City Council Study Session Summary 2002 07 23

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Keith McKinnon, 746 Nighthawk Circle, Louisville, stated that the back of his house abuts to Pine Street at Via Appia. He explained that covenants limit him to a four-foot fence along his back yard, which prevents him from blocking traffic noise and conversations that interrupt activities in his back yard. He stated that the proposed service would result in a bus going by every four minutes, and would destroy property values of the homes along the bus route. He agreed that the current service is sufficient. Michael Deborski, 601 Pine Street, stated that he was told Boulder County voted against ten-minute frequencies for the DASH route because it would bottleneck the buses. He asked whether RTD or the City of Louisville has conducted any studies on bus noise and pollution. He felt that more buses are needed in Boulder, not in Louisville, and agreed that the current service frequency is sufficient. He stated that 130 people signed a petition to have the DASH route travel directly down South Boulder Road, which would benefit Louisville residents who live near and shop at King Soopers. Tom Mayer suggested obtaining accurate ridership numbers from RTD. He stated that he has become more sensitized to the impact of bus traffic to Pine Street residents and questioned whether the benefit of additional service offsets the impacts. Buddy Day, 701 Grant Avenue, Louisville, suggested that RTD use smaller buses for this route. Chuck Sisk suggested that the City write a letter to RTD, explaining that there is not consensus in the community regarding the proposed DASH service and suggest that the RTD board hear further testimony from citizens. He expressed concern that the default decision was to send a bus straight down South Boulder Road. Council agreed to ask RTD to keep the existing route 227 service, not implement the proposed DASH plan, and look at other alternatives for bus traffic other than Pine Street. John Keany pointed out that if the bus loops back down Main Street, City Council would have residents complaining about extra buses on Main Street, which doesn’t solve the problem. Mayor Davidson stated that he is not in favor of proposing bus routes and suggested that the City recommend that the RTD board work this out. Don Brown felt that the City has a duty to express its opinion. He supports bus service, however, he does not support the proposed DASH service. Anne Berry Hunter, 701 Grant Avenue, felt that routing the bus down South Boulder Road was a great concession, would service the community, and not impact residents of Pine Street. Michele Van Pelt asked for clarification that Council was supporting the plan proposed by RTD. 3