Thanks to a great partnership with Bike JeffCo, C4C and Bike JeffCo are making slow progress on the GoBo project. The project’s goal is to donate $450,000 to DRCOG in order that DRCOG use the funds to commission a feasibility study for a separated bikeway between Golden and Boulder in the Highway 93 right-of-way.
That language is currently pending as a request to DRCOG after a meeting between all three parties in July in which C4C and Bike JeffCo made the proposal and offered to raise the funds for the project.
DRCOG recently began a pilot program in which it performs project management. One example is the South Boulder Road project. By the same token, DRCOG could commission a feasibility study for a GoBo bikeway. It’s a sensible proposal since the project’s scope crosses two regions of CDOT which is a decentralized organization based on regions. And the project is in both Boulder and Jefferson Counties. DRCOG spans both CDOT regions, both counties, and has jurisdiction over Highway 93.
DRCOG is deliberating the proposal. In the meantime, C4C and Bike JeffCo are seeking funds for the projected $450,000 project cost. Boulder County has said it can attempt to bring $50,000 to the project in 2025. Jefferson County Climate and Sustainability has stated that it could possibly supply $50,000 in 2025. C4C has $30,000 budgeted and could maybe stretch to donate more.
C4C and Bike JeffCo have also been asking interested parties what their thoughts are. The City of Golden supports the idea, especially the section from Golden to Highway 72. The City of Arvada supports the idea as well. Jefferson County Open Space has an interest in the project arising from its work on the Front Range Trail that may overlap a GoBo bikeway. Jefferson County Transportation and Engineering does not oppose the project. They do envision the project working best from Golden to Highway 72.
It’s worth noting that Jefferson County is managing a budgeting problem arising mostly from TABOR. Patience is in order while JeffCo figures things out.
Similar to the North Foothills Bikeway study, a feasibility study for a GoBo bikeway would split the project into parts thus allowing governments to subsequently design and build in increments. Importantly, the feasibility study provides an objective basis to make decisions which is always better than speculation on a project of this scope.
The end goal is to create multi-modal safety, access, appeal, and connectivity where currently none of those fully exist. Such a bikeway would connect to at least nine existing bike/ped facilities according to a Bike JeffCo supporter who mapped it out. For Boulder, it could solve access problems for bikes and pedestrians from South Boulder to Marshall Mesa, Greenbelt Plateau, Flatirons Vista, and Highway 128.
Look for a Bike JeffCo GoBo Virtual Summit meeting to be announced for sometime in September and hosted by Bike JeffCo.
These projects can be glacial in pace. When you support C4C, one of the things you support is an advocacy organization’s ability to work long-term on comprehensive solutions. Thank you.
The data is simple, proximity to highway volumes and speeds of automobiles predicts serious injury and fatalities for cyclists. Let’s find a way to work with our neighbors and connect communities by means other than roadways.