Street part of city’s High Risk Network: streets with the highest risk of serious and fatal crashes
Boulder City Council has formally approved the Folsom Street Safety Improvements Project conceptual design for safer, more connected and more comfortable north-south travel on Folsom Street between Pine Street and Colorado Avenue. The city will proceed to the next phase of final design as funding becomes available.
The project balances the needs of all street users through design features that reduce the risk of crashes by creating more space for people — with new and widened sidewalks, as well as added amenities, greenery, and separated areas for people walking, biking and taking the bus — all while maintaining access to businesses and side streets and keeping traffic moving. Work is supported by a grant award. The city will pursue additional grant funding as work transitions to final design and construction in future years, as is typical of large transportation projects.
This week, Boulder City Council reviewed and approved both the design and the project’s Community and Environmental Assessment Process (CEAP). The CEAP is a formal review process that considers various impacts of public development projects, including extensive community engagement, to inform the selection and refinement of a recommended design alternative. The city’s Transportation Advisory Board also unanimously recommended council approval following their review of the evaluation and design at the July board meeting.
The project supports Boulder's Vision Zero Action Plan to end serious and fatal crashes. Folsom Street is a current top crash location and on the High Risk Network — city streets where nearly half of all fatal and serious injury crashes occur, or are likely to occur. Folsom Street is also a priority street on the city’s Core Arterial Network initiative: a comprehensive, data-driven roadway redesign effort that will make travel along Boulder’s main streets safer, more comfortable and convenient for all as prioritized by Boulder City Council.
“Since December, we have heard an outpouring of support for creating a safer Folsom that responds to how people actually travel on the street today, provides a direct north-south connection for walking and biking currently lacking in this part of Boulder, and is easier to navigate while being a vibrant, welcoming destination that contributes to the vitality of the street’s many commercial businesses and the University of Colorado Boulder Main Campus,” said Valerie Watson, interim director of the city’s Transportation & Mobility Department. “We have confidence that this is the best solution toward proactively addressing severe crash risk and better serving our community with a more comfortable and connected street."
Community members can view more information on the last virtual open house and the project webpage. Sign up for updates via the project email or the Transportation and Mobility Department newsletter.
