CASTLE CREEK CORRIDOR PLANNING PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, November 15, 2017
AGENDA Project Background and Today s Goals Corridor Constraints and Conflicts Usage Information Public Process Schedule Review Initial Public Comment Period / Major Themes Conceptual Trail Alignment Alternatives Questions
OPEN HOUSE GOALS Present collected public comment themes Overview of conceptual alternatives (3) Answer questions Collect written comment on alternatives Launch survey on alternatives Clarify next steps
CORRIDOR CONSTRAINTS Narrow roadway Poor sightlines Limited shoulders Steep grades Steep drop offs Multi-use corridor
CORRIDOR CONFLICTS
Who uses the Castle Creek Corridor? City and County Residents Aspen Music Festival and School 600 + / Faculty & Staff: 130 Aspen Country Day School Students: 260 / Faculty & Staff: 62 Marolt Housing 100 units / 300 residents Aspen Valley Hospital Cyclists and Pedestrians Pitkin County Health & Human Services 40 50 Employees / 280 clients per week / Community Groups Castle Creek Valley businesses RFTA Transit Proposed Future Affordable Housing Visitors to Ashcroft and Hiking Trails Access to Backcountry Figures are approximate.
User Counts: Bike, Pedestrian and Vehicle Trips August and September 2017 Over (2) one-week periods Counts were collected on cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles south of Marolt Trail Crossing Bike Trips Pedestrian Trips Vehicle Trips August 2-9 1,936 179 17,914 Novice Experienced 815 1,121 September 17-24 801 72 15,317 Novice Experienced 240 561
Public Meeting and Comment Schedule Initial Public Comment (July 5-September 29, 2017) Project Webpage (July 5) Online Community Survey I (July 21-September 29) Kick-Off Meeting/Open House I (July 24) September 29 - Initial Public Comment Closed Public Comment on Conceptual Alignments (November 2, 2017- January 1, 2018) Joint Meeting with Pitkin County Open Space & Trails and City of Aspen Parks & Open Space (November 2) Public Meeting/Open House (November 15) Online Community Survey January 1- Public Comment Period closes at 7 pm Preferred Alignment Joint City OST and County OST Meeting to identify preferred conceptual alignment (TBD)
Review of Input Quantities Initial Public Comment Period Activity Project Webpage 20 Kick-Off Meeting/Open House 100 Insights, Improvements, Ideas Comment Activity Printed Public Community Survey Public Online Community Survey Comment Cards (also collected at Kick-Off Meeting) Aspen Music Festival & School (AMFS) Student Survey Approximate Response/Submissions 40 4 (responses uploaded to online survey) 223 (including printed surveys) 44 599 Community Emails and Letters 20 Individual Meetings to Gain Insight 5
Public Survey: Corridor Safety 200 197 150 100 50 26 0 Do you think safety improvements are needed in the Castle Creek corridor between the Marolt property and the Music School/Country Day Campus? Strongly Agree/Agree Strongly Disagree/Disagree
Public Comment Categories Purpose Safety, Public Transit, Public Health/Environment, Usage, Project Area Design Trail Design, Corridor Aesthetics, Impact Financial Considerations
Public Input Major Themes PUBLIC INPUT MAJOR THEMES Improve safety for all users Maintain the natural aesthetics and beauty Define users Financial costs and implications Holistic analysis of corridor (safety) Widen the road/shoulder Separation between traffic and cyclists/pedestrians Wide enough for cyclists and pedestrians/two-way traffic
Usage Data Public Input Corridor Constraints DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS/CRITERIA. User Safety Maintenance Right-of-Way Constructability Vegetation Impacts Estimated Costs Potential Construction Phasing Conceptual Alignment Alternatives
CONCEPTUAL ALIGNMENT ALTERNATIVES
West Trail Alignment Alternative
Estimated Cost $5,160,000
WEST TRAIL SUMMARY SUMMARY PROS CONS 6' to 8' west side trail above road grade 4' or 5' uphill bike lane New trail crossing of road with speed tables Retaining walls along west slope Estimated Cost: $5,160,000 Uphill bike lane Lanes stay in existing configuration Slows traffic (speed tables at new crossing) Vegetation preserved along east side of road Trail user safety (horizontal & vertical separation) Minimizes or avoids roadway debris/snow removal onto trail Cost Retaining walls (height, extent, constructability) Adds new crossing of road Vegetation impacts along west side of road Right-of-way impacts (approx. 4,405 SF) Proximity of trail to existing homes (north end) Trail maintenance (limited access) Lengthy pedestrian railing Constrained trail Lengthy concrete guardrail Concentrated drainage along concrete guardrail, likely need for drainage system Snow storage (along concrete guardrail)
East Trail Alignment Alternative
Estimated Cost $3,880,000
EAST TRAIL SUMMARY SUMMARY PROS CONS 6' to 8' east side trail below road grade & at road grade 4' uphill bike lane Large shift in road alignment (for portion of project) Retaining walls along east slope Retaining walls along west slope Estimated Cost: $3,880,000 Uphill bike lane No need to cross road Slows traffic (speed tables) Right-of-way impacts (approx. 165 SF) Large shift in road alignment (through main curve) Lengthy concrete guardrail Trail user safety where trail below road (trail users cannot see vehicles, vehicles cannot see trail users, roadway debris/snow removal hazard to trail below) Retaining walls (both sides of road, height, extent, constructability) Constrained trail Vegetation impacts along both sides of road Trail maintenance (limits access) Lengthy pedestrian railing Multiple driveway crossings Construction phasing (impacts to traffic during construction) Snow storage (along concrete guardrail)
Shoulder Improvements Alignment Alternative
Estimated Cost $1,110,000
SHOULDER IMPROVEMENTS SUMMARY SUMMARY PROS CONS Shoulder widening: 4' paved on uphill/west side; 3 min. paved on downhill/east side Retaining walls along west slope New pedestrian crossing of road with speed tables Estimated Cost: $1,110,000 Cost Slows traffic (speed tables at new crossing) Lanes stay in existing configuration Bikeable uphill shoulder Right-of-way impacts (none) Vegetation preserved along east side of road Least Vegetation impacts Maintenance (similar to existing) No guardrail No pedestrian railing Least retaining walls Construction phasing (impacts to traffic during construction) No trail No uphill bike lane No defined user corridors (similar to existing) Adds new crossing of road
At-Grade Separation Examples Physical and Visual separation between motorists and pedestrians/cyclists
At-Grade Examples Visual separation between motorists and pedestrians/cyclists
ALIGNMENTS SUMMARY Conceptual Alignment Summary West Trail 6' to 8' west side trail above road grade 4' or 5' uphill bike lane New trail crossing of road with speed tables Retaining walls along west slope East Trail 6' to 8' east side trail below road grade & at road grade 4' uphill bike lane Large shift in road alignment (for portion of project) Retaining walls along east slope Retaining walls along west slope Shoulder Improvements Shoulder widening: 4' paved on uphill/west side; 3 min. paved on downhill/east side Retaining walls along west slope New pedestrian crossing of road with speed tables Estimated Cost $5,160,000 $3,880,000 $1,110,000
SUMMARY COMPARISON TABLE - SAFETY West Trail East Trail Shoulder Improvements Safety Improvements Speed tables Horizontal and vertical separation Uphill bike lane trail above grade Pedestrian Railing Minimizes or avoids roadway debris/snow removal onto trail Speed tables Concrete barrier/buffer Uphill bike lane Trail below & at grade No need to cross road Speed tables Flexible bollards Limitations Constrained trail Adds new crossing of road Constrained trial Trail user safety where trail below road (trail users cannot see vehicles, vehicles cannot see trail users, roadway debris/snow removal hazard to trail below) No uphill bike lane At-grade user corridors Adds new crossing of road
SUMMARY COMPARISON TABLE Est. Cost User Corridors Slows Traffic Right of Way Maintenance Retaining Walls West Trail $5,160,000 6-8 Above Road Grade Trail; 4-5 Uphill Bike Lane Speed tables at new crossing approx. 4,405 SF on west side Limited Access West Slope East Trail $3,880,000 6-8 Below and At Road Grade Trail; 4 Uphill Bike Lane Speed tables approx. 165 SF on west side Limited Access East Slope West Slope Shoulder Improvements $1,110,000 Flexible bollards where possible Speed tables at new crossing Not outside of ROW Similar to existing West Slope
TREE IMPACT SUMMARY Estimated Tree Impact (3 diameter and larger) West Trail East Trail Shoulder Improvements ~ 170 Trees ~ 140 Trees ~ 40 Trees
APPROXIMATE COST $100 to $130 per Square Foot SCULPTED SHOTCRETE EXAMPLES
ROCKFALL FENCE EXAMPLES APPROXIMATE COST $800 to $2000 per Linear Foot
APPROXIMATE COST $10 to $30 per Square Foot CABLE NET & WIRE MESH EXAMPLES
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OPENED NOVEMBER 2 nd JANUARY 1 st ONLINE SURVEY NOW AVAILABLE www.pitkinostprojects.com
CASTLE CREEK CORRIDOR PLANNING PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, November 15, 2017