biking and transit to the residents and businesses in the BJ, but without this shelter, we don't really have the funding and will miss that opportunity.


At this point we are totally stuck and it has been my experience that is when you come to your elected officials who have the unique ability to get all parties to work together for a solution for the common
 good.


Thank you for your time and service. 


 


-- 



Sue Prant
Executive Director
Community Cycles


2805 Wilderness Pl Suite 1000


Boulder, CO 80301
Phone: 303-564-9681
e-mail: sue at communitycycles.org
www.CommunityCycles.org

 


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