Posts tagged residents
Free transportation will be provided to flood victims seeking disaster center help
Sep 22nd
Increased traffic and the lack of transportation options in the mountains and foothills of Boulder County continues to be a problem for our residents and road & utility work crews. Similarly, residents impacted by the flood may have difficulty getting to one of the disaster assistance centers, either in Boulder or Longmont.
In order to alleviate some of the congestion and isolation issues of getting to and from Boulder from our mountain communities, and to assist residents getting to or from a disaster assistance center, VIA, RTD, City of Boulder and Boulder County are working together to provide accessible transportation options for plains and mountain residents affected by the flood.
Transportation to/from Disaster Assistance Centers and for basic needs
From Sept. 21 through Oct. 17, Boulder County’s nonprofit Via Mobility Services will provide flood victims with free on-demand transportation to Boulder County’s disaster assistance centers, as long as Via staff can safely reach the pickup locations. This free service will also be provided to the disaster assistance center in Estes Park. To schedule a ride, call 303-447-9636 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Via will also provide free on-demand transportation for any flood victim in its service area to access healthcare, food, employment, or other essential services to help stabilize their lives. Via can also provide information about mobility options and referral to other transportation resources that may be available in local communities. Call 303-447-2848 ext. 1014 or email egallegos@viacolorado.org for more information.
Mountain community transportation updates
Beginning Monday, Sept. 23:
- The Climb bus will resume service with a modified route from Gold Hill Road through Sunshine Canyon Drive to the Boulder Transit Center. The Climb is operated by Via. Please see www.the-climb.org for additional route and schedule information.
- In collaboration with RTD and Boulder County, Via will also provide two mid-day routes from Boulder to Nederland through Sunshine Canyon Drive using four-wheel-drive paratransit vehicles.
- RTD’s reconstituted large coach N route, will provide early morning and late afternoon between Nederland and Boulder via Highway 119 and Blackhawk. See www.viacolorado.org or www.rtd-denver.com for more information.
Via Mobility Services
Via is a private, nonprofit organization providing on-demand transportation, individual, and group travel training and mobility options information and referral. For more information, please visit www.viacolorado.orgor call 303-447-2848.
—www.bouldercountyflood.org and www.boulderfloodinfo.net—
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Mountain Parks open slowly, starting Sat.
Sep 21st
After historic rain and flooding that caused extensive damage to trails, trailheads and natural resources, the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) is announcing that it will open a limited number of trails in Chautauqua on Saturday, Sept. 21.
OSMP anticipates opening up more trails within the week. However, many trails in the system will require substantial rebuilding, and OSMP asks for the public’s patience as the department rebuilds and restores those trails.
Chautauqua trails that will be opened on Saturday are:
· A portion of Chautauqua trail.
· Bluebell Road to the shelter.
· Bluebell Spur
· Bluebell Mesa.
· A portion of the Ski Jump trail.
Trails will be opened from dawn to dusk on-trail only because of existing safety risks. Trails will be closed at night because of hazards not visible in the dark. All other OSMP trails remained closed under an emergency order.
“We have worked as hard as possible in the days after the storm to assess damage and safety dangers,” said Mike Patton, director of the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks department. “We hope to re-open more trails in the next week.”
There are some potential safety risks on trails slated to be re-opened. Current risks on the trails may include rocky and gullied terrain, as well as other potential hazards associated with a major flood event. OSMP stresses that re-opened trails will not be of the same quality residents have seen in the past.
“We understand that the public is anxious to get out on the trails,” Patton said. “We know that OSMP is a place where visitors go to reduce stress. We want to express our deep appreciation for our visitors’ patience at this time.”
Patton also wanted to express his gratitude for the outpouring of offers to help rebuild trails, and restore natural areas. OSMP staff is prioritizing volunteer projects. Volunteer opportunities will be posted at osmp.org as soon as projects are identified.
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Flooded areas water recedes, sewage leaks diminish
Sep 21st
Floodwaters recede and wastewater backups diminish; customer assistance needed
City requests customer help to identify localized backups as crews continue to respond
After extensive efforts, the City of Boulder Utilities Division has restored the ability of primary sanitary sewer pipelines to deliver wastewater from neighborhoods to the Wastewater Treatment Facility on 75th Street.
Sewage back-ups have slowed as flood water recedes
These efforts, combined with receding floodwaters, should allow pipes serving neighborhoods to drain and relieve backups into homes and businesses. Flows reaching the wastewater treatment facility have decreased, from an excess of 50 million gallons per day (following the flood event) to 31 million gallons this morning.
While flows still remain at approximately two times the normal rate for this time of year, the change reflects a significant decrease in the amount of groundwater and floodwater entering the wastewater collection system and has allowed crews to access key pipelines to remove dirt and debris.
Given the extent of major flooding, it is likely that numerous blockages and damaged pipes impacting smaller areas remain. In order to allow those issues to be addressed more efficiently, the city is requesting that residents and businesses who are still experiencing backups contact the Public Works Call Center at 303-413-7100 as soon as possible. Updated information from customers will help crews more quickly locate and resolve issues in the city’s more than 355 miles of pipe and approximately 9,200 manholes.
The Public Works Call Center is open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If the public need remains, the city will extend call center hours over the weekend to be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For complete flood response and recovery information, visit www.bouldefloodinfo.net. Residents may also sign up to get flood updates right to their email inbox.
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