Projects like the North Foothills Bikeway are part of large and complex planning processes. A governing plan in that system is the CDOT 10 Year Plan which is being made now. It will determine funding priorities and decide what will and won’t be done in the next ten years starting around 2027.
Here’s C4C’s statement to the commissions, committees, and staff that determine the contents of the 10 Year Plan.
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C4C asks that US 36 North Foothills Highway between Boulder and Lyons be included in the CDOT 10 Year Plan for safety and in order to continue the partnership between CDOT and Boulder County on what C4C considers to be transformational change in transportation.
US 36 North Foothills Highway has between 70,000 and 90,000 bicycle trips a year according to the CDOT counter near the south end of the corridor. It is also one of if not the most dangerous roads in the state for cyclists according to the serious injury and fatality data despite only 5% – 20% of the cycling population–the “strong and fearless” category–using it.
Alternatively, engineering standards and proof of concept projects like the separated path from Boulder to Westminster show that there are zero auto-on-bike fatalities when the modes are separated.
At the risk of sounding ridiculous, C4C does believe that CDOT Region 4’s partnership with Boulder County and its network multi-modal transportation master plan is leading by example for mode choice or the design-use of right-of-way for indicated outcomes. US 36 North Foothills Highway is a critical part of that plan.
- There is no roadway component except for safety improvements.
- The path would follow emerging best in class standards like those on the path under construction on Highway 119 Boulder – Longmont.
- The bikeway feasibility study shows the possibility for ADA compliant grades.
- Boulder County subsidizes transit on this corridor.
- Boulder County is seeking funding for wildlife crossings at one of the top 5% locations east of the Divide for auto-wildlife collisions, often involving large animals like elk.
- As shown in Boulder County’s Transportation Master Plan, the project would connect with other facilities, multiple modes, and the combined CDOT and Boulder County TMP work that is executing network multi-modalism at scale.
The sum of the work would produce desired outcomes in land-use, water conservation, killed and seriously injured (safety), opportunity (health), emissions for health and climate, the environment, and equity. It would create safe and appealing access to work, services, and play. For C4C, it is a leading, role-model project.