Paid Parking and TAB Chair Perspective

[Belle Morris]

Hello Mayor Hall and Trustees,

 

I watched the May 14th Study Session discussion about relief to downtown businesses and the expanded Estes Park areas. As Chair for the Transportation Advisory Board, I appreciated the discussion and support for the seasonal Paid Parking Program.  The Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) has thoughtfully remained engaged in the early concept, introduction, and implementation of the 2019 Downtown Parking Management & Transit Plan.  Like many communities’ congestion, stressful cruising, and pollution have motivated municipalities to implement effective paid parking policies and plans.  As mentioned repeatedly in your discussion, many have experienced the improvements to available parking once the Paid Parking program was implemented in Estes Park.  Your experiences align with the data collected, which indicates vehicle turnover averaging a little over 2 hours consistently performed in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, the free periphery parking at the Visitor Center Parking Structure filled more frequently and preferred by more users when visiting the downtown. The data has proven this increasing shift in motorist behaviors, which the Town of Estes Park should be celebrating. I know I do as I love spending time downtown when there is less congestion, more people using the river walks, and handheld shopping bags are filled.   

 

After multiple parking studies paid for by the Town of Estes Park, in 2015 TAB initiated with Public Works a parking strategy to address the multiple studies and the increasing concerns that congestion, cruising stress and pollution were creating. From the strategic plan (2016 TAB document is attached) the Town hired a consultant to facilitate a comprehensive, effective, and community supported Downtown Parking and Transit Plan. After robust TAB discussions, and additional rigorous community engagement processes, the Estes Park Town Board unanimously adopted the 2019 Downtown Parking Management and Transit Plan that would be implemented in data driven phases. 

 

During the efforts to create a Parking & Transit Plan, the Town built the parking structure, entered an agreement in 2014 with Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD), Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) called the Downtown Estes Loop, and adopted the 2018 Downtown Plan.  The TAB provided robust discussions, community engagement, and recommendations to the Town Board throughout every plan or policy adoption.

 

In April 2019 Policy 851 Complete Streets was adopted unanimously by Mayor Jirsa and Town Trustees.  The Complete Streets policy was initiated and proposed by TAB exclusively, which requires Public Works and the Town to integrate all users in the transportation network to ensure streets are safe for people of all ages and abilities, balance the needs of different modes of transportation, and support local land uses, economies, cultures, and natural environments.  The 851 Complete Streets Policy implementation is provided through a check list used Public Works during design, planning, and implementation of infrastructure capital projects.  Policy attached.

 

I mention the various adopted plans, policies, and projects, because the Town Board consistently received recommendations from TAB with the understanding YOUR appointed members provided well researched feedback. Every recommendation topic from TAB is researched, includes consideration of trends & practices among similar mountain communities, provides consideration of impact to the downtown businesses and extended community of Estes Park, has robust discussions, considers environmental impact, use of the Complete Streets guidelines, and remains aware of financial needs for any initiative or plan. Your citizen group communicates with you as a focus group, research team, and engaged community members that have passion for transportation.

 

The seasonal Paid Parking and Transit programs have continued to be developed and proven to be increasingly popular among visitors and residents. The data supports this trend even through the construction of the Downtown Estes Loop.  More customers are parking at the Parking Structure and enjoying walking throughout the downtown corridor.

 

I agree with everyone, the DEL construction process has been tough and painful. However, I also remember first-hand the overwhelming devastation from the Big Thompson Flood, the 1982 Lawn Lake flood and the 2013 Flood.  I will never forget riding my bike to “The Imprinter”, the T-Shirt summer job, located in the “Mall” and watching the helicopters flying overhead on that brilliantly blue-sky July morning in 1982.  When I came to the Moraine Ave hill, I looked down upon 3 feet of water gushing down Elkhorn Ave and the river channel by the Park Theater.  I was in shock witnessing the horrific flood waters fiercely flowing through the downtown.  There was no cell phone to call my parents to tell them I was safe nor for them to call me to warn against going to Town.  My family owned the property where the 7-Eleven was located (north of the Hwy 34 & 36 intersection where The Egg of Estes is currently) and where the flood waters and feet of mud piled onto.  I will not forget the CO Guard initially assisting the downtown and the months of digging out mud from our business property. In 2013, I made sure my stepson Peter and I assisted KIND COFFEE with mud removal because I never forgot the recovery efforts from a devasting flood.  YES, the DEL construction is painful to businesses, residents, and visitors, but so is devasting environmental disasters.  The DEL is improving dilapidated and ignored infrastructure that is a risk to our downtown.  I share, with you, the sentiment of looking forward to the completion of the DEL project and the substantial improvements to our downtown infrastructure. I am thrilled and share with the majority of TAB members (past and current), that a positive messaging for our Downtown and all Estes Park always be promoted.  Encourage free parking at the Visitor Center Parking Structure or Event Center and enjoy riding free on the trolleys and shuttles!  Everyone wins with less congestion and a relaxing stroll along the River Walk.  

 

Mayor Hall and Trustees, thank you for your service to our community and making decisions that can be at times considered controversial.  Your shared leadership is appreciated.  TAB will continue to work hard as a citizen group to provide well researched recommendations to you, which ultimately helps the financial efficiency of any transportation plan and its implementation. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Belle Morris

1431  S. St. Vrain Ave.

Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do!

[Mark Igel]

Belle,

Thanks for taking time to assemble this email and include the references. Important information as we continue to work with these living documents to reflect the ever changing needs and conditions of the community. TAB has played a large part in the process and has a place and voice in the discussion, which will help interpret the effectiveness of the DEL / The Loop as the construction wraps up. I for one am looking forward to personally enjoying all of the benefits of the project, hopefully sooner than later, as we evaluate the success and make decisions for transportation across the valley in the months to come. I appreciate your service as chair of the TAB, and look forward to working together for the next few years at least. Thanks Belle.

Mark Igel, Trustee

Town of Estes Park  |  PO Box 1200  |  Estes Park, Colorado 80517

www.estes.org
Direct voice mail: 970-577-3713

Notice: This email and your reply may be subject to inspection by the public under CORA, the Colorado Open Records Act. Include the word PRIVATE in the subject line if your message is intended to be kept confidential, and although it will not be included in the public email portal, it will most likely remain available through a CORA request.

[Belle Morris]

Trustee Mark,

Thank you for your reply.  The conditions and needs of the community are reflected in the 2022 "Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan" and intended to be supported in the current development of the "2045 Transportation Plan".  Already there is a tremendous amount of community engagement and helpful suggestions for the 2045 TP.  This is exciting to witness!  

TAB continues to provide Public Comment opportunities at each meeting to hear directly from citizens and stakeholders.  The TAB meetings allow citizens to discuss openly ideas, concerns, and problem-solving recommendations as well as hear encouragement.  TAB members listen and documents for future reference public comments and general discussions.  Our letters of recommendations to the Town Board reflect the diverse opinions of citizens.  This process of applied Democracy is powerful.  I am proud of the Town of Estes Park and the Town Board for continuing the opportunities that the Transportation Advisory Board provides.  The amount of free ideas and feedback generated from TAB is worth millions of dollars. 

As you are aware, as a Trustee, the role is focused on policy and good governance practices.  The higher level of engagement has helped make Town adopted plans and policies be effective and supported by citizens.  Thank you for your participation and elected role in the process. 

Belle Morris

Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do!

---

From: Mark Igel <mi...@estes.org>
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2024 12:02 PM
To: Belle Morris <belles...@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Paid Parking and TAB Chair Perspective

 

[Gary Hall]

Belle, your note has many dimensions. A dimension of historical education on the steps taken to evolve transportation; a personal dimension, with the story of the floods and how strong and resilient the residents are in EP; and the documentation dimension, with a couple components that I'll read in short order to continue understanding these very important issues. 

Thanks for your work (and the work of TAB and others) over the years to move Estes forward. And you even gave me a new phrase that I didn't have yet, "stressful cruising". 

Thanks for writing and have a grand rest of spring and 2024. We all are looking ahead to completion of this enormous, challenging, stressful phase, and when I see pavement finally being poured at the post office (part of the lot, at least) and on East Riverside, I know that we will get through all the steps. Take care and keep up the great work. 

 

Gary M. Hall

Mayor of the Town of Estes Park

Office phone: 970-577-3706

Email: gh...@estes.org

On Fri, May 17, 2024 at 11:53 AM Belle Morris <belles...@hotmail.com> wrote:

[Frank Lancaster]

Very well said.  Thank you

On Fri, May 17, 2024 at 11:53 AM Belle Morris <belles...@hotmail.com> wrote:

[Mark Igel]

Belle, 

As your email arrived, I was standing downtown observing the current situation as part of my commitment to the Trustee role, which includes a duty as the connection between constituents and the Town Administrator regarding Town operations and decisions in real time -- what is happening around us today. I will admit to shifting my focus from future policy "and good governance practices" to the issues at hand, as many constituents have been sharing their concerns with me, especially in the last few days. I know that the accountability role will come and go as needed, as myself and fellow Trustees balance future planning and current events through decision making and support. As an elected representative I feel fortunate to have so many good connections that can align to solve issues, as I support the professionals in the Town staff and cooperating agencies as they work together when there is a challenge. 

You are the first to hear this report, that after arranging an in person meeting around noon today with the Town Engineer Jeff Bailey, in order to gather information and more intelligently answer questions being asked of me, we observed the downtown situation and problems as they took place.  After an informal discussion with him about what we were seeing and hearing his perspective, he left me to walk up Moraine to root out the cause of the problems. During this time a local company driver in a semi truck pulling an excavator on a trailer, waited over 11 cycles to get through the Elkhorn and Moraine intersection, safely handling the challenge as a professional. He didn't move more than 100' in 35 minutes. While stopped, he motioned me over and shared his concerns that there was no coordination between this project and the project at Marys Lake/Moraine, which has the turn lane closed so he couldn't safely make the right turn on to Moraine Eastbound, if he wisely bypassed the downtown area. He wasn't happy about the lack of planning and coordination, and while he used polite words, his frustration was palpable. 

By chance, I chatted with Trustee Hazelton on the corner and exchanged observations with each other, and then I visited with the flagging company employee who has been actively involved directing traffic for weeks on this project. Today he was standing on the sidewalk, not helping organize traffic in any way. He said that unless directed by law enforcement, they weren't going to be getting involved in traffic flow, as their primary focus was worker safety. That was news to me, since the last word I heard was that there would be coordination between projects and signals, humans helping make real time decisions, and solutions, not more problems.

About that time, Parking and Transit Manager Dana Klein arrived and in very few words made contact with the flagging company supervisor and gave directions to them about his plan to resolve the 30 minute gridlock. Manager Klein had been summoned by Engineer Bailey and together they were coordinating a solution which addressed the worsening conditions. They did a great job, and that level of attention will hopefully carry over into the weekend. It was a success to see the different entities work together, at the direction of the Town Staff who stepped up to solve the problem.

Being caught in the middle of the zone has heightened the level of tension and anxiety among many local residents and even visitors, and despite reassuring words of hope for the better future, the reality of a new issue around every corner must be handled quickly to prevent another from stacking on top of it and creating a real crisis. I hope that this helps you understand the 'front line' of the Trustee job, and that I am taking the charge of responsibility seriously. I am looking forward to taking a closer look at policies and planning in the coming months, and I will try to provide updates on that as well.

Thanks for your additional input, and willingness to share your unique perspective. We each have a unique view that together will help shape the future.

Mark Igel, Trustee

Town of Estes Park  |  PO Box 1200  |  Estes Park, Colorado 80517

www.estes.org
Direct voice mail: 970-577-3713

Notice: This email and your reply may be subject to inspection by the public under CORA, the Colorado Open Records Act. Include the word PRIVATE in the subject line if your message is intended to be kept confidential, and although it will not be included in the public email portal, it will most likely remain available through a CORA request.