City of Boulder improving Folsom Street after more than 500 crashes reported over nine years

The City of Boulder is seeking resident input on how to enhance safety along Folsom Street, which has seen a concerning number of crashes—566 reported between Pine Street and Colorado Avenue from January 2015 to July 2024. Drivers were involved in 82% of these incidents, and the area has experienced 20 serious or fatal crashes, predominantly affecting vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. City officials have highlighted that 67% of all crashes resulted in serious injuries or fatalities.

To address these safety concerns, Boulder has initiated a questionnaire aimed at gathering community feedback. So far, they have received around 3,000 comments, with many residents calling for better separation of bike lanes and sidewalks from vehicular traffic. Additional requests have also been made for improved travel time reliability, safer pedestrian crossings, alleviating traffic congestion, and enhancing bus stops.

Ericka Amador, Senior Transportation Planner for the City of Boulder, emphasized the community’s desire for safer and more comfortable conditions for those not in vehicles. While drivers generally feel safe and comfortable in their cars, there is a strong demand for solutions that cater specifically to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users.

The city is incorporating this feedback into its existing plans, including the Transportation Master Plan and Zero Vision Action Plans, aiming for a comprehensive toolkit of necessary improvements. The concept design for these enhancements will take the majority of 2025 to finalize.

Funding for the project includes a $1 million grant from the Denver Regional Council of Governments, supplemented by an additional $500,000 from city funds. While the exact cost of the project won't be available until the design phase is complete, the city is inviting the community to participate in an open house on February 12 to further discuss travel safety improvements on Folsom Street.