Posts tagged Boulder County
Boulder bus and bike friendly
Sep 26th
Boulder County, Colo. – To make it easier for people to use the bus and their bikes, Boulder County is initiating the “Bus then Bike” program for commuters along the Diagonal Highway (119).
The county has installed a covered, secure bike shelter in both Longmont and Boulder for commuters along the Diagonal corridor who wish to use a bike to get to their final destination. The shelters, funded through a federal grant and county transportation funds, provide long-term, secure bicycle storage for commuters making connections to and from regional transit.
Bicycles and accessories can be safely stored overnight close to the bus stop, allowing commuters to avoid lugging their bike on the bus each day.
“Many people already take their bike on the bus along this corridor, which can be an inconvenience, and we want to make it easier for people to take the bus more often,” Boulder County Transportation Director George Gerstle said. “We know not everyone can take the bus all the time, but this is another example of how we are working to give more people a real choice in how they travel.”
Scott McCarey, Alternative Transportation Coordinator for Boulder County said that the program eliminates significant barriers to taking the bus. “For many people, the distance between the bus stop and their final destination is too far to walk, so this provides a convenient way to travel that final mile,” McCarey said. “And, users of the shelters never have to worry about being turned away by a bus because its bike racks or storage bins are full.”
Nataly Erving, Service Planner for RTD, said the program should reduce delays on the BOLT route. “The ability for people to park their bikes should reduce the delays caused by the loading and unloading of bikes,” she said. “Each bike that has to be loaded in the undercarriage bins takes between one and two minutes because the driver has to park the vehicle, climb out and open the bins.”
Help Boulder teens stay free
Sep 20th
Volunteers can help teens stay out of incarceration
Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County is looking for volunteers willing to dedicate their time on a weekly basis to help local teens achieve positive life changes.
The Boulder County Community Services Mentor Program is seeking adults who can work well with teens, be a positive role model, and commit to three hours of mentoring per week. Volunteer time essentially consists of activities enjoyed by participants, whether it is going to a ballgame, watching a movie or just grabbing a bite to eat.
The Mentor Program matches adults and juveniles one-on-one in order to provide youths with enduring links to positive supports in the community. Adult role models provide the teens with a unique support relationship that can promote the development of positive assets and reduce the likelihood of recidivism. Mentors also provide individual attention that separates teens from the potential influences of higher-risk peers.
Volunteers are required to complete training and commit to mentor a teen for one year. The training will be held in the evenings on Oct. 11 and 12. Mentors will meet with their teens once a week for 2-3 hours according to a flexible schedule that meets their needs and the schedule of their mentees. Mentors can plan activities that meet their interests; current mentoring pairs have participated in activities such as pottery painting, horseback riding, dance classes and movies.
All prospective mentors must pass a criminal background check. The deadline for applications is Oct. 5. For application information and additional details, contact the Justice System Volunteer Program at 303-441-3718 or abrubacher@bouldercounty.org.
Avoid East Valmont like the plague
Sep 19th
Daytime closures start Sept. 28
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Transportation Department has begun the reconstruction of Valmont Road between 75th and 95th streets.
Construction and significant delays are expected to last through mid-November. Cyclists and motorists are encouraged to use detours to avoid delays.
Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 28, Valmont Road will be closed between 75th and 95th streets to all vehicles, including bicycles, on weekdays only (Monday-Friday) from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The daytime closures will be in effect until Nov. 8.
Accommodations have been made to allow passage of emergency vehicles and school buses along with local traffic and delivery vehicles to homes within the work zone.
All vehicles should expect variable pavement conditions, significant construction activity and potential delays along Valmont Road for the duration of the project.
“Valmont Road is one of the gateway corridors within the county,” construction supervisor Joe Bath said. “This project will be a major improvement to the road and will enhance safety for all forms of traffic.”
The Valmont Shoulders and Roadway Reconstruction project includes the complete removal and replacement of the existing asphalt pavement along with the addition of paved shoulders to each edge of the road.
The City of Boulder’s trail connection to the Teller Lake trailhead will also be reconstructed and the trail crossing of Valmont Road improved. The Teller Lake trail and trailhead will be closed sometime in early October to accommodate that portion of the project work.
Schedules are subject to change. Message boards are located in the area to alert residents of any construction schedule changes and additional information is available at www.BoulderCounty.org/Transportation. Contact Tim Swope at tswope@bouldercounty.org to be added to the notification email list.