As 2023 comes to a close, our BTC team is reflecting on the great strides and strong partnerships our organization has made throughout the year. Read on for some key accomplishments and takeaways.
Year in Review Snapshot
In the first quarter of 2023, BTC welcomed our new Senior Manager of Transportation, Karen Worminghaus, and dove into the development of a year-long event series in the Boulder Junction neighborhood. Designed to orient residents and employees of the Boulder Junction Access District to their unique transportation benefits, as well as to invite members of the broader Boulder community to experience the growing assets of our city’s newest neighborhood, the event series started with a Winter Bike to Work Day happy hour and the Clean Air Kickoff event.
The second quarter of the year brought fun summer Bike to Work Day events and the addition of two new BTC staff members: Transportation Demand Management Outreach Specialists Darcy Kitching and Will Shepherd. Throughout the summer, we promoted the exciting e-bike rebates offered by the City of Boulder and the state of Colorado, we continued our engagement with the CO 7 corridor project and other transportation projects in our region, and we published an op-ed in the Daily Camera in favor of reduced parking requirements in the redevelopment of the Millennium Harvest House Hotel.
With added outreach staff, we kicked off the third quarter of 2023 by hosting two Transit Day events at the Downtown Boulder Bus Station. Fall brought many exciting developments, including news that the Gunbarrel Shuttle project, on which we partnered with the City of Boulder, had received funding from the RTD Partnership Program. We produced a high-energy FUNKtion at Boulder Junction block party with two bands and our transportation partners, and we continued to advocate for the return of bus service to Boulder Junction Station by offering a petition for people to sign and an email template for outreach to RTD.
At the start of the fourth quarter, we partnered with Bicycle Colorado and BCycle to host a Boulder e-bike tour for members of the interim state Transportation Legislation Review Committee (TLRC), and we completed our FUNction at Boulder Junction event series with Electrify October. We stepped up our outreach about the Alternative Transportation Options Tax Credit and RTD’s reduced EcoPass pricing for 2024, helping businesses in Boulder get on board with providing sustainable transportation options for their employees. In early December, we hosted a dynamic Connect Boulder luncheon at the Chamber, with more than 60 people attending to hear presentations about RTD’s Northwest Rail Peak Service Study and Front Range Passenger Rail, as well as information about the implications of the November election results for transportation and land use in Boulder County.
Looking Forward to 2024
Each of our staff members brought expertise, passion and energy to our work this year. As we look forward to the new year, each of us reflected on where we’ve been and where we’re going as a team:
“This has been a year of continued transition and integration for our incredible BTC team. I am excited about what we can accomplish next year as we embark on an organizational-wide rebranding effort and move to a unified database platform. With our collective experience, expertise and passion, BTC and the Chamber can help transform mobility throughout Boulder.” – Karen Worminghaus
“What a year 2023 has been! I’m excited to have a full team again at BTC. Events are coming on strong as we’ve seen growth in participation at our Connect Boulder meetings, we wrapped up a robust event series in Boulder Junction, and we continue to work with area businesses on promoting commute options and getting more businesses using the EcoPass. During 2024, I hope to see more of you in your business places as we help your team with their commute options.” – Elaine C. Erb
“Joining the BTC team during Walk and Bike Month showed me just how hard our team works to facilitate connections for everyone in Boulder, all year ’round. I’m excited to build on our work in transportation policy and outreach to businesses, and to grow and develop the Boulder Commuter Connections Program in 2024, helping workers with low incomes and non-traditional schedules get to work in the most sustainable, efficient and convenient ways possible.” – Darcy Kitching
“This year inspired the growth of a commuter community among neighbors, co-workers, friends and family in the Boulder Junction district as we offered extensive outreach for inclusive mobility, along with a warmly received event series. Next year looks to be even more accessible, with new housing options along the multi-use path system, quick access to mobile passes via the RTD MyRide app, expanded availability of affordable electric vehicles and excitement for restored transit service to Boulder Junction station. We wish you all a safe and happy start to the new year.” – Will Shepherd
Thank you, dear reader, for staying in touch and supporting our work in 2023. We are always available to answer your Boulder transportation questions – reach out to us anytime at info@bouldertc.org.
We wish you happy holidays and a prosperous, joyful start to the New Year!