Economic Vitality Committee Agenda and Packet 2024 01 26

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SUBJECT: TEMPORARY MAIN STREET CLOSURE FOR 2024 DATE: JANUARY 19, 2024 PAGE 2 OF 3 • Using a combination of jersey barricades and other more temporary barriers, the City implemented 10-foot and 14-foot emergency access lanes that would go down each closed block of Main Street. Theses lanes were closed to regular vehicle access, but barricaded in a way so that Fire could easily access the street with its vehicles if necessary. • The emergency access lane will reduce the amount of available seating on Main Street. For it to be adequately available for emergencies, it will not be possible to allow restaurants to place tables in this area. Staff worked with the Fire District on the actual layout, since they would prefer a 14-foot access lane to allow sufficient space for the engine and complete cab door opening. • In addition to creating the emergency access lane on Main Street, special events on Front Street will need to provide accommodations for emergency access as well. The Fire District does not support having both Main Street and Front Street temporarily closed. Both Street Faire and the Farmers Market agreed to a plan in 2021 that addresses these concerns. • The Regional Transportation District (RTD) was required to reroute its DASH bus route from Main Street to LaFarge Avenue. RTD previously explored re-routing the detour from LarFarge Avenue to Front Street, but found that street widths were too narrow to accommodate safe turning movements and two way traffic. RTD also found a lock of places that met ADA compliance. • The closure was designed to be implemented at no additional cost to participating restaurants. The DBA's request to include the 900 block of Main Street is an expansion on what the City previously implemented in 2021. Adding the 900 block of Main Street would extend the closure one block north, with the closure ending at South Street rather than Walnut Street. The City may want to consider additional outreach around closing the 900 block to determine any unforeseen impacts. As in previous years, the City will also need to engage with the Fire District and the Regional Transportation District, among others, to ensure that any closure plan meets their needs. Despite the success of the closure in 2020 and 2021, Main Street was not closed in 2022 or 2023 following the elimination of indoor dining restrictions. The City has not previously closed Main Street when there were not indoor dining restrictions in place. Instead, the City reinstated its outdoor patio program that allows downtown restaurants to rent patios from the City for use from April — November. The City currently owns and maintains 33 of the outdoor dining patios. They were most recently rented out for $1,000 per 12-foot section of patio. If the City does not temporarily close Main Street in 2024, staff would implement the outdoor patio program as it has done in years past. Agenda Packet P. 12