Lafayette
Lafayette, Colorado retail shops, news and events around the town. o advertise please call 303-447-8531
City of Boulder News Briefs April 28 2011
Apr 28th
Boulder Senior Services Summer 2011 Magazine now available
The Boulder Senior Services Summer 2011 Magazine has been mailed to City of Boulder seniors and can also be picked up at the East Boulder Senior Center, 5660 Sioux Drive, the West Boulder Senior Center, 909 Arapahoe Ave. or viewed online at: www.boulderseniorservices.com.
Registration for summer programs begins on Tuesday, May 17, for Encore members and Thursday, May 19, for all others. Walk-in and phone registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 20.
The minimum age for participation in events and classes has been reduced to 55. However, seniors seeking assistance from Senior Resources must be at least 60 for a consultation.
The Senior Resources staff offers individualized consultation and resource referrals. Call to learn about and understand the resources available to adults age 60 and over, as well as their families. Staff can help you clarify needs, understand what your options are, learn how to maneuver the application processes, balance caregiving and develop a plan of action.
New offerings in the magazine include:
- “The Civil War: Causes and Effects,” 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 27; free at the East Boulder Senior Center;
- “Cuba Day,” noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, $7 at the East Boulder Senior Center;
- DIA Tour, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16, $25 to $32.
Both the East and West Senior Centers have a number of rooms of different sizes that are available for rent for your party or meeting. For room rentals at either center, call David Coile at 303-441-3146. Or visit our web site: www.boulderseniorservices.com, click on “facilities” and choose from the drop down menu.
Boulder Senior Services is a division of the Department of Housing and Human Services. For further information please call 303-441-3148 or 303-441-4150.
Police host bike training
On Wednesday, April 27, the Boulder Police Department hosted a joint-agency training involving mountain bikes. Uniformed officers from six agencies (Boulder Police Department, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, University of Colorado-Boulder Police, City of Lafayette Police, and City of Longmont Police) participated in a comprehensive one-day refresher on basic skills, field maintenance, fundamental bike handling skills, vehicular cycling and patrol tactics.
The participants trained throughout the streets and parks in Boulder. Instructors certified by the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) conducted the training.
NEWS
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Contact:
Sarah Huntley, Media Relations, 303-441-3155
Friday is Earth Day on highway 36 to Denver
Apr 20th
36 Commuting Solutions E-Newsletter
April 2011
Friday is Earth Day! Try a Clean Commute:
carpolling, vanpooling, riding transit, bicycling, walking and teleworking!
The first ten people to reply to this message will receive a free round trip on RTD!
Did you know:
In this issue, we are focusing on sustainable transportation:
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RTD Transit Investments Move Forward
RTD is currently working on four projects for the U.S. 36 corridor: designing U.S. 36 queue jumps at three U.S. 36 interchanges, studying Transit Signal Priority at four interchanges, constructing a pedestrian bridge at Table Mesa, and removing the pedestrian canopy on the Sheridan Bridge structure over U.S. 36.
Queue jumps at three signalized interchanges along U.S. 36 are moving into the design phase: the Church Ranch Boulevard, East Flatiron Circle and McCaslin Boulevard interchanges are currently being re-packaged in response to the U.S. 36 TIGER/TIFIA project. Queue jumps will ultimately increase transit travel time savings by allowing buses to move through intersections quickly with designated lanes. RTD is coordinating with CDOT to include the queue jumps at Church Ranch Boulevard and East Flatiron Circle when construction commences in 2012. RTD will be responsible for queue jumps on McCaslin Boulevard.
RTD has received six proposals to study Transit Signal Priority on U.S. 36. The intent of the study is to see if a Transit Signal Priority system at certain, or all, intersections would result in decreased transit travel time, improved schedule adherence and reduced operating costs. RTD anticipates focusing the study on interchanges at Sheridan Boulevard, Church Ranch Boulevard, 96th Street and McCaslin Boulevard. The study will allow RTD to determine which interchanges will ultimately receive Transit Signal Priority as part of the U.S. 36 TIGER/TIFIA project.
Currently, the Table Mesa pedestrian bridge project is in RTD’s procurement office, which coordinates bids and proposals for RTD projects. The Table Mesa pedestrian bridge will improve mobility, pedestrian connectivity and reduce travel time delay for regional bus routes along the U.S. 36 Corridor. The new pedestrian bridge will reduce travel time for Denver-bound trips by 3-4 minutes. The pedestrian bridge will result in approximately $100,000 savings each year in transit operations.
The U.S. 36 & Sheridan Boulevard Bridge Pedestrian Canopy Removal is also in RTD’s procurement office, and will be advertised for bids in the next month. The Sheridan pedestrian canopy was installed in 1987 for RTD patrons to cross over U.S. 36 to the Westminster Center Park-n-Ride located on the south side of U.S. 36. In the mid-1990’s, RTD constructed a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 36 to the east side of Sheridan Boulevard, providing a safer and better access for RTD patrons.
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RTD Launches Smart Card Pilot Program in Boulder
In May, RTD will pilot a Smart Card program on several routes in the Boulder area. This pilot program will last two weeks, and will give RTD a preliminary assessment of the technology.
Smart Card technology, which is used by transit agencies in many U.S. cities already (Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, Washington DC), will make fare collection more convenient and streamlined for RTD passengers, and will make the distribution of fare products like monthly passes easier for commuters.
Currently, RTD is looking for 850 volunteer participants for the Smart Card pilot program. For the first pilot, participants should be Eco Pass holders, and must be willing to collect and report data on Smart Card/sticker use, to share email and phone contact information for follow-up by RTD, and to record and report observations. All information collected during the test phase will be completely confidential and contact information will be destroyed at the completion of the test phase.
RTD will pilot the following routes in the Boulder area:
If your organization is interested in participating in the pilot program, please contact Chris Cruz, RTD Smart Media Customer Service Call Center Supervisor, at RTD-SmartMedia@celinainc.com or call 303-299-CARD (2273).
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Member Spotlight: Boulder Area Realtor® Association
The Boulder Area Realtor ® Association has been a member of 36 Commuting Solutions since the organization’s founding in 1998. The Boulder Area Realtor® Association represents 1050 Realtors®in the Boulder County area, and has played an active role in educating members about changes in local, state, and national policies and trends since the association was founded in 1948.
The Boulder Area Realtor® Association is a member of the National Association of Realtors ®, which recently released data demonstrating a marked preference for “Smart Growth Communities” in home buyers. A survey of over 2,000 adult Americans considering a home purchase found that 77 percent of respondents would look for neighborhoods with pedestrian connectivity, and 50 percent would rather see transit improvements than new roads and developments.
“In representing area Realtors®, the Boulder Area Realtor® Association understands the integral role transportation plays in the market,” says Ken Hotard, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs. “The U.S. 36 TIGER/TIFIA project is an essential start to building a multi-modal highway. We are proud to support the U.S. 36 Coalition as it works to improve this crucial corridor.”
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Your Guide to Commuting by Bike, Part 1: Westminster Trail System
The City of Westminster has been expanding its off-street trail network since 1985, when Westminster voters approved a sales tax to fund park land acquisition and build regional trails. Twenty-six years later, Westminster boasts a wonderful system of trails: there are over 74 miles of off-street trails, connecting to Denver metro trails and other U.S. 36 communities. This trail system provides off-street connectivity throughout Westminster, and includes three major trail systems. Below is a guide to these three major Westminster Trails.
In May, the City of Westminster will demonstrate the importance of bicycling by approving the city’s firstbicycle master plan. This plan will pave the way to expand Westminster’s extensive off-street bicycle network to include new and safer on-road facilities. The Draft Bicycle Master Plan includes recommendations on connections to the existing trail system, way-finding signage, on-street facilities like pavement markings and signage, and bicycle parking.
RTD FlexPass Program
RTD’s FlexPass program provides a flexible way for employers to promote transit to their employees. The FlexPass program provides employers with the ability to purchase as many RTD monthly passes as they need, and includes up to 20% off the purchase price. Additionally, the number of passes purchased each month can vary, making the program even more flexible.
There are three different discounts available through the RTD FlexPass program:
Employers participate in the RTD FlexPass program by signing a 12-month agreement. This agreement does not state the number of passes that an employer must purchase or the minimum amount that an employer must spend, and only establishes the discounts that the employer will receive for the duration of the agreement.
If you are interested in the RTD FlexPass program, please contact Catherine atcatherine@36commutingsolutions.org.
What’s New with 36 Commuting Solutions
The May Steering Committee Meeting will be May 10 from 7:30 – 9:00 AM at the 1st BANK Center in the Mountain View Room. Please see the 2011 Meeting Schedule and Directions.
The Bike to Work Day website is open for registration to employer coordinators. You can register your organization using last year’s login or by registering for the first time. Employer coordinators establish their organization as a network for Bike to Work Day, allowing employees to affiliate and compete against other regional organizations for participation.
The U.S. 36 Coalition has achieved a great deal, but it is our members who make us strong. We need your support to advocate for U.S. 36 and RTD FasTracks completion.
Stay up-to-date on U.S. 36 advocacy, programs and sustainable travel options by liking the 36 Commuting Solutions Facebook page: www.facebook.com/36commutingsolutions. |
Free backyard composting workshops begin Thursday
Apr 4th
Space is limited to 30 people per workshop. Interested people may register online at www.BoulderCountyRecycles.org or RSVP with name, phone number and/or email, and number of attendees to Susan Meissner at smeissner@bouldercounty.org or 720-564-2226.
Workshop schedule
Longmont
Thursday, April 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Boulder County Parks & Open Space, Prairie Room
5201 St. Vrain Road
Lafayette
Saturday, April 9, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Lafayette Public Library, Downstairs Meeting Room
775 W. Baseline Road
Boulder
Saturday, April 16, 10 a.m.-noon
Boulder County Recycling Center, Education Room
1901 63rd St.
In addition to utilizing the new curbside compost bins, residents are encouraged to compost food scraps and yard waste at home. Keeping organics in backyards is an effective way to reduce household carbon footprints and provide quality compost for use in gardens.
When organic materials such as food waste and leaves are sent to the landfill they are buried along with the trash and they break down in a way that produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Composting does not create methane; it is a natural decomposition process that changes the food and yard waste into a beneficial soil amendment.