Meeting Date: June 13, 2017 COUNCIL COMMUNICATION Agenda Item: Agenda Location: Consent Calendar Work Plan # 194,195, 196 Legal Review: 1 st Reading 2 nd Reading Subject: A resolution approving Thornton s regional and subregional transportation priorities. Recommended by: Robb Kolstad Approved by: Jeffrey B. Coder Ordinance previously introduced by: Presenter(s): Kent Moorman, Regional Transportation Engineer SYNOPSIS: This resolution approves Thornton s regional and subregional transportation priorities in advance of the 2020-2023 Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) process. By establishing transportation priorities, City Council and staff will be better able to advocate for these improvements throughout the TIP process. Staff is recommending that the regional priorities be in no particular order: I-25, US 36 to State Highway 7; I-25 Express/Bus Rapid Transit Service to State Highway 7; Completion of North Metro Rail (RTD s N-line); and US 85 and 120 th interchange. Staff is recommending that the subregional priorities be in no particular order: First/last mile connections to the Regional Transportation District (RTD) N Line; Thornton Parkway/96 th Avenue, Riverdale Road to I-76; State Highway (SH) 44 (104 th Avenue) widening, Grandview Ponds to US 85; Bikeshare implementation across jurisdictional boundaries; State Highway 7 widening; and bus service serving all of Thornton. Staff is recommending that the regional and subregional transportation priorities timeframe be 2017 to 2020 to allow for the completion of the DRCOG TIP process. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends Alternative No. 1, approve the resolution establishing Thornton s regional and subregional transportation priorities. BUDGET/STAFF IMPLICATIONS: It is anticipated that some of the regional and subregional priority projects may include consideration of financial participation by the cities and Adams County. Any potential future financial participation will be discussed with City Council. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve the resolution as presented. 2. Approve the resolution with changes directed by Council. 3. Do not approve the resolution.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION PAGE 2 BACKGROUND (ANALYSIS/NEXT STEPS/HISTORY): (includes previous City Council action) Prioritization Process Thornton along with the other Adams County communities participates in the Adams County regional transportation prioritization list through an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA). The IGA identifies a process for developing a list of Adams County s regional transportation priorities. In addition, Thornton staff participates with other North Area Transportation Alliance (NATA) staff and member community staff in updating NATA s transportation priorities. The priorities include next steps to accomplish improvements needed to state-owned roads and bridges, transit, and transportation demand management (TDM) projects and programs. The priority lists, updated approximately every three years, are mainly qualitative rather than quantitative the past two cycles. These updates are in anticipation of DRCOG s call for Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) projects and the upcoming Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) county hearing process. The current Adams County prioritization list helps facilitate project and program funding requests with the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), CDOT, RTD, and DRCOG. Priority Projects Staff is recommending the recommended overall priority list from each of the five groups below for discussions with Adams County and NATA. The groups are Federal/State Highways, Thornton streets in DRCOG s Metro Vision Regional Transportation Plan, Non-Rail Transit System, Rail Transit System, and Bicycle/Pedestrian System. The reason for the groupings is possible funding resources. Federal/State Highways suggested priorities are: I-25, US 36 to Highway 7; State Highway 7, I-25 to Yosemite Street; US 85 and 120 th Avenue interchange; and State Highway 44 (104 th Avenue), Grandview Ponds entrance to US 85. Thornton Streets in DRCOG s Metro Vision Regional Transportation Plan suggested priorities are: Thornton Parkway/96 th Avenue, Riverdale Road to I-76; Holly Street/McKay Road, Highway 7 to 96 th Avenue; and Washington Street, 146 th Avenue to 160 th Avenue. Non-Rail Transit System suggested priorities are: I-25 Express/Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service 120 th Avenue to State Highway 7; RTD service expanded to serve the City Limits of Thornton; First/last mile solutions to serve transit; State Highway 7 BRT; and a CDOT Bustang stop at State Highway 7. Rail Transit System suggested priorities are: Complete the North Metro Line (N-Line); Commuter service to Fort Collins with connection at North End Station (162 nd Avenue and Colorado Boulevard); and High Speed rail service with connection at North End Station (162 nd Avenue and Colorado Boulevard). Bicycle/Pedestrian System suggested priorities are: Bikeshare implementation that crosses jurisdictional boundaries; Regional and Subregional trail connections to the South Platte trail, along E- 470, and the Big Dry Creek; and connections that assist first/last mile bicycle/pedestrian commutes to transit stops.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION PAGE 3 DRCOG TIP Policy Work Group Thornton staff is part of the DRCOG TIP Policy Work Group that is further developing the TIP policy that will be part of the call for projects in 2018. DRCOG Board approved developing a TIP policy that will have major regional projects with subregional projects that advance the Metro Vision Regional Transportation Plan reviewed by subregions. The subregions are currently proposed to be each county in the region. Subregions can submit joint projects, combining their allocations. The Adams County IGA will most likely be the vehicle that Adams County will use to provide input into DRCOG regarding the regional and subregional projects. NATA will most likely use NATA s prioritization list to decide whether to provide letters of support on the regional and subregional projects to DRCOG. In addition, NATA may encourage the subregions to submit joint projects that benefit the north area. In addition, Thornton staff is participating in DRCOG s review of programs such as Transportation Demand Management, Way to Go, Regional Transportation Operations, Station Area Master Plans, Urban Center Planning Studies, and Air Quality Improvement as these are set aside programs that receive funding through the DRCOG TIP. The next DRCOG TIP call for projects will follow a new format. There will most likely be transformative regional projects submitted directly to DRCOG and then subregions (most likely counties) will recommend regional/subregional projects to the DRCOG Board for approval. Local jurisdictions will not submit directly to DRCOG on the subregional projects. There most likely will not be specific types of projects called out by the DRCOG Board but rather DRCOG Board focus areas related to the Metro Vision and the Metro Vision Regional Transportation Plan. The success of prior prioritization efforts as it relates to Thornton is as follows: I-25 Widening from US 36 to 120 th Avenue environmental clearances and 30 percent plans underway State Highway 44 (104 th Avenue) widening from Riverdale Road to US 85 conversations with CDOT regarding devolution opportunities and funding the road widening State Highway 85 and 120 th Avenue Interchange environmental clearances and 30 percent plans underway State Highway 7 widening from 164 th Avenue to Holly Street developer has built part of the area, DRCOG has modified the Metro Vision Regional Transportation Plan to reflect this priority North Metro Rail Line (N-Line) Line to open between Denver Union Station and Eastlake by early 2019. Remainder of line still to be completed to 162 nd Avenue. State Highway 7 Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service between Boulder and Brighton feasibility study nearing completion and starting BRT station study 120 th Avenue Arterial BRT study anticipate being part of RTD regional BRT study I-25 Regional Bus Service continue discussions of stop at Highway 7 on route from Denver Union Station to Fort Collins I-25 Transit Improvements continued discussion with RTD on BRT or express service with stops at 144 th Avenue and at State Highway 7 along with a median station near 88 th Avenue Smart Commute Metro North implementation of TDM strategies for the I-25 Express Lane construction, outreach to Thornton employers, and bike to work day
R E S O L U T I O N A RESOLUTION APPROVING THORNTON S REGIONAL AND SUBREGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES. WHEREAS, the City of Thornton participates in the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) development of the 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) process; and WHEREAS, the City of Thornton participates in the Adams County Collaborative Transportation Planning Agreement that reviews and prioritizes transportation projects for consideration in the DRCOG TIP; and WHEREAS, the City of Thornton participates in the North Area Transportation Alliance (NATA) that reviews and prioritizes projects to support the North Metro Area; and WHEREAS, the City of Thornton has Interstate and State Highways in the City that are managed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT); and WHEREAS, the City of Thornton is within the Regional Transportation District (RTD) that provides transit service to Thornton; and WHEREAS, the City of Thornton recognizes the need for investment in regional transportation infrastructure to improve mobility for the City s residents and businesses; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Thornton wants to identify and advance Thornton s regional and subregional priorities in the development of transportation improvement plans. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THORNTON, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS: 1. That City Council hereby approves the following as Thornton s 2017-2020 regional priority projects: I-25, US 36 to State Highway 7; I-25 Express/Bus Rapid Transit Service to State Highway 7; Completion of North Metro Rail (RTD s N-line); and US 85 and 120 th interchange. 2. That City Council hereby approves the following as Thornton s 2017-2020 subregional priority projects: First/last mile connections to the Regional Transportation District (RTD) N Line; Thornton Parkway/96 th Avenue, Riverdale Road to I-76; State Highway (SH) 44 (104 th Avenue) widening, Grandview Ponds to US 85; Bikeshare implementation across jurisdictional boundaries; State Highway 7 widening; and bus service serving all of Thornton.
3. That City Council and City staff will advocate for the regional and subregional projects listed above. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Thornton, Colorado, on, 2017. CITY OF THORNTON, COLORADO ATTEST: Heidi K. Williams, Mayor Kristen N. Rosenbaum, City Clerk 2