HomeMy WebLinkAbout851-032a ?Q937 01/-44/9' 16:13
S.lvia Davis, Pitkin Cnty
EXHIBIT "B"
THE ASPEN MEADOWS
$400 -00 BK 667 PG 781
Cl k, Doc $-
TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLAN
February, 1991
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Silvia Davis, F'itkin Cnty ClerF::, Doc `x.00
THE ASPEN MEADOWS
TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLAN
This plan has been prepared by the following individuals:
Committee Members
King Woodward, The Aspen Institute
Kim Johnson, Aspen /Pitkin County Planning Office
Dan Blankenship, Roaring Fork Transit Agency
George Vicenzi, West End Resident
Robert Harth, Ed Sweeney, Music Associates of Aspen
Don Swales, West End Resident
Roger Hunt, Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission and West End Resident
Perry Harvey, R.J. Gallagher, Hadid Aspen Holdings, Inc.
Bob Felsburg, Felsburg Hott & Ullevig
Other Particioants
John Goodwin, Aspen Police Chief
Chuck Roth, Aspen Public Works Department
Jan Collins, West End Resident
Amy Margerum, Aspen /Pitkin County Planning Office
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I. Introduction
During the late summer of 1989 the City of Aspen began the preparation of a Master Plan
for the Aspen Meadows property. This plan, completed in January 1990, was formulated
within the framework of four goals. Two of the goals, which are directly related to the
traffic and transportation aspects of the plan, were stated as follows:
Goal 3: Mitigate, to the maximum extent feasible, the effects of the devel-
opment on neighboring properties.
Goal 4: Mitigate, to the maximum extent feasible, the project's impacts on
the overall community.
From a transportation standpoint, the Master Plan included a number of physical elements
in the site plan which were directed at achieving these goals. These included creating a
new primary access point to the West Meadows via Seventh Street, constructing a new trail
system linking both the East Meadows and the West Meadows to the City's trail system,
and improving the MAA parking lots to better serve automobiles and transit interface.
However, the Master Plan went even further and identified a number of mitigation
measures, many of which are operational in nature, which should be explored. These
included such measures as controls on delivery vehicles; plans for smaller, non - diesel
transit vehicles; shuttle service to /from the Meadows; parking controls; and emphasis on
pedestrian and bicycle access.
To respond to this concern, in October 1990 the Consortium formed a committee to
further evaluate mitigation measures and to develop a traffic mitigation plan for the Aspen
Meadows project. This committee was comprised of representatives of the owners and
users of the property, West End residents, the manager of the Roaring Fork Transit
Agency (RFTA), representatives of the Aspen /Pitkin County Planning Office, a member
of the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission, and a professional transportation consul-
tant. The committee held seven meetings between October 30, 1990 and February 5, 1991
to discuss mitigation measures and to prepare this plan. In addition to committee mem-
bers, other residents and City employees participated in these meetings.
Early in the process, the committee formulated the following goal statement which
directed the committee's efforts:
"To develop mitigation measures for the Aspen Meadows facilities to reduce
automobile use and it's impact on the West End neighborhood and the community
at large, and to make the Meadows facilities more accessible to residents and guests
in environmentally sound ways."
The resulting plan has been developed in two components. Because the characteristics
associated with the lodge, restaurant, and health club facilities on the western portion of
the property differ significantly from those of the MAA facilities on the eastern portion,
the mitigation measures appropriate to each portion also differ. Therefore, the following
sections provide a series of mitigation measures for each of the areas of the property.
With each measure are provided a brief description of the action, the suggested phasing
for implementation of the measure, and identification of the responsible party.
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In developing and implementing this or any mitigation plan, it is important to understand
that the plan must be evolutionary. While the goal of the plan must remain steadfast, the
mitigation measures and the details of their implementation must be flexible, requiring
monitoring and fine tuning over the years. It is recommended that the City undertake a
program to review the effectiveness of the mitigation measures on a regular basis and to
work with the Consortium to modify the details of the measures to ensure effective, yet
efficient, implementation.
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if. Mitigation Plan for West Meadows Facilities
A. Background
Currently, the residential units on the western portion of the Aspen Meadows
property include 60 lodge units and eight townhouses. The conceptual SPA
approval included the addition of four single family residences, ten new three -
bedroom townhomes, and 50 lodge units. The purpose of these additional facilities
is primarily to better serve the group activities sponsored by the members of the
Consortium. During the summer months, use will be almost exclusively by these
groups. During the winter season, it is anticipated that the lodge may be operated
for public use. Furthermore, the restaurant will be renovated, but will not be
expanded. Finally, the health club, used primarily by guests of the West Meadows,
will be enlarged slightly.
In developing the mitigation plan, the committee considered measures that ad-
dressed each of the primary user groups of the West Meadows facilities: guests,
employees, and users of the restaurant or health club who are not staying on the
grounds.
Furthermore, a mitigation plan usually includes auto disincentives and incentives
to use other modes of transportation. Auto disincentives are restrictive measures
that discourage individuals from using their automobiles. The second element is
comprised of measures that make it attractive and convenient to use alternatives to
the automobile. As will be highlighted by the list of measures described in the
following section, this mitigation plan includes a wide range of both auto
disincentives and alternative mode incentives.
How effective will this plan be? While it is very difficult to project exactly how
much trip reduction will occur as a result of this plan, the committee believes that
it has the potential to significantly mitigate the effects of additional traffic due to
the new development. The following table presents a summary of trip generation
which might be expected from the West Meadows based on trip rates typical of the
Aspen area if no specific mitigation program is implemented. As shown, the
existing residential and restaurant facilities could generate about 750 vehicle trips
per day. The proposed additional residential units could generate another 340 trips
per day, bringing the total trip estimate to nearly 1,100 vehicles per day. Thus, a
30 percent trip reduction would result in total traffic generation with the expanded
facilities equal to that which could be generated by the existing facilities without a
mitigation plan. Because of the nature of the users of the West Meadows and the
broad -based character of the mitigation. plan, it is believed that, when properly
implemented, the proposed plan will achieve these results.
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B. Elements of Mitigation Plan
The following elements of a traffic mitigation plan directed at West Meadows
related traffic have been identified.
Airport Van Service
Description A free van service to and from the airport will be provided
for guests and residents of the West Meadows. Because it is antici-
pated that most of the guest visits will be prearranged, the lodge
will dispatch the van (a vehicle with an approximate capacity of
12 -16 passengers) to pick up guests based on their flight schedule.
Similarly, departures will also be able to be prearranged. All guests
will be encouraged to use this convenient, yet efficient, service.
Phasing This service will be initiated upon opening of the renovated
lodge.
Responsible Partv Lodge operator through agreement with Aspen
Institute.
2. Van Service !o /from Town
Description A free van service will be operated between the West
Meadows and downtown Aspen. This service will be available to all
guests, residents, and employees of the West Meadows, including
users of the restaurant, tennis courts, and health center. The ser-
vice will utilize a relatively small vehicle, seating approximately 12-
16 passengers. The service will be a regularly scheduled service
with frequent headways. During the high season, this route will run
from early morning to late evening on one -half hour headways.
The schedule will be adjusted for applicability to each season, and
may be provided on an "on demand" basis during certain seasons.
Phasing The basic service described above will be initiated with the
opening of the renovated lodge. Its usage will be monitored, and
the service will be adjusted as necessary to meet the demand of the
patrons.
Responsible Party Lodge operator through agreement with Aspen
Institute.
3. Chartered Vehicles for Graup Activities
Description When appropriate, group activities either leaving or coming to
the West Meadows will be served by chartered vehicles arranged by
the management of the West Meadows. By providing this service,
management will be better able to control the number and /or size of
vehicles serving the participants in such activities. Furthermore,
encouragement of the use of this service will discourage the use of
private automobiles by participants.
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Phasine This service will be provided with the first organized groups
using the West Meadows.
Responsible Party Lodge operator.
4. Guest Parking
Description No parking for the lodge units will be provided adjacent to the
units. Instead, parking for these units will be located in a parking
structure under the tennis courts. Thus, even if guests bring vehi-
cles to the campus, their vehicles will not be immediately available
to them. Furthermore, guests will need to walk past the van service
in order to get to their vehicles. It is hoped that this concept will
encourage guests to use the van service rather than their private
automobiles.
Phasing : See construction schedule.
Responsible Party Aspen Institute
S. Trail System
Description Site planning has provided for on- campus trails that connect
to the extensive city -wide pedestrian and bike trail system adjacent
to the Meadows property. Thus, the Meadows trail system has been
designed to complement the City's efforts in developing pedestrian
and bicycle trails, thus encouraging guests of the Meadows to use
these modes of transportation.
Phasine The on -site trail systems will be phased through the City's trail
construction program.
Responsible Party City and the Consortium.
6. Bicycle Facilities
Description Bicycles will be made available for use by guests of the lodge
at a minimal fee designed to cover maintenance, replacement, and
administrative costs. Furthermore, bicycle racks will be provided at
those facilities which may be used by persons not lodged at the West
Meadows (for example, at the health center and at the tennis
courts).
Phasine It is expected that this program will begin with 25 -30 bicycles
available. The program will be monitored and the supply of bicy-
cles will be increased accordingly.
Responsible Party Lodge operator.
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Promotional Materials
Description All promotional materials for the West Meadows lodge will
emphasize the availability of the van service, will encourage walk-
ing and bicycle use, and will discourage the need for personal
automobiles. The focus of this mitigation measure is to precondi-
tion the guest so that he or she chooses not to even rent a car upon
arrival in Aspen.
Phasine This message will be included in all promotional materials
published for the renovated lodge.
Responsible Party Lodge operator and Aspen Institute.
8. Employee Parking
Description Limited employee parking will be provided on -site. This
parking will be available only for employees for whom vehicles are
essential for the execution of their jobs and for employee carpools
of 3 or more persons. A ride matching service will be available
through management to encourage the formation of carpools.
Furthermore, employees will be provided with their choice of
subsidized transit passes or subsidized parking at the Rio Grande
parking garage. A shuttle service will be provided for employees
from the Rio Grande garage either in conjunction with the regular-
ly scheduled van service to Town or as a separate operation.
Phasine This measure will be implemented with the opening of the
renovated lodge.
Responsible Party Lodge operator and Aspen Institute.
9. Coordination with Potential Rail Service
Description If passenger -rail service does materialize on the Rio Grande
right -of -way, a transit stop will be encouraged in a location which
would allow access to the Meadows via the pedestrian bridge on the
Roaring Fork River.
Phasine To be implemented with the initiation of rail service.
Resnonsible Party Applicant and Rail Service Operator.
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10. Delivery Truck Restrictions
Description Because of the expected infrequency of large vehicle deliveries
to the West Meadows property (approximately 4 to 5 per day), it is
recommended that truck restrictions be focused on time of day and
route restrictions. It is recommended that deliveries will be limited
to the hours of 9:00 - 11:00 A.M. and 2:00 - 4:00 P.M. Thus, the
noise impacts of delivery vehicles will not occur during the most
sensitive time periods. Furthermore, all deliveries to the West
Meadows will be restricted to use of Seventh Street only between
the Meadows and SH 82. These restrictions will be implemented
through operator agreements.
Phasine The time of day and route restrictions will be implemented upon
opening of the renovated lodge.
Responsible Party Lodge operator and Aspen Institute.
R
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111. Mitigation Plan for MAA Facilities
A. Background
The MAA facilities, located on the eastern portion of the property, will include
rearranged seating in the tent and a new rehearsal facility to accommodate rehears-
als and small performances. It is important to note that the modifications to the
performance tent will not increase the size of the audiences; they will simply
improve the seating conditions for the audiences.
Although there are students and faculty associated with traffic related to the MAA
facilities, the majority of concerns expressed by neighbors are related to the
impacts created by concert - goers. Therefore, most of the mitigation measures
included in this plan are focused on these users. Principally, these measures are
directed at encouraging concert -goers to walk, bike, or ride the transit system
rather than driving their automobiles to the concert.
This part of the plan particularly will be evolutionary in nature. Efforts to reduce
auto use have already been undertaken in recent years by the MAA in conjunction
with West End residents. The elements discussed in the following section are a
further expansion of these earlier efforts. As the program is implemented and
evaluated, it is expected that even further refinements will be appropriate.
B. Elements of Mitigation Plan
In developing a mitigation plan to address MAA traffic, the program focuses on
several measures.
1. Promotional Materials
Descrintion Promotional materials (including maps distributed by MAA
will encourage use of transit, bicycles, or walkways to access the
concert site. ,
Phasins These efforts have already been initiated and will be continued.
Responsible Party MAA
2. Pedestrian /Bicycle Ways
Description An enhanced system of routes exclusively designated for use
by pedestrians and bicyclists to access the concert area will be
implemented. This system will include:
o Continued designation of the Lake Avenue
pedestrian /bicycle way.
E
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Fourth Street will be closed to automobile traffic from
Gillespie Street to Main Street for approximately one hour
before and one hour after major concerts. Prior to concerts,
the street will be for pedestrian /bicycle use only. After the
concerts, it will used for pedestrian /bicycle traffic and for
buses leaving the MAA grounds. Allowing buses to use this
route after concerts will separate the buses from automobile
traffic, thereby decreasing the delay experienced by the
buses and thus providing an incentive for using the transit
service. This closure will include barricades and appropriate
signing at both ends of Fourth Street and will require tem-
porary warning signs at each cross street to ensure the safety
of pedestrians and bicyclists. Furthermore, the proposed
design of the MAA parking lot provides for a continuation
of the pedestrianway from Fourth Street to the music tent.
Facilities for bicycle storage during, concerts will be pro-
vided in the vicinity of the tent.
Implementation It is anticipated that the Fourth Street closure will be
implemented during the next concert season. The bicycle storage
facilities will be provided with the improvements to the MAA
parking lot.
Resnonsible Party MAA and City.
3.
Enhanced Transit Service
Description Transit service to the MAA grounds will continue to be improved and
emphasized. This includes elements affecting the city -wide system,
circulation through the neighborhood, and on -site operation:
o All city -wide RFTA bus routes serving the West End, as well as the
special MAA bus runs, will continue to provide service. Enhanced
signing and bus service information will be provided at the Rio
Grande parking garage to direct patrons to the bus stop on Main
Street.
Prior to a scheduled concert, large buses (unless carrying a greater
number of passengers than can be accommodated by the circulating
shuttle or during inclement weather) will unload all passengers at
the intersection of Fourth /Main. Concert goers will then be en-
couraged to walk on Fourth Street to the tent or'to use the smaller
vehicle shuttle which will be circulating on Main, Fifth, Gillespie,
and Third Streets. This vehicle will be a compressed natural gas
powered vehicle and will operate for approximately one -half to one
hour before the-concert.
Following concerts, buses
transit stop in the parking
center of town.
will stand by on Fourth Street or at the
lot to transport concert goers back to the
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Silvis, Davis, Pitkin Cnty Clerk, llac s.oU
The MAA parking lot has been designed to provide a location for
buses to load and unload passengers while removed from Gillespie
Street. This location is on the south end of the parking lot and
would allow good clockwise circulation of the buses from Fifth
Street into the parking lot and back out onto the street system at
Fourth and Gillespie.
4,
S
Phasine It is anticipated that this improved transit service will be provided during
the next concert season. The program will be monitored and the service
will be adjusted accordingly.
Responsible Party The transit service will be the responsibility of RFTA. The
transit improvements in the parking lot will be the responsibility of the
MAA.
Truck Restrictions
Description Although the number of large vehicle deliveries to the MAA facilities
is very limited, it is recommended that all such vehicles will be restricted to
using Third Street only between the MAA grounds and Main Street. MAA
will enforce this limitation with their vehicle drivers.
Phasine These restrictions will be implemented during the next concert season.
Responsible Party MAA
Residential Parking Permit Program
Description A residential parking permit program is still under consideration.
This program would prohibit all parking on streets from Mill Street to
Eighth Street and from Main Street to the Roaring Fork River other than
for residents or their guests during the concert season. The MAA would
institute paid parking in their lots in connection with this plan. Permit
parking may require issuance of vehicle stickers for a fee, installation of
appropriate signage, and City enforcement.
Phasing It is recommended that the residential parking permit program be
instituted after the effectiveness of the remainder of the mitigation plan
has been evaluated. Because of the significant impacts of such a program
on the residents of the West End, further input from the residents should
be incorporated into an implementation plan for this program.
Responsible Party MAA, City and West End residents.
11
From: Jim Curtis <jcurtis @sopris.neb
Subject: 1991 Traffic Mitigation Plan
Date: September 11, 2008 11:24:37 AM MDT
To: Matthew Loden <mloden @aspenmusic.org>
u
Once you review this, feel free to give me a call on any questions. This was approved as part of the
1991 SPA Master Plan.
Thanks,
Jim Curtis