Request for Update to the Denver Snow Routes Map

[Bryan Wilson]

Hello All,

As you know, we've had two recent snow storms in Denver over back-to-back weekends. Unfortunately, snow & ice wasn't sufficiently cleared from bus & bike routes during the prior storm. Now, the last snowfall has covered the ice in the bike lanes & on the bike routes making them extremely hazardous.

Another issue is the inability of RTD Buses to reach the stops without getting stuck in the gutter. This forces riders to step out onto a sloped roadway that is often icy or otherwise navigate to the sidewalk ramp & then into the roadway.

To help mitigate these issues, I'm requesting an Update to the Denver Snow Routes Map to elevate the priority level of RTD Bus Routes & add missing bike routes to the map.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this request & consider giving an update to this request at a future Denver INC Transportation Committee Meeting.

Thank you in advance for prioritizing mobility in the City of Denver!

Respectfully,
Bryan Wilson

[Bryan Wilson]

UPDATE to the request I made below...

I received a phone call on Tuesday & spoke with a couple of people from DOTI while out walking my dogs. (Sorry, I don't recall the names.)

In short, we can't increase plow routes without increasing funding. Adding a new route would mean removing an existing route. I believe this needs to be changed so that we can include new Neighborhood Bikeways in some capacity as well as do better at clearing RTD Bus Routes. Denver City Council, can you please discuss with DOTI what the approximate cost per mile would be to clear new bikeways of snow after a storm? One example would be the new Kearney/Krameria Bikeway in District 5. Could this be added as a "Priority B" route, or could we create a new Priority Level, like Neighborhood Bikeway (NBW)? Additionally, the RTD Bus Routes that are Priority B get ignored until the Priority Super A & Priority A routes are cleared. I routinely see buses stuck in the gutter, or hit signs & telephone poles on 12th Avenue due to the crowning of the roadway & the icy conditions. This often results in bus operators stopping the vehicle travel lanes & waiting for riders to step off the curb to cross the parking lane & bike lanes that are typically snow & ice-covered. Obviously, this isn't ADA Compliant & it is still treacherous for those who don't rely on a wheelchair. So, I'm asking if we can plan to elevate every RTD Bus Route to Priority Level A Snow Route.
Take a bus on a Priority Level B Route in your area to see what I mean.
bit.ly/DenverSnowRoutes

In the meantime, we can also take steps to improve the efficiency of clearing the existing Snow Routes. I suggested during the call to see if we can take advantage of the Street Sweeping Alert system. The idea would be to create notifications for Denver Snow Priority Level Super A, A, & B routes & simply notify residents that their address is on one of those routes. People are able to sign-up for notifications on other streets, so they would theoretically receive a notice that they're parking on a Snow Route. The goal is to have as few cars on the route during the day as possible to allow plow operators to clear the street through any existing bike lanes to the curb like it is described online at DenverGov.org/Snow. We won't issue citations or tow any drivers since they might be out of town, but those who are able can move their vehicles to a side street until the higher-priority street is cleared. The Priority B levels & NBW if they exist can be cleared the day(s) after. 

Neighborhood Bikeways, if added to the mix, don't need to be cleared right away & could perhaps only be cleared by the smaller neighborhood trucks. Moving small amounts of snow early can make a HUGE difference in snow melting off later. One specific example is the new Franklin Street Neighborhood Bikeway. It doesn't get cleared at all after a snowfall making the diverter installed on Franklin at 14th extremely dangerous for riders. If we're unable to find a way to plow it for next year, then I think it should be removed.

Is this a discussion that can start in the DOTI Advisory Board & then move to the Denver City Council LUTI Committee?

Thank you in advance for prioritizing safe & connected bike infrastructure!

Respectfully,
Bryan Wilson
Congress Park for ALL
 

[Bryan Wilson]

I would like this to be a topic at a future INC Transportation Committee meeting & DOTI Advisory Board meeting.

Happy to explain my perspective & more details secondhand, but I think a DOTI representative would be better suited for the task.

In short ...

- RTD Bus routes aren't prioritized enough during a snow storm for ADA Compliant Access & bike routes aren't cleared afterwards.

We need to...

- Raise the Priority Level of RTD bus routes to Priority Level A so that bus operators may pull up to stops & lower the ramps as needed.

- Add a Priority Level for Neighborhood Bikeways & identify all unprotected bikelanes as Priority Level B.

- Create notification system to ask drivers to move their vehicles during business hours maybe using the Street Sweeping Alerts.

This will require...

Increased funding from Denver City Council for the Mayor's Budget in future years.

My request is for BOTH the INC Transportation Committee & the DOTI Advisory Board is to put together a proposed resolution to be voted on & sent on to Denver INC Delegation & the Denver City Council LUTI Committee.

Thank you,

Bryan Wilson 

Congress Park for ALL 

[Bryan Wilson]

Thanks for your response, Allen.

I'm still asking for the Resolution to be drafted, voted on, & passed out of the DOTI Advisory Board. It will ideally be sent to the Denver City Council LUTI Committee & then on to City Council to add into the budget specifically earmarked for Upgrading the Denver Snow Routes.
bit.ly/DenverSnowRouteUpdate

There is a reason why the Advisory Board takes attendance to be sure they have a "quorum."

I'm asking the Denver Transportation Committee to do the same.

Maybe loop in the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee as well.

Thank you,

Bryan Wilson

On Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 8:24 AM Allen Cowgill <allenc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Bryan-

The DOTI Advisory Board has asked the department to do better with plowing bike lanes on numerous occasions over the past few years both during meetings and via letters. We've even asked them to do a pilot program to plow just one neighborhood bikeway.  

They have not funded this.

Regards,

Allen

[Bryan Wilson]

If you could do that, I would appreciate it.

I have the same question for the Denver Parks & Rec Advisory Board as well as Mayor's Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committees.

I suspect many on these boards and committees have no knowledge of any documents if they exist. Plus, I figure they would have the same procedures from one to another, which I suspect your office would have on file. 

Thank you in advance for your help! 

Respectfully,

Bryan Wilson 

On Mon, Feb 24, 2025, 8:25 AM Lee Leach, Esther - MO Executive Officer <Esther....@denvergov.org> wrote:

Hi Bryan,

 

I did not. Did you try asking the board as yet? I can reach out as well.

 

Esther

 

	Esther Lee Leach | Senior Advisor - Community Partnerships, Boards & Commissions Office of the Mayor | City and County of Denver   Phone: (720) 865-9039 | Cell: (720) 403-0756
311 | denvergov.org | Denver 8 TV | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

 

 

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2025 7:14 AM
To: Lee Leach, Esther - MO Executive Officer <Esther....@denvergov.org>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Request for Update to the Denver Snow Routes Map

 

Any luck finding the bylaws or procedures for the DOTI Advisory Committee? You could ask them why they took attendance & what constitutes a "Quorum. " I suspect that information is in the document that I'm looking for. Thanks!

Any luck finding the bylaws or procedures for the DOTI Advisory Committee?
You could ask them why they took attendance & what constitutes a "Quorum."
I suspect that information is in the document that I'm looking for.

Thanks!
Bryan

 

On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com> wrote:

Well, they took attendance & said they had a  quorum at the last meeting.

 

Quorum to do what?

Can they draft, & pass resolutions for City Council or DOTI?

 

Other groups, like RNOs, have Bylaws to follow for this sort of thing.

 

Thanks!

Bryan Wilson 

 

On Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 11:24 AM Lee Leach, Esther - MO Executive Officer <Esther....@denvergov.org> wrote:

Hi Bryan,

 

Checking now. Is there something specific that you were looking for info on?

 

Esther

 

	Esther Lee Leach | Senior Advisor - Community Partnerships, Boards & Commissions Office of the Mayor | City and County of Denver   Phone: (720) 865-9039 | Cell: (720) 403-0756
311 | denvergov.org | Denver 8 TV | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

 

 

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2025 1:16 PM
To: Lee Leach, Esther - MO Executive Officer <Esther....@denvergov.org>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Request for Update to the Denver Snow Routes Map

 

Hello Esther, I was looking online, but I can't seem to find anything about the DOTI Advisory Board procedures. Are there Bylaws or something available somewhere? Thanks! Bryan Wilson ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Bryan Wilson

Hello Esther,

I was looking online, but I can't seem to find anything about the DOTI Advisory Board procedures.
Are there Bylaws or something available somewhere?

Thanks!
Bryan Wilson