Smart Commute Off to a Great Start in 2015!
The 2015 slate of Officers and Directors of the Smart Commute Board was approved at the Annual Membership Meeting in January:
Officers:
Chair- Erik Hansen, Adams County Commissioner
– Joyce Downing, Northglenn Mayor
Treasurer – Bill Maestas, Maestas Inc.
(pictured at right)
Secretary - Karen Stuart, Executive Director of Smart Commute
Directors:
Barry Gore - President and CEO of Adams County Economic Development
Heidi Williams - Mayor of Thornton
Ken Spangler - Google
Denny McCloskey - D&C Home Solutions
Angela Habben - President and CEO of the Metro North Chamber of Commerce
Jay Hardy - McWhinney
Larry Hoy - RTD Director
New Vanpool Promotion Rolled Out for North I-25 Commuters
Smart Commute is making I-25 commuters an offer they simply will not be able to refuse. From now until the end of the 2015, Smart Commute will provide interested commuters a brand new Chevrolet Traverse and over 90 days, we work with them to find three additional people to join their commute. And if we are successful, we’ll cover the driver’s portion of the vehicle, maintenance, insurance and gas until the end of the year when the North I-25 Express Lanes Project is schedule to be complete.
Prefer not to drive? We have a great option for that too. Individuals who join an existing
Concierge Commute vehicle pay a flat-rate of $100 a month for the opportunity to “Ride and Relax” on their way to and from work.
If you or your colleagues might be interested in the
Concierge Commute program, go to
www.idrivei25.com and complete the short sign-up form on our homepage. or to learn more, contact Paul DesRocher, TDM Manager,at
paul@smartcommutemetronorth.org or 720-515-8674
FasTracks North Metro Rail Line Update
Prior to major construction beginning on the North Metro Rail Line, RTD tells us there’s a lot going on behind the scenes- we think you’ll be interested to know what some of these early efforts entail.
The design team needs to conduct a train speed analysis, which studies the grade of the train tracks and the associated speeds. These analysis confirm the appropriate steepness of the track and verify safe travel speeds.
It can be a challenge when trains mix with vehicular and pedestrian traffic, so the study of traffic flow along the line is important. Currently, the team is conducting these studies on all roadways adjacent to the rail line in order to coordinate traffic signal timing and confirm the appropriate flow of pedestrian, vehicle and train traffic. During these studies the design team will work with local jurisdictions to determine if traffic signal timing needs to be adjusted and how long it will take the train to proceed through intersections as well as its impact on vehicle traffic at each intersection.
In combination with speed analysis and traffic studies, a noise analysis is conducted and is a necessary part of the early work being done on this project. The noise and vibration studies determine where sound walls and other forms of noise mitigation will need to be placed.
Additionally, the removal of the existing track will continue through mid-April. As track and ties are removed they are being sored at various locations along the line. Please visit the North Metro Rail Line website at
www.rtd-denver.com/NorthMetroRailLine.shtml
Renee, the Director of Marketing for the Orchard Town Center, was a true champion for the 2014 Bike to Work Day effort helping us create a Bike Home Party at the Orchard as our signature Bike Home station. In partnership with Smart Commute, Renee organized the merchants at the Orchard to participate in the event with give-aways and activities; promoted the event at all their community activities leading up to Bike to Work Day as well as on the shopping center’s website, Facebook page, and twitter feeds; facilitated the use of their common area to stage our event, closed off internal streets to traffic; and coordinated with the Westminster Fire Department to hold a kids' bike safety rodeo at the event. Renee’s willingness to dive in with time and resources made our event a huge success!
Blake Feik, Executive Vice President of the North Valley Bank in Thornton is our nominee for Commuting Champion. Blake started participating in Bike to Work Day in 2009 and has challenged himself to ride his bike to work as a commuting alternative as often as possible. Last year he rode to work 36 days! And that’s no easy feat to accomplish as Blake’s commute from his home in Arvada is over 10 miles weaving his way through neighborhoods and using local roads wherever possible to avoid highway traffic. He encourages others to try out Bike To Work Day as a beginning effort toward alternate commuting.
