Colfax BRT Task Force MeetingDecember 12, 2019

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Agenda1) Colfax BRT Project Updates

2) Pedestrian Safety & Streetscaping

3) Funding Background

4) Design Updates

5) Project Development & Funding Methodology

6) Project Timelines

7) Near Term Projects

8) Vision Zero Updates

9) Recommended Next Step

Colfax BRT Project Update

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Colfax BRT Procurement Update

Colfax BRT NEPA & Preliminary Design Scope Procurement:

Current Schedule Issue RFP - 1st Quarter 2020 Issue NTP – 3rd Quarter 2020NEPA/PE Duration – 18 to 24 months

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East Colfax Tentative TimelinePre-Design & Environmental (18 to 24 months)− Determine different transit elements, BRT applications, and length

− NEPA Work

− Refine cost estimates and funding plans

2 Design Engineering(12 to 18 months)

3 Right of Way (18 to 24 months)

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028

4Construction(18 to 24 months)

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Colfax BRT Project ScopeNEPA and Preliminary Design Scope Elements:

Environmental Assessment, NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Preliminary Design (survey, ROW, roadway plans, BRT Stations, utilities, drainage, signals, phasing) Travel Modal and Traffic Analysis Public and stakeholder involvement and coordination Cost Estimates FTA CIG (Capital Investment Grant) Application Financial and Funding Analysis

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NEPA ProcessScoping

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Decision on Preferred Alternative and disclosure of impacts Evaluation of alternativesScoping

Determine the scale of the projectNotify the public and stakeholders and ask for their future involvementDetermine the NEPA class of action: Categorical ExclusionEnvironmental AssessmentEnvironmental Impact Statement

Purpose and Need

Develop problem statement Identify the need for the projectPerform operational analysis for existing conditionsDevelop goals and objectives for the project

Evaluate Alternatives

Develop a reasonable range of alternatives to solve the problemsDetermine meaningful criteria to evaluate the alternatives

Operational criteriaEnvironmental criteria

Select a Preferred Alternative

Document Environmental Impacts

Describe alternatives being considered, including No Action alternativeDisclose impacts to natural and human environmental resourcesProvide mitigation commitments to reduce the impacts where appropriate and reasonable

Decision Document

Lead Agency signs the NEPA decision documentPublic notice of decision

Public and Stakeholder Outreach at Milestones

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NEPA Preliminary Design ProcessThe NEPA preliminary design process will include incorporating aspects of streetscaping elements into design. This will include:

• Safety improvements such as medians and bulb-outs

• Consideration of aesthetic features (i.e. pavers, stamped concrete)

• Opportunities for water quality features• Placement of pedestrian scale lighting• Placement of street furnishings

City will involve the BIDs in design process.

Pedestrian Safety & Streetscaping Process and Schedule Update

Funding Background

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Elevate Denver Funding• $20 million approved in Elevate Denver Bond for Pedestrian

Safety Improvements and Streetscaping within four Colfax BIDs• Early Assumptions

• Funds would be used to make pedestrian safety improvements in Bluebird and West Colfax BID areas, informed by design plans.

• Funds would be used to make pedestrian safety and streetscaping enhancements in Colfax and Mayfair BID areas, informed by respective streetscape master plans.

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BID Plans Informed the Amount of the Bond Request

• Funding amount based on cost estimates of preliminary engineering designs (West Colfax/ Bluebird) or streetscape plans (Colfax/ Mayfair) from each BID.

• BID cost estimates included construction, design, and contingency

• Cost estimates and designs were based on side-running BRT at time.

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How was $20 million determined?Based on cost estimates provided by Colfax BIDs:

• Design and construction costs were pulled from each

plan and totaled.

• A 20% contingency was added to design and 20%

contingency was added to construction.

• 5% was added for Water Quality

• 1% was added for Public ArtTotal cost was estimated to be ~20 million

Design Updates

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Factors that have Changed Since Bond Process Began

East Colfax• Based on community input, a decision to move from side-running to center-running BRT was made after

Elevate Denver bond process was complete

• The design change from side-running to center-running BRT greatly alters the envelope of the pedestrian and streetscape improvements, meaning the cost estimates assumed for streetscaping work are no longer accurate

• Additional funding opportunities may be available to strengthen project

West Colfax

• The City has modified designs based on public input process and future need

• Community desire for landscaping in medians wasn’t considered in bond cost estimates for West Colfax

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Incorporating Streetscaping + Pedestrian Safety with Center-Running BRT Design

Streetscaping Improvements(based on side-running BRT)

Streetscaping Improvements(based on center-running BRT)

Pedestrian Lighting

Furnishings

Trash Receptacles

Street Trees

Pavers or Stamped Concrete

Banners/ Wayfinding

Project Development & Funding Methodology

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Goal is to leverage funding and strengthen project that results in the following outcomes:

• Meet broader community vision & goals• Delivering a multi-modal corridor• Expanding tree canopy• Improving air & water quality

• Supports local needs along the corridor• Highest quality project possible• Meet safety needs of entire corridor

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East & West Colfax Stakeholders

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East Colfax Project Development ProcessPlan• Align plan for Colfax with city goals and values• Coordination between partners to define project

Design• Initiate preliminary (NEPA) design process• Produce cost estimates to understand need

Programmatic• Investigate additional funding opportunities to leverage• Coordination on design with partners to align values and

needs

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Plan• Align plan for Colfax with city goals and values• Coordination between partners to define project

Design• Initiate preliminary design process• Produce cost estimates to understand need

Programmatic• Investigate additional funding opportunities to leverage• Coordination on design with partners to align values and

needs

West Colfax Project Development Process

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• Cost estimates will be developed for each design on East and West Colfax

• Costs are likely to exceed funding so additional funding sources will be leveraged

• Leveraging additional funding will allow the City to build a more complete project

• Once the appropriate funding stacks are in place, funding from each source will be allocated accordingly

Funding Summary

Timelines

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Tentative Project TimelinesThe improvements on West Colfax are on a different time-line than the improvements on East Colfax.

• The design for East Colfax is being coordinated with BRT

• NEPA and Preliminary Design process will be initiated in 2020.

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West Colfax Tentative Timeline

2 Design Engineering(12 to 18 months)

3 Construction(24+ months)

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Planning (12 to 15 months)− Public Outreach

− Concept Development & Refinement

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2023

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East Colfax Tentative TimelinePre-Design & Environmental (18 to 24 months)− Determine different transit elements, BRT applications, and length

− NEPA Work

− Refine cost estimates and funding plans

2 Design Engineering(12 to 18 months)

3 Right of Way (18 to 24 months)

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028

4Construction(18 to 24 months)

Near Term Projects

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UNear Term Streetscaping- East Colfax

“Soft” Streetscape Elements

Furnishings

Trash Receptacles

Bike Racks

Given the timeline of the BRT project, we will be moving forward with the soft streetscaping elements that were recommended from the BID plans.

• Funding outside of Elevate Denver Bond will be used to move forward with the soft elements ahead of the BRT project.

• Soft elements are those that can be installed and then be moved and reinstalled after BRT construction.

• BIDs will be involved in picking the “pallet” of furnishings to build off visions in streetscape master plans.

• The soft furnishings will help reinforce the unique character areas of Colfax that were established in the streetscape master plans.

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UNear Term Streetscaping- East Colfax

Near-Term (Prior to BRT Construction)

“Soft” Streetscape Elements

Furnishings

Trash Receptacles

Bike Racks

“Hard” Streetscape Elements

Long-Term (During BRT Construction)

Pedestrian Lighting/ Banner Poles

Street Trees

Pavers or Stamped Concrete

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Colfax Wide Safety PrioritiesIt is critical to leverage funds to make safety improvements corridor wide.

35 priority intersectionsCriteria• Public Works Equity Index• Injury & Fatal Crashes• Crashes• Current & Future Land-use• Distance between signals

Colfax Safety Priority IntersectionsBID Area #West Colfax 9Colfax 12Bluebird 1Mayfair 6Other 7

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Vision Zero Safety ImprovementsNear term Improvements at following intersections:• Grant• Logan• Pearl• Washington• Clarkson• Lafayette• High• Adams• Hudson• Krameria• Monaco• Unita• Valentia• Verbena• Wabash

Construction Spring 2020

Temporary Bulb-outs

Restricted Right TurnsTemporary Median

Example Vision Zero Improvements at Colfax & Adams

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Colfax & FairfaxPublic Works is evaluating the option for adding a signal at this location:

• A review has been completed of pedestrian crossing behavior

• A HAWK signal may therefore be warranted but a formal pedestrian crossing analysis is needed as well as approval from CDOT.

• We will be ordering traffic volume counts to determine if a full signal is warranted.

• Removal of the eastbound left turn pocket to the alley (with paint and bollards) is being considered to provide an informal pedestrian refuge space.

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Stormwater Improvement Project• Upsizing stormwater pipe under East Colfax

Avenue at Jackson Street

• Providing more capacity to carry stormwater to reduce recurrent flooding

• Anticipated construction timeline: January – June 2020

• Drivers will shift to south two vehicle lanes while excavation occurs on north side.

• Then, drivers will shift to north two vehicle lanes while excavation occurs on south side.

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Next Steps• Strategy/Scoping Meeting w/BIDs to determine next steps for

near term improvement• Quarterly Task Force Meetings (On-going)• Internal Coordination (On-going)• CDOT & RTD Coordination (On-going)• West Colfax design process to kick off (Q2 2020)• NEPA Process to kick-off (Q3 2020)