LID reviews transportation plans

Transportation

Eric Bergeson, vice-chair of the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee, said what was on everyone's mind during a presentation by Kathleen Bracke of the Boulder County Planning and Permitting Department: "Nothing makes it easier to access Niwot."

The LID heard from Bracke at the invitation of Mark Ruzzin, liaison to the LID from the office of the Boulder County Commissioners. She presented plans showing a preliminary design of a multi-use path planned for the median in Highway 119, also known as the Diagonal Highway, between Longmont and Boulder.

The path is designed for use by pedestrians and bicycles (including e-bikes), with underpasses to provide safety and ease the flow of traffic at major intersections. "We're hoping to be finished with the design by the end of 2023," Bracke said, "and operational by 2025."

Notably absent from the current design, as noted by Bergeson and others, was any easy connection to Niwot or its commercial district from the multi-use pathway. LID member Cornelia Sawle noted, "There is no underpass to Niwot for bikes."

The path would include an underpass at the Niwot Road intersection for travel between Longmont and Boulder, but anyone trying to access Niwot would have to cross three different highways at on-grade pedestrian crossings, including a new rapid-transit dedicated bus lane, the two lanes of the Diagonal Highway, and the right-turn access lane to the Diagonal from westbound Niwot Road.

Leonard Sitongia, who is investigating transportation issues for the Niwot Community Association, asked, "Are overpasses considered an option?"

Tim Swope of Boulder County Public Works responded, "The city of Boulder has been converting overpasses to underpasses." He added that overpasses have to consider the topography of the land as well as Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. "Overpasses are not easy," he concluded.

Bracke urged the LID members to provide feedback to her department while the project is in the planning stages.

Ruzzin directed the LID members to a review of the Niwot Connectivity Plan, which was created in 2012 in what Ruzzin described as "a fairly robust process" by representatives of Niwot as well as county planning and transportation staff with several public meetings in the Niwot community. Swope noted that nine of the 23 projects identified in the plan had been completed, two had been removed, and the others were either partially implemented or yet to be done.

Bergeson recommended that the LID members review the plan with a view toward re-prioritizing the remaining projects. LID member Keith Waters asked about the county's plans for work on Niwot Road adjacent to Cottonwood Square Shopping Center, and Swope responded that due to drainage problems, the county would likely have to rebuild parts of Niwot Road. "We're going to be looking at taking that sidewalk down to the subdivision if not to the [LoBo] trail."

LID Revenues

LID Treasurer Bruce Rabeler reported that LID revenues from the 1% sales tax in the district were over $140,000 through June, which is up by over 17% compared to the same period last year.

Funding Requests

Pat Murphy of The Niwot Group at Compass Real Estate presented the first request on behalf of the Niwot Business Association for the Great Pumpkin Party on October 29. Murphy, who has championed this annual event on the Saturday before Halloween for many years, said, "It's been going on for 25 years."

The Great Pumpkin Party includes Niwot businesses giving candy to children in costumes, a pet costume contest, a scarecrow contest, and a Halloween children's parade down 2nd Avenue in Niwot. This year the event includes closure of 2nd Avenue to vehicles between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for safety. "In the past we had to accommodate the feed store," Murphy explained, referring to the recent closing of Niwot Rental & Feed.

She noted that the event has gotten so large that she was limiting advertisements to flyers at Niwot Elementary School, posters in Niwot, and an ad in the Left Hand Valley Courier. "You have to have 1,000 pieces of candy already," Murphy noted. "If we boost this to the world, it will be uncontrollable."

She noted that businesses look forward to the annual event. "The Wandering Jellyfish bookstore said it's their favorite event of the year," Murphy said. Cottonwood Square will be the site of a magic show that day.

The LID unanimously approved the funding request for $4,210 to cover advertising and other expenses, with the NBA providing an additional $500 worth of gift cards as prizes to be given out.

Kate Head of Pebble Art Jewelry presented a funding request on behalf of the NBA for Niwot Out & About Day, described as an expanded version of previous sidewalk sale days. Head has been meeting with several Niwot business owners to plan the event. "We want to change it from a sidewalk sale to Niwot Out & About Day, and include service businesses," Head said. "We're leaving it up to each of the merchants to decide what they want to do. The goal is to attract more people to Niwot."

The budget of $4,150 included "six musicians and a horse and carriage," Head said. The NBA is contributing $500 toward the event. She explained that other costs include advertising and promotion. "We're planning on advertising in the Left Hand Valley Courier and on social media," she said. "We'd like to see more traffic from Gunbarrel and south Longmont."

Head noted that it had been a "disappointing summer" for local merchants as people resumed traveling after enduring travel restrictions during the pandemic. The event is planned for Saturday, Sept. 24, with hopes that the cooler weather will encourage shoppers to come out. The funding request of $3,650 was unanimously approved.