City of Boulder to begin implementing curbside management pilot project

The City of Boulder is implementing a curbside management pilot project that will last into December 2022. The project addresses the increasing demand for short-term curbside access in two of Boulder’s commercial districts, downtown Boulder and University Hill, and is intended to reduce travel delays and unsafe drop-off and pickup of passengers and goods in travel lanes when curbside access is unavailable.

The pilot project will convert some existing time-restricted loading zones to 24/7, flexible loading zones that will serve a variety of demands including food delivery, package delivery and passenger pickup and drop-off. Pilot locations for the flexible loading zones will be marked with “Curbside Loading Only” signs. There will be six flexible loading zones in downtown Boulder and three in University Hill. The city has worked with Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft to geofence the downtown and University Hill boundaries. TNC drivers and customers in these areas will be directed to the flexible loading zones through the TNC’s app.

The pilot project uses best practices and input from the Downtown Management Commission, the University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission, the Center for People with Disabilities, the Access Allies community working group, and transportation and delivery service providers. The city will evaluate the pilot to develop a guidebook with policies, practices and standard operating procedures for managing the curb along the public right of way. City staff will bring their recommendations to advisory boards and commissions and City Council in 2023.