City begins curbside-management pilot in University Hill, proposes 24/7 flexible loading zones and designated TNC pickup spots

Transportation Mobility staff updated the commission on July 8 that curbside-management changes in University Hill began in July and will proceed with stakeholder engagement through August and communications in September.

The update matters because changes to curb rules and designated pickup locations are intended to reduce curbside congestion, improve short-term parking and loading access for businesses, and create organized pickup/drop-off points for transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft.

Chris Haglin, Transportation Mobility staff, said the city is carrying out the work because of increased curb demand from short-term parking, deliveries and new hotel activity. “The flexible loading zones that we're proposing are basically 24 7 loading zones with 15 minute limits,” Haglin said. He described a process of internal option selection followed by engagement with commission liaisons, property owners, businesses, delivery companies and the Hill Merchant Association. Haglin said he was coordinating with staff liaisons (Tel and Trent) who volunteered to act as first-line liaisons for the commission.

Haglin said the pilot will consider valet practices at the Moxie Hotel, which staff have identified as causing backups onto Broadway, and that the city plans to work with the hotel to address valet and curbside management. He also described technology-based controls: geofencing around the Uni Hill area would guide TNC drivers to designated pickup/drop-off locations and require drivers to use those spots rather than stopping in travel lanes. “They would be required to use those as pickup and drop off locations,” Haglin said.

Staff said they expect to finalize curbside changes for University Hill by August, move into a communications phase in September (signage installation planned for late September), and install new signage and markings once outreach is complete. Implementation will include direct outreach to freight and delivery companies, TNCs and food-delivery services; staff reported progress finding points of contact for those operators.

Haglin said the University Hill work will also build foundations for managing curbside demand during special events (for example, Sundance-related closures) by identifying both permanent and temporary pickup/drop-off locations. He said the University Hill pilot would be the first designated TNC drop-off/pick-up program in Boulder; other locations (for example, Red Rocks) have used designated lots for event operations but University Hill would be the city's first neighborhood-level implementation.

Haglin closed by saying staff will return with specific options after stakeholder engagement and will consult with the commission liaisons on which option to move forward.