Inside Arvada

Inside Arvada's Transportation Plan with Kellee Van Bruggen

• City of Arvada • Episode 51

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Transportation Planning Manager Kellee Van Bruggen explains how Arvada’s first Transportation System Plan (TSP) turns community input and existing city plans into a set of potential priority transportation projects for the next several decades. 

  • Why Arvada created a Transportation System Plan 
  • How community engagement and the Transportation Advisory Committee helped shape priorities 
  • What it means for Arvada to lead, partner, or advocate on a project 
  • How the plan connects to the comprehensive plan
  • Why grants, right-of-way, and coordination can stretch timelines 

Visit the Transportation System Plan webpage for the complete list of 71 projects identified, an interactive map, and more details. 

News and Events: 

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_01

Hello and welcome to Inside Arvada, the official podcast of the City of Arvada. I'm Sean Starr, one of your hosts. Thank you so much for tuning in to today's episode. Our guest is the city's transportation planning manager, Kelly Van Brugen. Kelly is the transportation planning manager with the City of Arvada and formerly the bike and pedestrian coordinator at the city. During her nearly 20 years in the transportation planning field, she has developed a passion for helping individuals feel safe and connected through multiple travel modes. She's worked at various government levels and has helped leverage millions of dollars in funding to provide safe and accessible facilities for communities that she has served. And as always, I'm joined by my co-host Katie Patterson. Hi, Katie.

What Transportation Planning Really Means

SPEAKER_02

Hey, Sean. Kelly, thanks for joining us today. We're glad to have you back on. Yeah, thanks for having me. So we know you've been on before, but it's been a while. So start off, just kind of tell us a little bit about what it is you do, what the heck is transportation planning, and what you do here. Awesome.

SPEAKER_00

Yes. So transportation planning is just that is taking a look at our transportation network, what the needs are for right now, but also the future so that we can be prepared as we move forward through the world. And our team is located in our infrastructure department. So we do help out with our traffic team, our roadway team to ensure that all the things that we're kind of dreaming up are something that they can implement.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I always think like you're kind of the um really early stages. Like people think construction takes a long time, but actually there was like years of planning and development that probably went into that project that your team kind of helps identify. Absolutely. And you have a team of two, correct?

SPEAKER_00

Yes. Actually, we grew a little bit. Yeah, that's true. Because our parking services has um traded out our contracted parking services for in-house operations. So um we now have four on our, or with me, five on our team.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. So parking management, transportation demand management, and then um bike pet bike and pedestrian coordinator. Yes. Aslan, who's been on as well. Yeah. Yeah.

Why Arvada Built The TSP

SPEAKER_01

And that was your role when you came on the podcast. I think a couple of years ago now, um, when you first appeared. So this is your second um time on Inside Arvada. And so happy to have you. And we're um you're joining us today to talk the city's transportation system plan. City loves a good plan, and this is the first uh such transportation system plan that the city's done. I think we recently completed uh the plan in I think September last fall, sometime around then. Um so tell us, you know, why did we create the plan? There's a lot of effort that went into it, a lot of community engagement. So what what's the purpose and and yeah, why did we um go through all that work to create the plan?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I think two things. Um both our transportation team really um kind of sat back and realized that it would be nice to kind of or have a guiding document for um the different types of projects that we want to advance, especially as we're looking at um funding shortfalls. Um transportation projects are incredibly expensive. So really understanding where the best value for our um dollars can go. But then we also have a citizens advisory committee for transportation, so it's the transportation advisory committee, and um, they were really integral and helping push um this type of conversation forward as well, um, so that we could um collectively between citizens through that role, as well as our transportation team, um, could move forward in a um more formalized way.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Um, and the Transportation Advisory Committee did play a big role in helping kind of identify the um, you know, like priorities and scoring and everything too, right?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, they were um heavily involved in the entire process. We um worked with our consultant team as well as the TAC for short, um, to make sure that we were really in alignment with what they're they've been hearing in the community as well. So um from public engagement on to um like identifying the projects, evaluating them, and then kind of weighing how we wanted to score each of those projects so we could come up with the prioritization list.

SPEAKER_01

So similar to our climate action and sustainability plan, which we had Steven Russell on our last episode, that plan and completing it helps unlock you know funding for the projects that are included in it. Is that similar to the transportation system plan too?

SPEAKER_00

Yes, very much so.

SPEAKER_02

And this is a guiding document. Like you said, transportation plan, I mean, transportation projects can be expensive and they also can take a long time. And so this is really a guiding document for like the next several decades, right?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Um initially we're kind of looking at a horizon year of 20 years. So, like what could we feasibly accomplish over the next 20 years? Um, really knowing that all of the projects that we have enlisted in there, all 71, are not something that we can get done in that timeframe. So there's still priorities for the community. And if there was ever to be a huge infusion of cash, which would be the dream, um, we would know kind of how to um move those and advance those forward.

How 71 Projects Got Chosen

SPEAKER_02

And you started to allude to this. There's um 71 projects identified in this plan. Um, and then so what are some of the other outcomes and maybe priorities that have come out of the plan?

SPEAKER_00

So the TSP foundationally was really built on a lot of the work the city's already done. So uh I believe there were like over 30 different documents that informed what the TSP um came up with. So taking a look at the comp plan, the parks and open space master plan, the bike master plan, all of those different elements fed into what types of projects we were looking at. Also gave us a foundation for the data that we utilized in assessing the different projects and then ultimately scoring them. So the comp plan is informative because it talks about land use and future growth. So, where do we want to spend money on projects that are going to enhance roadway, trail facilities, all those different types of things and areas of the community that are going to grow? Um, versus where do we um potentially want to look at more of maintenance type work or um in the areas that are growing in density, where might we have some transportation projects that would align with that?

SPEAKER_02

That makes sense. Um, any and there was also two rounds we shouldn't um forget to mention, two rounds of community engagement that also helped inform that um set of projects. And um, the first round was kind of like tell us about your current state of moving through the city um and identifying stuff. And then the second round was more focused on helping to prioritize um for that engagement. Um I don't have a question in that for you, but um, here we are. Um, but are there any like projects that are worth kind of highlighting or calling out?

Priorities, Funding, And The Project Map

SPEAKER_00

Um, so we when we prioritized the projects, we had um what we called kind of like mid-high to high priority projects that are kind of our focus for this next 20 years. Um while we might kind of like move down the list of projects, uh, we try to be a little bit flexible too in how we built this prioritization list. So um at the federal or even state level, priorities change depending on um who kind of controls the funding and the legislation around transportation planning. So if there's a focus on safety over kind of multimodal, um, the way we scored the projects and identified them, we can shift um our priorities to meet those funding um requirements. So um while we are really focused on the high and mid-high priority project listing, um, we do have the capability of being flexible in how we're approaching um so that we're being good stewards of tax dollars and making sure that we can put ourselves in a good position so that we're always um eligible for those types of funding.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I did want to shout out the webpage that includes all 71 of these projects, and they are in a GIS interactive map, so you can scroll through sort of location-wise and check out the projects near you. You can also look at a big, huge long table of prioritization. There's they're breaked down by um type of project. They're also uh a whole list of prioritization in order, so plenty of information on the website. Um, you know, Katie did a great job of you know taking all that community engagement, taking all the plan and making it very digestible. Because you can read through the whole, I don't know, it's probably hundreds of pages plan yourself, or you can kind of look at the website and really digest it a lot more easily on the website. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

Lead, Partner, Or Advocate Roles

SPEAKER_01

Not everything in the plan is a city-owned project. We've kind of touched on this and how we partner with you know, CDOT or RTD. What is the city role in those projects where we're kind of just like a partner and not an owner?

SPEAKER_00

That's a great question. So one thing I'll say is I thought with the public engagement, it was really vital that we understood um everyone's concerns about transportation in general. Um, I don't think when people are driving down the road, they really care who owns that road, um, who's in charge of the maintenance. They they just want somebody to be understanding and feel their frustrations or what they like about it. Um, so with the public engagement, we did not narrow just on Arvada streets that we could control. We really wanted to fully understand um the picture of people's everyday um travel patterns and frustrations. So um the projects that really came out of it did end up being kind of a mesh of what is fully under our control versus what we should be advocating for, partnering with different entities on. So um a lot of our high to mid-high priority projects are in that partner or advocate role. Um and we do identify in our prioritization listing kind of what the city's main role in that will be. So, like for instance, we have um some RTD projects where we um heard from the community that they want transit access to Northwest Arvada. Um, the city wouldn't necessarily be in the position to um implement that on our own. Um, but that is something that we could work with RTD on advocating for. So when they do their plan, they have a comprehensive operational analysis where they take a look at their route structure and all of those different elements that go in so that they can make decisions over the next five years on how transit will work. Um, we can be at the table saying our community really wants this. Um in the same regard, um, Indiana is a um high priority project for the community. Um, it's CDOT owned. So where can we be at the table with CDOT to encourage some sort of action on that? How can we partner with CDOT to advance that forward for the community?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, and there's um kind of the three categories you were talking about are advocate, partner, and lead. Um what is maybe a partner? How is a partner role different from an advocate?

SPEAKER_00

I think a partner role um we didn't necessarily super define, but in regards to Indiana, there likely will be more of kind of a buy-in from the community um rather than just asking RTD to um provide this service.

SPEAKER_02

But we might support funding it or even like the construction and the planning stages of it and so on and so forth.

SPEAKER_00

So having more direct involvement in that type of project um than just asking for that to happen.

How The TSP Links To Land Use

SPEAKER_02

And um I will there I can't remember if the map is on the website or not. I'll have to look back, but there was a after the first round of engagement, like a hotspot map, which I thought was really interesting. Um, and the hotspot areas, probably not surprising to anyone, are like the southeast corner old town area, largely um Indiana, like almost just like the corridor. Um, as and these were areas that people like talked about a lot when they were giving us feedback. Um, and then I think the other one was kind of like um 64th Avenue, maybe or 50 like Ralston Road, maybe. I don't know. Somewhere kind of a little bit like south, but western more. I don't remember what the third one was, but yeah. Um and then uh before we do kind of can misconceptions and stuff, we have talked a little bit about how the previous comprehensive plan helped inform this plan. And then the city's um soon undertaking and has kicked off, has a consultant on board that um doing a new or an updated comprehensive plan. How is this different from a comprehensive plan? Will it inform the next one? Kind of how are these things interconnected?

SPEAKER_00

Yes, so um, they're incredibly interconnected. So um transportation is incredibly informed by land use. So um by using the comp plan, it was very foundational to the work that we did. Um, conversely, all of the work we did, especially the public involvement, um, we don't want to overwhelm the public asking the same questions over and over. So I think this is a good opportunity to kind of hand off what work we done we have done with the TSP over to our um planners and um kind of give them a run of um what the priorities are for the community. Also, maybe taking a look at um if they have any changes to land use or future growth, that might also kind of like kick it back to us for the TSP. Um, are those elements still correct? Um, are these are still our priority projects given any changes that we might know of? Um, so they really do kind of talk and work in parallel um throughout the lifetime. And they don't necessarily just sit on a shelf. Like anytime these changes occur, it's really good to kind of do a base check with either of the documents to make sure that um they're still in alignment together, but also with what the community needs um moving forward.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, it really speaks to how these are kind of like living documents. They don't just kind of get done and sit on a shelf. They're really used going forward. And I didn't explain what a comprehensive plan is, but um I don't know that we've ever done that before. I'll try. Um it's like the overarching guiding document for a city. Like when you think about, so we have like land development code that is a specific set of rules that dictate how a pe a property can be developed or you utilized, not developed, potentially. Um, and then there's like this really broad comprehensive plan that thinks about kind of the future of the city in a more holistic way.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I think you did a great job.

SPEAKER_02

Thanks.

Why Transportation Projects Take So Long

SPEAKER_01

Uh and we will have um someone from our community and economic development team on the podcast here, uh, maybe in a month or so to talk about the comprehensive plan. So a little teaser there. Um misconceptions, misinformation, common questions you get as a transportation planner. Uh tell us, tell us more. I'm sure there's a lot of misconceptions. People are very passionate, as you know, about their transportation.

SPEAKER_00

They are, and that's great. I love um that people um think about that. But it also is just something that affects them on a day-to-day basis. So um totally understand where um some of the frustrations can build in that regard. Um, I think one of the big things that uh we talk about quite a bit, especially being a transportation planner, um, a lot of times the community sees the construction aspect of it, but um doesn't really see all that happens leading up to it. So um all these transportation projects have been thought about for probably at least a decade before they even start moving ground. Uh and then you might add a couple more years, especially if you're talking about um getting grant funding with that as well, because there's a whole nother set of rules and regulations that you have to follow. Um, without kind of diving into the nitty-gritty of all of those different types of things, um, you have to um have a plan in place where you know what types of projects you wanna do. Um, you're doing coordination with other divisions. So um are we disrupting floodplain? Is there gonna be a utility project in the area so that we don't wanna put down a trail or a road that's gonna get torn up in the next year because they're gonna be coming in for work. Um so staging that project, applying for funds, getting those awarded, but then it has to sit in a document for so many years before they actually release the funds for you to do, going through design, um, right of way, all of those different elements that go into before even breaking ground on those projects. So we have um a few grant projects out there right now. Um there's work going on on Alkire um between 78th and 80th. It's our Al Kire TAP project. Um that project's been, oh gosh, at least 10 years in the making. Uh originally it was applied for for Safe Routes of School project um grant funded, but um was not awarded. So then we kind of came back, reassessed, applied for TAP funds for that, but then the design right-of-way process took quite a bit of time.

SPEAKER_02

And that was a C dot state grant, correct?

SPEAKER_00

Correct.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Um, we have an active grant project on Pierce Street, a sidewalk project that has also probably been about eight years in the making from the start of our planning and um applying for funds um to um wrapping up design and right of way so that we can start construction um, hopefully in the next year or so on that.

SPEAKER_02

And that one is closing a gap in the sidewalk.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, and that's a safe routes to school project. So that is providing better access for kids to Seacrest Elementary that we were awarded funds for. Um we're just kicking off another project on West 64th from Virgil Way out to State Highway 93. Um, that's probably been about four years, um, kind of in the planning to getting awarded grants. Um, it's starting the design process on that. So um, before we break ground, it's probably a good year or two before that is set to happen. So um I again understanding people's frustrations and then also understanding that that's a long time for these projects to kind of like sit um when there is an urgency from the community to want these things done. Um our team is really diligent about um making sure we're following the rules so that um we can re be reimbursed those funds, but um also making sure we're delivering good products as well. So um just maybe a little bit of patience and understanding, but our teams are really working hard on getting those implemented.

SPEAKER_02

I think that's such a um good point to kind of reiterate too that um it can take 10 years, you know, to do some of this stuff or see the project completed or come to fruition. Um, but you're talking about infrastructure that then lasts decades. And so, like what you're what is a long time, very validly so can be frustrating, especially if you're talking about safety concerns and people, you know, transportation, that's like probably the number one thing, right? Is like, can I safely get to where I need to go? Yeah. Um and so it can be frustrating to have it take so long. But then when it's done, and people always use the Wadsworth Grandview Bridge example, right? Like once it's done, that is a change for the future of the community forever. Yes. Um, and an improvement that lasts so much longer. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So what you're saying is if I see a project on the prairie list that's high, like get excited, but also like not too excited because know that there's probably several more years of of planning and grant funding and for that to actually then come to fruition. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And I think Katie does a wonderful job in balancing um like the work we do is really internal to the city, and we don't necessarily go out with public engagement that, hey, we're applying for a grant. Um because I think that also sets an expectation with the community that it's going to be done soon. Um so we don't necessarily we want involvement from the community, but we want it at times where it's easy to understand that this is happening and that they don't have to sit for a good five years waiting for it to happen too. So um there's work happening. It just sometimes it's just kind of the undercurrent of what we do.

SPEAKER_01

Aaron Ross Powell And so much of it is determined by funding too, right? It's like how you can get that funding, which partners, and then that'll actually make the project possible. I coming from parks that I'm just more familiar with that, and like Gold Strike Park, like we had a 2000 uh year 2000 Gold Strike Master Plan, and then we had like a Clear Creek Corridor plan that we were part of. And then just now, you know, 2026, we're gonna break ground this summer on the project. So it just takes time because we finally got all the funding sources aligned. And so yeah, just be patient. Yeah, yeah.

Trivia On Costs And Top Rankings

SPEAKER_02

Okay, should we do some trivia? Yeah, yeah. All right. I have four, three, and a bonus question for you both. If you know the answer, give the other. Person a chance to try and answer so we can make fun of them. Um what is the most expensive project in the TSP?

SPEAKER_01

Um I'm gonna say something to do with RTD cross for Altella to Candeles.

SPEAKER_00

I believe it's Indiana. No. Is it the Al Qaeda connection?

SPEAKER_02

No. Um and this is like I don't think this is a trick question. Jefferson Parkway. Oh yeah. Yes. It is like bounds um above and beyond the others. Um and so that for the Arvada portion of that project, it is to convert State Highway 93 to a freeway, which I don't use that term, but here we are, um, that connects 62nd to 96th Avenue. That's the Arvada portion of that project. Who knows? We could do a whole podcast on that. Jefferson Park. Yeah, we can have Brian Archer on to talk about it. Um and then how much uh is that project total? I'll give you four options: 50 million, 100 million, 400 million, or 700 million.

SPEAKER_01

And this is just Arvada's portion.

SPEAKER_02

Just yeah, what's in the TSP at least.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, and that wouldn't necessarily be what Arvada would be on the hook for. It's just the entire cost for that project.

SPEAKER_01

For that segment of it, though, too, right? Isn't the parkway's a lot of it?

SPEAKER_02

It's only the TSP only maps the Arvada portion. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I'm gonna go 400.

SPEAKER_02

That's where I was leaning to. That's right. Yep. Yeah, I think the next closest project was about 50 million. There might have been something that was like a 70, but there wasn't anything else over 100 million in there. Um okay, so this is kind of a long question, but it is a short answer. There were eight priority areas for projects that were priority areas to help prioritize projects. Um, safety for all, ease of travel, travel for all modes, active transportation network connectivity, um, implementable investments, improved, improved intersection operations, public transit access for all, and then responsive to the public, and enhances or prioritizes services to disadvantaged communities. Only one of those had a 20% weighting. Which one was it? I know this safety.

SPEAKER_01

It was safety. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Um I was on the webpage this morning, so I was kind of studying up on the bonus question, which I think you both know. Um, what project came out ranking the highest overall in the prioritization?

SPEAKER_01

I can't recall. Oh, really? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

It's the transit project out to Northwest Arvada.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Yeah. Candles to Old Town is what it's called on the plan. Yeah. Well, thanks. Thanks for coming on, Kelly. Thanks for having me.

How To Send Us Feedback

Events, Drought Rules, And Next Guest

SPEAKER_01

Thank you. As a reminder, we love to hear from our listeners. You can stay in touch by texting us using the link at the top of the episode and by emailing us at podcast at arvata.org. We love hearing feedback about what you enjoy, what you'd like to see differently, guest ideas, and more. On to our events segment. As we mentioned last time, the Arvada Blun Reservoir is now open for the season. The reservoir is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. And you can purchase your passes for the season online at arvataco.gov slash reservoir. And the city's annual volunteer appreciation event is coming up on Saturday, May 16th from 10 a.m. to noon at Allen House Pavilion. To learn more about that, visit ArvadaCo.gov slash volunteer and sign up for the city's volunteer email list.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, and our first of three bulky item drop-off events is coming up on Saturday, April 25th, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Area Athletic Complex or the NAC. And these events are open to all residents as a part of the city's waste hauling program. You'll just want to be sure to check the list of accepted items and everything you should know before you go at orvatico.gov slash bulky items. And then we mentioned last time in the news and events that the city is looking at watering restrictions due to the significant impacts of the current drought and the impacts on water supply. And so the city has declared a stage one drought and watering restrictions, and those actually go into effect today. And so it will really take all of us to, you know, reduce our outdoor water use this year and help conserve our water supply. And so we're actually going to have our next guest is going to be our water resources administrator. And so we'll talk more about everything that means in the next episode. But for now, you can find more information at arvataco.gov slash drought. Thank you to our guest today, Kelly Van Bruggen. Be sure to listen next time. Like I said, Amy Wilheit is her name. She's the city's water resources administrator. Today's podcast was edited and recorded by Arvada Media Services.

SPEAKER_01

And today's fun fact is the total cost of the 71 potential projects identified in the transportation system plan is estimated to be$731,905,834.

SPEAKER_02

Whoa.