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HIGHWAY 42 REVITALIZATION SNOW REMOVAL PROJECT UPDATE PROCEDURES The time is approaching when the Project Description: The Highway 42 Revitalization Area planning Front Range typically experiences process was initiated by the City Council in 2000 for the area of town routine snow storms. To meet our bordered by the BNSF railroad tracks on the west, Highway 42 on the east, residents needs during a storm, Snow South Boulder Road to the north, and Pine Street to the south. The goal is Removal Policies and Procedures to revitalize the area with mixed use development surrounding a proposed have been developed. new commuter rail station while complementing and strengthening the The Public existing residential areas and downtown. Works Depart- Mixed Use Zoning District and Design Guidelines:In March, the ment would like City contracted with Clarion Associates and Civitas, Inc. to prepare new to have all streets zoning regulations and design guidelines for the area. A series of stake- plowed immedi- holder interviews and public workshops were conducted in late April and ately after storms. However, such a service would be cost prohibitive both early May. The project will continue through the fall with the drafting of manpower and equipment. There in zoning code amendments and design guidelines. That information will be fore,the Department prioritizes streets presented for public review in late 2004 or early 2005 prior to being re- for plowing and sanding according to viewed as formal zoning code ordinance amendments. their use. Given the total lane miles of Brownfields Grant: Earlier this year, the City received a 2004 US streets within the City(over 187),and Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Grant for $200,000 that variations in storms,it is not possible will primarily be used to conduct environmental assessments within the for the City to plow all streets. project area. The City hopes to have an environmental consultant under In many cases,by the time crews are contract by year's end. available to plow neighborhood Louisville Revitalization Commission:In March,the City Council residential streets,traffic and daytime appointed members to the newly created Urban Renewal Authority. That warming have taken care of the problem. In Colorado, an abundance group has been renamed the Louisville Revitalization Commission (LRC). of sunshine typically clears streets of In order to take advantage of tax increment financing, the LRC will con snow and ice after a storm. The City duct a Conditions Survey and develop an Urban Renewal Plan. The LRC has factored that into its response plan. has prepared a request for consulting services for the Conditions Survey In the past,the City's goal has been and hopes to be under contract with a consultant by early December. to plow all streets within 48 hours of US 36 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS):The Colorado the end of a storm. However, given Department of Transportation and the Regional Transit District are jointly that many streets become passable studying options for improving transportation mobility in the US 36 Corti- through normal traffic usage, the City dor. Commuter Rail in the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail corridor has found that plowing streets after continues to be one of the potential improvements, including a station in they have been made passable causes Downtown Louisville within the Highway 42 Revitalization Area. Some more problems that it solves. Therefore,the City's policy is not to station design issues that are being reviewed through the EIS process plow residential streets if the streets are include: the number of parking spaces, the feasibility of a vehicle under- passable and can be reasonably and pass at South Street, the location and design of station platforms on the safely traveled.We have found that east and west sides of the tracks, noise and vibration, and impacts on the plowing in those conditions only causes local street system surrounding the station location. If you are interested in blockages of driveways and crosswalks. obtaining more information, please visit the US36 EIS Website at If you have questions regarding the www.us36eis.com or at 800.367.9260. City's Snow Removal Policies and As always, please feel free to visit the City's website at Procedures,please contact the Public www.ci.louisville.co.us for additional information or contact Ken Works Department at 303.335.4750. w. Johnstone, Project Manager, at 303.335.4591. December 2004 - January 2005