A corridor study led to the complete streets design along a key arterial with high crash trends, adding greater safety and connectivity to the communities around Boulder, Colorado. The improvements to 30th Street focused on enhancing bicycle infrastructure as well as access to mass transit and low-impact design stormwater facilities. After completing the Colorado Corridors Study, Otak also led the design to improve this corridor that represents a critical route for both University of Colorado boulder and broader community.
A Corridor Study and Design for Safe, Complete Connectivity
A combination of raised and separated bike lanes, along with widened sidewalks provided the basis for multimodal improvements along 30th Street as part of the city’s ‘Vision Zero’ goals to eliminate pedestrian collisions. The design replaced previous on-street bike lanes that were five feet wide or less and addressed intersections that were found to be among the top collision locations in the city by the corridor study. These new bicycle facilities created seamless connection to the Boulder Creek Multi-Use Path, enhanced transit stops, as well as the 30th and Colorado Underpass. Also included as part of the complete streets design approach were improved driveway and ditch crossings, utility upgrades, low-impact stormwater facilities, and low-maintenance landscaping with a modified irrigation pipe system. A significant urban street tree canopy and resilient landscape areas further enhanced safety by creating a buffer between the bikeway and traffic lane while also serving as water quality elements for stormwater. The design effort resulted in the delivery of final construction documents in accordance with the City of Boulder and CDOT standards, along with obligations related to CDOT Federal and State-funded Local Agency project requirements. Significant public outreach and coordination with the University of Colorado was part of the original corridor study that ultimately provided guidance across these multimodal enhancements.
To enhance the visitor experience and create future stewards of Yellowstone National Park, this much-needed restoration made improvements to the deteriorating north and south rim trails and overlooks, which wrap the Canyon Rim from Inspiration Point to Artist Point.
Restoring Historic National Park Features and Enhancing Visitor Experiences
The multi-phase project included design of a new trail system and overlooks as well as the rehabilitation of historic elements at Inspiration Point. In enhancing the Canyon Rim Trail system, the design also created new trails, overlooks, and parking improvements at the Brink of the Upper Falls and Uncle Tom’s Point. The design materials and features reflect the rustic design style synonymous with Yellowstone National Park. Design solutions include re-routing trails away from dangerous areas and installing stone and boulder barriers; connecting historic overlooks with new walkways; creating safe, accessible viewing areas with new wayfinding and informational signage; constructing new visitor pavilions and kiosks with peeled logs and stone masonry columns; and using natural materials to integrate the infrastructure into the spires and canyon cliffs.
As essential transportation routes for the University of Colorado and commuting for the general public, updates to these corridors were a priority for the City of Boulder. With the goal of improved multimodal transportation, aesthetic enhancements, and a future master plan for land use in mind, the 30th and Colorado Underpass project would provide important safety accessibility and drainage improvements.
Multimodal Enhancements to a Dangerous, Priority Corridor
An emphasis on multimodal transportation (pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicle) at the intersection of 30th and Colorado also included a grade-separated crossing that was functional and minimally impactful to the surrounding area. The design features two pedestrian and bicycle underpasses as well as a protected intersection. Connected infrastructure to nearby sidewalks, bike lanes and multi-use paths and a reconstructed transit stop improve access to these corridors. A large gravity irrigation carrier pipe supports landscape elements while lighting, art and other features were part of the urban design. Otak developed construction documents in making the City of Boulder’s improved transportation goals a reality.
Aimed at adding a safe year-round route for the City of Aspen and its 22 miles of trails, the Maroon Creek Multi-Use Trail creates a clearly-defined connection through a heavily used and tightly constrained roadway. Extending to the Aspen Highlands Trail, Otak provided planning, conceptual design, and final construction documents for this path to complete a much needed connection between the city, Aspen Recreation Center, Aspen Highlands Ski Area, and iconic Maroon Bells Scenic Area.
Providing a Safe and Clear, Year-Round Connection for a Heavily Used Corridor
An amenity for locals and tourists alike, the world-renowned mountain destination of Aspen features a trail system that enhances active transportation across the area including Snowmass, Woody Creek, Basalt, and the greater Pitkin County. The Maroon Creek Multi-Use Trail connects the SH 82 roundabout with the Aspen Recreation Center and its busy transit station, where a previously poorly defined mixture of pathways created potential conflicts between vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. With updates providing the ability to clear snow, the path is now available for use in all seasons. Careful consideration of impacts to adjacent properties included increased separation from the road as well as from the Aspen High and Aspen Middle School pathways, while the design also integrates with well-established Nordic trails in the area. Intersection safety improvement measures, drainage upgrades, realignment of an existing pedestrian bridge approach, and transit stop enhancements were also among the features of this multimodal project.
As part of significant development to the surrounding area of Riverdale Regional Park, the Adams County Veteran’s Memorial adds a scaled model of the USS Colorado, a vessel that served from 1923 to 1947 and sustained significant damage during World War II. The development aims to not only provide a park for the community to enjoy but also a place to honor living military members and those who have perished.
A Unique Structure to Serve the Community
With a design that extends into Mann-Nyholt Lake, the veteran’s memorial recreates detailed features of the USS Colorado including everything from the battleship bow to the turrets, cables and smokestacks. An interpretive wall and military panels honor the 43 service members who died – along with 198 injured – when the vessel itself suffered hull damage in the Pacific Ocean. Accessibility is a critical factor in the design to accommodate all abilities and provide easy access to all park amenities. Development to surrounding Riverdale Regional Park include a new roundabout and parking lots that enhance an existing trail all to improve public access. Given its position on the waterfront, no-rise analysis and floodplain development permitting also supported the design process. Multiple Otak teams led the design and supporting services necessary to make this memorial a reality.
Serving as a gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) at its Fall River Entrance, the Fall River Trail provides a shared use path connection from the Town of Estes Park to the park. In leading the design, Otak minimized impact to trees and the adjacent Fall River while accentuating aesthetics that compliment the natural beaty of the site.
A Unique National Park Trail Connection
Several retaining walls and four bridges are included in this 2.5-mile trail connection that exists in a tight corridor between US 34 and Fall River. A specialty trail cross section that combines the concrete trail, retaining wall, and vehicular crash barrier was developed to fit the trail in the tightest areas between the highway and river. This section minimizes impacts to the site, excavation within the existing roadway, and provide a unique trail experience. Among the rustic aesthetics are weathering steel railing, natural stone retaining walls, and colored concrete to match features found throughout the park and adjacent lodges. With 24 private properties along the site, an extensive public outreach process involved individual residences, condo associations, and lodge owners in numerous one-on-one meetings. This project was built in three phases over several years as the town secured grant funding. In the end, the project was successful in securing over $10 million in seven separate grants. This includes from Paul Sarbanes Transit In Parks (FTA), Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), Colorado Parks and Wildlife Colorado, the Beautiful Grant (CTB), CDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), CDOT Multimodal Transportation and Mitigation Options Fund (MMOF).
With several gaps in bicycle and pedestrian facilities and two deficient bridges along Laporte Avenue, this corridor in Northern Colorado was redesigned to suit the multimodal goals of the community. Otak led the bridge and roadway design – including local art, an emphasis on sustainable materials, and a historic bridge railing monument – in completing this project with a construction manager/general contractor (CMGC) delivery method.
For a corridor that had experienced persistent safety issues involving bicyclists and pedestrians, this project is part of the city’s Low Stress Bicycle Network and was recognized by the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) as a high priority area for improvement. The corridor also provides access to Poudre High School with significant bicycle and pedestrian activity within proximity of the school and residential neighborhoods. Using EcoPact concrete – a low carbon concrete mix from Holcim – the roadway engineering and design addresses many locations that lacked sidewalk and curbs, as well as often narrow bike lanes were not well defined. In all, the multimodal project improves vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian safety along the corridor by addressing deficient sidewalks, adding bicycle lanes, and adding a center reversible turn lane, replacing two deficient bridges (east of Taft Hill Road and north of Grandview Cemetery), upgrading the roadway with curb and gutter, and other traffic improvements.
As part the 2013 flood recovery efforts within the St. Vrain Creek watershed, the multi-phase restoration project re-establishes floodplain connectivity, enhances the health of local ecology, and adds resilience to the area’s communities from future flooding. With funding from a disaster relief planning grant, those efforts include the reconfiguration of a reach where creative solutions were necessary to meet numerous objectives and stakeholder needs.
“Threading the Needle” through Constrains to Reconfigure a Reach that Provides A Reliable, Local Water Source and Protects Habitat
Understanding that this would be a complex field-fitting project, the assembled project team was specifically built with an emphasis on flexibility, willingness to compromise, and an ability to brainstorm solutions. An alternatives analysis evaluating various bypass structure design and channel alignments was developed to address a variety of project constraints, including the minimization of water surface rises to avoid a conditional letter of map revision (CLOMR), protecting the existing Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse habitat, and avoiding disturbance to ditches’ ability to divert legally decreed water rights. The final design increases floodplain connectivity while adding low-profile features that complement the natural function and variability of the river, restoring native riparian and aquatic habitat in the process. The resulting passage of native fish and sediment, reduction of flood energy, and improved water quality benefit local communities and ecology alike. Otak coordinated closely with Boulder County Parks & Open Space, along with other stakeholders including ditch representatives, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife, and Department of Water Resources in establishing the final design and overseeing construction activities. The partnership with Boulder County continues with monitoring and adaptive management support.
A new streetscape focused on safety for all modes of travel enhances community character in expanding it’s connectivity for Longmont, Colorado. Improvements to Coffman Street were designed to support residents, businesses, and visitors with a complete streets approach. This focused on multimodal connectivity with robust public transit infrastructure that includes real-time displays for route service, all supported by significant upgrades to utility infrastructure. The Otak design utilized a combination of community input and technical design expertise for this emerging world-class, multimodal corridor.
A Complete Streets Approach to Expand Community Connectivity and Utility Infrastructure
Placing an emphasis on pedestrian use while maintaining existing traffic flows, the design of Coffman Street also incorporates the vision for a regional bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The multimodal corridor forms the northern terminus for an expanding SH 119 route connecting Longmont with Boulder. To facilitate new facilities and enhance the overall utility infrastructure though the corridor, heavy coordination with companies limited conflicts from relocations that undergrounded all existing overhead power and added a major fiber optic backbone in the area. Along with new stops and shelters, separated bike lanes creating strong connections to the Longmont bicycle network further enhanced access to public transit. Among other improvements were wider sidewalks, protected intersections, updated traffic patterns, upgraded utilities, and landscaping designed to maintain the existing character of the street. This included protecting mature trees and preserving parking options. Altogether, these features minimize cost and maintenance while maximizing access for a wide variety of users.
Following historic flooding in Colorado, repairs to Sugarloaf Road went beyond correcting existing issues to include several enhancements. The Otak design added a bikeable shoulder and drainage plans, altogether enhancing resilience and active transportation infrastructure for Boulder County communities.
A Roadway Designed for Flood Recovery, Resilience, and Active Transportation
Failed retaining walls along Sugarloaf Road during historic flooding required immediate repair guidance. As part of an overarching FEMA-administered Flood Recovery Program, the final design not only corrected drainage issues that caused wall failures and debris to enter the roadway but also allowed the new wall and drainage design to provide for an uphill climbing bikeable shoulder for known heavy bicycle traffic to the area. Three-tier gravity retaining walls and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls were used to create a wider roadway that accommodates these enhancements. Working closely with county staff and with input from public outreach, several wall options were presented that intended to blend in with the natural environment, while ensuring it was constructible, in compliance with various permitting, and maintainable for years to come. Expedited delivery of this project included initial work to develop a temporary retaining wall to fully open the roadway to the public until completion.
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