Commuting Solutions reports on the BRT CO 119 project

Commuting Solutions held its membership meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at the Hampton Inn in Gunbarrel, where members were presented with an update on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Safety and Mobility Improvements Project as well as the results of the Northwest Rail Peak Service Feasibility Study that was prepared by RTD. Commuting Solutions serves as the transportation management organization for the northwest region.

The major elements of the CO 119 Project include:

•New CO 52 Intersection - Reconstruction – Split Intersection

•New Airport Road Intersection - Operational Reconfiguration

•Hover Street - Reconstruction – Partial Grade Separation

•Bypass Lanes and General Intersection Improvements for Jay Road, 63rd Street, Niwot Road and Airport Road

•New Park-n-Rides at 63rd Street and Niwot Road

•New Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Stations at 47th and 63rd Streets, CO 52 and Niwot Road

•Safety Improvements at Unsignalized Intersections

•A new commuter bikeway with six grade separated crossings, two prefabricated bridges over Four Mile Creek and Lefthand Creek with nine miles of 12-foot wide concrete bike path

During construction, there will be several closures, some of which are already underway, including:

•Closure of BOLT stops at IBM Drive and CO 52 - These are permanent although there will be new stops at the reconstructed intersection of CO 52

•Closure of the Niwot Road Park-n-Ride, September 2024 through Q1 2027

•A 7-day full closure period is planned when the underpass construction occurs at Jay Road and Niwot Road. This is timed to fall in early 2025 but the exact dates have yet to be decided.

•Construction acceleration is planned to limit the impact and reduce the closure time but members were told that detours will be provided for pedestrian, bike and car traffic.

•The closure of IBM Drive at CO 52 is expected to be approximately fifteen months, as a new alignment of southbound CO 119 and CO 52 at this intersection require more intensive construction work. Detours will be provided.

The next steps timeline for the project were presented as follows:

• September 2024 - Finalize Orange Route Pattern Scope/Routing

• November 2024 through March 2025 - Internal/External Local Agencies' Stakeholder Meetings

• Late Spring/Early Summer 2025 - Public Outreach along CO 119 BRT corridor

• Fall 2025 - Draft Service Plan

• Late Spring/Early Summer 2026 - Re-evaluation of Resources for Opening Day

• Fall 2026 - Finalization of Service Plan

• February 2027 - Public hearings and process for May 2027 service changes

• May 2027 - Service changes and anticipated Opening Day (at completion)

Questions about whether RTD was working with Niwot to address concerns for replacement parking during the Niwot Road Park-n-Ride closure and the plans for an underpass at Niwot Road for pedestrian and biking safety were answered in the affirmative but no details were given.

One member said that the proposed Murray Street parking lot was one-half mile away from the current bus stop and not a viable option for most people especially in inclement weather.

Another member pointed out that the pictures of the Park-n-Rides at 63rd Street still suggest that pedestrians and bikers will have to cross the busy highway through the traffic lanes, albeit with a designated surface crosswalk.

Additionally, two design updates were reported due to the discovery of a water transmission line that conflicts with proposed design features at 63rd Street and at Fourmile Canyon Creek.

At 63rd Street, the underpass will be replaced with an overpass. The Fourmile Canyon Creek bridge will now require a realignment of the bikeway between Fourmile Canyon Creek and Jay Road and will result in a low-water bridge similar to the one that connects the Lobo Trail at CO 119 to 63rd Street.

Three different concepts for the 63rd Street bikeway overpass are currently being considered. The most highly favored of the three as seen in a public poll and an informal polling of members present is Concept 1, which is characterized as having an "historic Colorado feel" with weathered steel and exposed concrete. Colors and the size/height of the columns of the main span that will carry the bikeway south to north over 63rd Street are being determined.

Current funding sources will cover $172 million of the total projected cost of $175 million. The current financial commitments are as follows:

CDOT - 43%, grants, 38%, RTD, 15%, Boulder County 3% and Longmont City, 1%.

Provided resources for the public to seek more information:

CDOT CO 119 Roadway Project

RTD on CO 119

Boulder County CO 119 Bikeway Project

The report on the RTD Northwest Rail Peak Service Feasibility Study is addressed in a separate article in this edition of the Courier.