‘Take Back the Boulevard’ Community Meeting Tuesday

Take Back the Boulevard, the homegrown initiative aimed at turning Eagle Rock’s stretch of Colorado Boulevard from a highway into a main street that also serves the interests of pedestrians, bicyclists and others, will hold its third public meeting Tuesday, June 5, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock.

Click here to read about the most recent TBTB public meeting held in January 2012.

TBTB has the backing of and its latest meeting is crucial. It comes after a string of presentations that members of the TBTB steering committee made to some half-dozen local organizations and institutions ranging from the to to get their feedback on certain conclusions that the steering committee has reached about changing the vehicle-oriented character of Colorado Boulevard.

Except for some alternative viewpoints presented by the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce, all the community organizations supported TBTB’s broad blueprint for streamlining traffic along Colorado, according Steering Committee Chair and President Bob Gotham. While the ERCC supported the plan’s key goals of reducing traffic speed and facilitating foot traffic across the six-lane portions of the boulevard, some Chamber attendees suggested that instead of reducing the number of traffic lanes, installing additional traffic signals and angled parking might be more practical solutions.

The alternative proposals put forth by the Chamber of Commerce, however, involve significantly higher costs—with no foreseeable prospects for funding—according to an analysis conducted by TBTB. “In response to the desire for additional parking, TBTB is working with the Chamber of Commerce to focus on that issue,” Gotham said.

“Perhaps the key point to keep in mind is that TBTB’s primary goal is to develop a plan for Colorado Boulevard that has the potential to be implemented, even in this challenging economy,” Gotham said, adding: “Therefore, proposals that can be implemented at relatively low cost and are aligned with potential funding programs and opportunities are strong candidates for the final plan.”

Take Back the Boulevard Public Meeting, Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, 2225 Colorado Blvd., 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, June 5.