John Scarffe, Nederland. The Nederland Board of Trustees approved applying for a Federal Highway Safety Initiative Program Grant to add a right turn lane on Lakeview Drive during a regular on-line meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 5, 2021. The Board also heard an update on businesses and COVID-19. 

HSIP Grant 

Public Works Manager Chris Pelletier introduced a proposal to apply for a Federal Highway Safety Initiative Program (HSIP) Grant. Staff proposed applying for funding to add a right turn lane on Lakeview Drive, according to the agenda information memorandum. 

The Town needs a ten percent match as part of the funding criteria, so staff was looking for formal support from the Board of Trustees to submit an application and to request a funding match from the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA). 

The Federal Highway Safety Program is a funding opportunity from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to improve safety by supporting projects that reduce crashes and injuries on state highways and local roads. Projects are prioritized based on statistical data and crash histories. 

Funding is also awarded to applicants that can show a significant improvement in safety on their roadways. Nederland is fortunate to not have a significant crash or injury history because of the relatively low speeds on the highway through town, so consequently the competition for these funds will be significant, according to the memo. 

Staff sees an opportunity to make an argument for improving safety in the region by taking preemptive measures to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow, so Staff proposed applying for funds to add a right hand turn lane on Lakeview Drive at the intersection of Highway 72. 

In 2018, a traffic analysis was performed on the intersection of Lakeview Drive and Highway 72. The overall performance of this intersection was rated poorly and several options were provided to improve this intersection. 

One of the options presented was adding a right hand turn lane to Lakeview Drive which will improve the level of service of this intersection, according to the memo. Additionally, this improvement is identified as one of the goals of the 2017 NDDA Master Plan. 

Staff recommended supporting this grant opportunity to make this recognized needed improvement. Staff also recommended seeking financial support from the NDDA to meet the 10 percent match required.

Pelletier told the Board that $2.6 million is available through the program. The intersection is identified as a worthwhile improvement and part of NDDA Master Plan. The traffic study estimated the project at $300,000 with a match of $33,000 from the NDDA. The NDDA Board will meet next on January 13.

“I’m proposing a right-hand turn lane and not changes to the highway,” Pelletier said. It would be less than the $800,000.

Trustees expressed support for the grant. Mayor Kristopher Larsen said the Lakeview project, Scenario 1, does not improve the level of service and is not a long-term solution. They should be working with CDOT for the round-about solution and asked if another meeting to work with CDOT was a possibility.

Pelletier said he can reach out to CDOT before the next meeting and can update where they are. Mayor Pro Tem Jonathon Baumhover said he would go for this now. 

A roundabout would cause a puddle over that entire area, and he could not imagine a roundabout until the Town has a second bridge. “It’s well worth it for the locals,” Baumhover said.

The Board approved approaching the NDDA for matching grant approval.

COVID-19 Update

Town Administrator Karen Gerrity presented an update on Nederland businesses and the COVID-19 Pandemic. During the past nine months, businesses have been impacted by COVID in a variety of ways, and the Town has strived to take an active approach in supporting and educating the businesses on how the health order changes impact their business and different financial and business opportunities that are available to them. 

On Monday, January 4, 2020, Boulder County moved back to Level Orange. All businesses were notified of the change and sent the “Boulder County Moving to Orange Level on Monday, January 4th” email. 

At the June 2, 2020 meeting, the Trustees voted to approve an ordinance delegating authority to Miranda Fisher to approve temporary modifications of liquor licensed premises, grant temporary use permits and grant temporary license agreements. To date, eight businesses have received temporary use permits or temporary license agreements. 

The Town plans to continue to provide extensions as needed during COVID, according to the update. “The extensions will be dependent on the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division’s decision to allow for temporary modification of premise permits, which are currently allowed until November 2021.” 

Gerrity discussed the 5 Star State Certification program, which is set up at the county level through an administrative committee who is responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing the program. It encourages businesses to implement safety measures beyond what is already required by public health orders and guidelines that will help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

In doing so, businesses will be able to accelerate their reopening. Depending on where their county falls on the COVID-19 dial, certified businesses are eligible for less restrictive capacity caps. 5 Star certification reassures employees and customers that businesses are adhering to enhanced guidance. 

The program is completely voluntary and also serves as an expanding directory of establishments recognized for their efforts to keep their communities safe and open. For any 5 Star Certification Program to move forward in Boulder County, Boulder County Public Health must submit an application and proposal to the State to operate a program and the public health director, county commissioners, and hospitals in the county must support a program. 

The Town was seeking input from the Trustees on Nederland’s participation in the 5 Star Certification Program should it be approved. Gerrity shared that an administrative group was formed to create and implement a plan prior to submitting an application to CDPHE. 

The Committee will meet first on January 7. Trustees liked the idea and said they hope to continue discussions at the NDDA meeting. Mayor Larsen said the Trustees will keep up with this.

The next meeting of the Nederland Board of Trustees will be on January 19, 2021. For more information, go to https://nederlandco.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=298.

(Originally published in the January 14, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)