Iris Avenue Transportation Improvements Project

This is a text alternative to the project context map graphic. The core study area extends east and west on Iris Avenue from Broadway to US-36/28th Street. The secondary study area extends east to west from the same limits, and north to south from roughly Norwood Avenue to Balsam Avenue/Edgewood Drive. On the core study area, there are bookend improvements with no changes to existing vehicle lane configuration: west of the project limits, there are Broadway Bookend Improvements from Broadway extending east to Hawthorn Ave; east of the project limits, there are 28th Street Bookend Improvements from just east of Folsom Street extending east to 28th Street. Between 13th Street and Folsom Street/26th Street, which is the area excluding the bookend improvements, the core study area includes end-to-end improvements including protected bike lanes as well as sidewalk and bus stop upgrades. This area also has four conceptual design alternatives developed.

Project timeline. Community engagement extends from the beginning to the end of the project. From summer to winter 2023 is Corridor Analysis: understanding what is working and what needs improvements. During winter 2024 is Initial Screening: What improvements are technically feasible? Begin development of improvement options to address what we heard. From winter to spring 2024 is Alternatives Development: What improvements or alternatives are best to address the project goals? Project team began to develop conceptual alternatives to address what we heard. In spring 2024 is Share Conceptual Alternatives: Share conceptual design alternatives with community for feedback. In Summer 2024 is Recommended Alternative: What is the recommended alternative? Project team develops recommendations as part of the Community and Environmental Assessment Process (CEAP). After this is the future, with Final Design and Construction: What is implemented and when, will depend on the final design and the funding available.

There is no preferred alternative at this time.

Community input, planning documents, analysis and professional best practices have informed the four conceptual design alternatives.

Because there are trade-offs for each alternative, we need to understand the community’s priorities to advance project design, continue evaluating these design alternatives later this summer, and develop a recommended alternative to share with the Transportation Advisory Board and City Council this fall.

We need your feedback to help us take this important next step!

• Share your thoughts by May 27

Safety is a priority for the city. Day-to-day emergency response and disaster emergency response are two of several key considerations for the project.

The development of the four conceptual design alternatives was informed by input from the city’s Boulder-Fire Rescue and Police departments, and the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) for the City of Boulder and Boulder County.

The following improvements are common design elements across all four design alternatives:

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Common Design Elements	How these design improvements help people
Protected bike lane Image	Provides end-to-end connectivity and separation between vehicles and bicyclists to improve safety and comfort.
Safer crossings Image	Improves north-south connectivity and pedestrian experience along the corridor.
Optimized signal operations Image	Improves safety of all users with the added benefit of reducing delay and congestion, and improving safety.
Bus stop enhancement Image	Improves transit user comfort and safety, increases transit efficiency, and reduces conflicts between buses and people on bikes.
Updated wayfinding Image	Reduces barriers to walking, rolling, biking, and taking transit.
Safer access to driveways Image	Reduces potential for crashes, particularly for vulnerable road users; improves the experience of vehicles turning onto/off of Iris Avenue.
Improved sidewalks and curb ramps Image	Reduces barriers to walking and rolling; improves pedestrian safety, and comfort and accessibility.

These nearby neighborhoods are important to consider and are part of the project’s secondary study area.

In previous community engagement, we heard from you that it is important to maintain the character of the surrounding neighborhoods and on streets like Glenwood Drive, Grape Avenue, Kalmia Avenue and more.

We are evaluating improvements such as traffic calming on nearby streets as a concurrent project.

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A map of the primary and secondary study area. The primary study area extends on Iris Avenue from Broadway to 28th Street. The secondary study area extends north and south of Iris Avenue from Norwood Avenue to Balsam Avenue/Edgewood Drive.

Iris Avenue is the second of three priority corridors in the city’s Core Arterial Network (CAN) initiative.

The CAN is a connected system of protected bicycle lanes, intersection enhancements, pedestrian facilities and transit facility upgrades. This connected system will help reduce the potential for severe crashes and make it more comfortable and convenient for people to get where they need to go along Boulder’s main corridors. The CAN initiative is one of City Council’s top ten priorities.

• Learn about the CAN

Summary of themes from 2023 community engagement

• East-west travel is important, and people driving appreciate Iris Avenue as a convenient and reliable route across the city.

• People walking, rolling, biking and taking transit also want Iris Avenue to provide convenient and safe routes.

• Sidewalks could be improved to provide comfort, safety, and attractive walking conditions. Sidewalks are currently: not wide enough, winding, sloping, bumpy, and often blocked by overgrown vegetation.

• Crossing Iris Avenue safely and conveniently is a priority for people of all ages and abilities traveling to school, work, for errands, and for recreation – but today some see it as a barrier to getting where they want to go.

• Vehicles travel at high speeds, creating unsafe conditions and excessive street noise.

• Safer neighborhood and business access is essential.

• Drivers feel unsafe turning onto and off Iris Avenue and feel they’re more likely to crash with oncoming traffic when doing so.

• Delivery, transit, waste management and other vehicles stop in-lane, blocking the bike and right-side travel lanes.

• Residents are concerned changes will impact emergency evacuation and response.

• Neighbors want to maintain the character of their neighborhoods, which they see as providing safer, more comfortable alternatives for walking, rolling, and biking than arterial streets like Iris Avenue are concerned that changes to Iris Avenue could create traffic diversion onto nearby streets.

• Community members want attractive facilities and opportunities for placemaking.

• Beter wayfinding and help navigating to local and regional destinations are desired.

• Roadway pavement conditions could be improved.

• Transit service is infrequent, and many transit stops are not accessible and lack shelters, benches, and trash cans.

We heard from:

• Residents, employers and employees at pop-ups, through online questionnaires, and at an open house.
• Children, youth and families shared their experiences traveling along and across Iris Avenue when we met them at their schools and when they walked Iris Avenue with our partners at Growing Up Boulder.
• Advocacy organizations like Boulder Walks, Community Cycles, and the Center for People with Disabilities gave voice to the experience of walking, biking, rolling and strolling the corridor today.

Past community engagement events in 2023

• Dec. 16: Winter Walks in the Park at Melody Park from 11 a.m.-noon
• Dec. 9: Winter Walks in the Park at Columbine Park from 11 a.m.-noon
• Dec. 2: Winter Walks in the Park at Parkside Park from 11 a.m.-noon
• Oct. 24-Nov. 8: Virtual Open House
• Oct. 24: Open House, 5:30-7:30 p.m
• Sept. 27: Guided Biking Tour
• Sept. 19: Guided Walking Tour
• Sept. 16: Fall Transportation Safety Fair
• Sept. 14: Boulder Junction Funktion
• Sept. 13: Growing Gardens Pop-up
• Sept. 10: What’s Up Boulder
• Sept. 6: Elmer’s Two Mile Pop-up
• Aug. 31: CU Bike Fest
• Aug. 30: Foothill Elementary Pop-up
• Aug. 30: Columbine Elementary Pop-up
• Aug. 9: Red Oak Park Bike Giveaway
• Aug. 6: Accessible Roll and Stroll
• Aug. 1: National Night Out

Community engagement also included a questionnaire and interactive map during summer 2023.

In early 2024, we plan to construct pedestrian and bicycle enhancements to Iris Avenue at the 15th Street crossing. We received funding from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Community Mobility Planning and Implementation (CMPI) 2019 grant program to improve three crosswalk locations, including at this crossing.

While these crossing improvements support our CAN goals, they are not part of the Iris Avenue Transportation Improvements Project. Learn more about the city’s Pedestrian Crossings.

Sewer maintenance work is planned for spring 2024 on Iris Avenue from Broadway to 28th Street, and in the neighborhoods to the south. There may be traffic and parking impacts. Learn more on the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Program webpage.