This engagement summary is part of the North 30th Street Preliminary Design Project.
30th Street between Arapahoe Avenue and CO 119/Diagonal Highway is a primary north-south
arterial street in Boulder that is primarily designed for vehicular mobility that has created severe
safety issues for everyone traveling on the corridor. The ongoing Preliminary Design Project aims
to address these concerns by soliciting community feedback and proposing design changes
aligned with the city's transportation goals.
GUB engaged with the Family Learning Center community to gather insights on their experiences
with 30th Street. Through bilingual (English and Spanish) interactive sessions and a walk audit in
late April and early May 2024, participants were asked how they travel along 30th Street and what
their experiences have been. It was explained that their input would inform the city’s plans for
making 30th Street more safe, reliable, and equitable.
Participants unanimously identified safety as a top priority, with four main categories identified as
driver speed, traffic lights/pedestrian crossings, (not enough) sidewalk space, and pavement
maintenance.
Additionally, they expressed a desire for more greenery and attractive amenities to enhance the
street's appeal
Surveys and discussions revealed widespread dissatisfaction with 30th Street's current condition,
with most participants feeling unsafe and underserved by existing infrastructure.
Participants were asked to report how they travel along 30th Street (they could choose more than
one mode of travel):
Participants were asked how safe they felt when using 30th Street:
The primary themes during the walk audit experience related to 1) not feeling safe while using 30th
Street, 2) feeling that there is a lack of nature, care and beauty of the area, and 3) a strong desire
for places to walk to for a meal or experience.
After the walk audit, participants shared their wishes for the corridor, which included:
As a means for promoting a safe, reliable, and equitable street, speed bumps rated the highest
preference according to the children, youth and families engaged through this project. With an
ice cream shop, street art, more lighting, better signage and better bike lanes also falling into the
top preferences. These findings suggest that, overall, participants from the Family Learning
Center are also seeking a neighborhood that feels safe, reliable, aesthetically pleasing, and
equitable for all.
GUB staff noted the community's strong sense of cohesion and willingness to engage in the
planning process. They recommended further outreach to ensure broader participation,
particularly among youth. Drawing on successful initiatives elsewhere, they proposed
incorporating art and green infrastructure to enhance 30th Street's appeal.
Children, youth, and their caregivers find that 30th Street works well for cars and drivers, but it
does not work well for pedestrians, people riding bicycles (skaters, scooters, strollers) or even
taking the bus. There is a collective call for safety within the community and a necessity to make
30th Street friendly for everyone. The Growing Up Boulder staff observed that the Family
Learning Center community cared deeply about their neighborhoods and appeared happy to learn
more about future improvements along 30th Street.
The Transportation and Mobility Department will continue engaging with communities along 30th
Street to refine the preliminary design. GUB will provide a toolkit to facilitate future youth
engagement initiatives, ensuring ongoing collaboration between residents and city planners
