Transportation

Boulder's transportation system should work for drivers, transit riders, walkers, cyclists, and people using mobility devices at the same time, each with a safe, dignified way to get where they're going. Access, getting people where they need to go, is the outcome that matters, and the design of our transportation system, housing, and neighborhood economy together shapes whether Boulder delivers it.

What I'm Working On

A safe, comfortable experience for everyone. Boulder's traffic fatality rate is about 3 per 100,000 people, compared to a national and state average of about 12. Our relative safety comes from looking beyond serious crashes as ”accidents” to instead designed failure tolerance driven by speed and mass, how forgiving a street is of a mistake, how much choice people have to choose not to drive, and who the system is designed around in the first place. Getting it right means not just fewer tragedies but a calmer, more welcoming experience from kids to seniors in whatever form of travel they’re engaged in. Led a resolution directing staff to deploy safety improvements faster and streamline community engagement, reaffirming Boulder's commitment to Vision Zero (resolution 1358), and voted to expand traffic photo speed enforcement to 24 intersections, including several state-owned roads. Completed approval of three major Core Arterial Network redesigns, protected bikeways and road diets on Iris Avenue, North 30th Street, and Folsom Street, specifically to reduce crashes and calm traffic for all users, and helped pass Magnus's Law, requiring police to offer a breathalyzer after a serious crash.

A high-performing public transit system. Helped lead compact, transit-oriented land use through the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, reflecting that proximity is a top determinant of transit costs. Helped restore regional bus service connecting Boulder Junction to Denver and the airport after pandemic-era cuts, and serve on the Colorado 7 state highway coalition, working to expand non-car travel options between Boulder and Brighton. Used a period of relative austerity in transit funding to focus on the structural fundamentals that don't depend on large outlays, so the system is positioned to grow when funding cycles turn back up.

A great pavement maintenance program. Championed a durably funded pavement maintenance program built on Blue Ribbon Commission principles, a transportation maintenance fee raising $73 million over ten years, so streets get fixed on a schedule, catching problems before they turn into potholes. Said plainly when the fee passed that residents were already paying for bad pavement, just through deferred maintenance that costs more the longer it waits. Eliminated parking minimums and completed a decade-long transportation demand management policy update (AMPS), moving the underlying cost structure of getting around toward something more sustainable for the city and affordable for households.

What's Next

I'm working to:

☐ Continue to advocate for Safe System policies, driving for continuous improvement in transportation design that reduces statistical danger while increasing peoples’ access however they travel

☐ Explore innovative transit approaches, including a local transit authority to fill gaps alongside RTD and on-demand service where it makes sense

☐ Secure full funding for the remaining unfunded Core Arterial Network corridors

☐ Secure a fully funded commuter rail commitment from Boulder Junction to downtown Denver by 2029, and keep building the Colorado 7 coalition's options for people traveling without cars

☐ Make paratransit, curb ramps, and accessible vehicle options a standard part of every transportation investment

☐ Address the rise of powerful, unregistered e-motos through education with families and BVSD, while protecting lawful e-bike riders from new restrictions

☐ Build out formal investment analysis so every transportation dollar gets measured against strategic goals

☐ Shift pavement funding so the modes that wear it down most contribute proportionally, while walking and biking aren't asked to subsidize that cost

What We Stand to Gain

Cut the costs of living. This is the priority most directly about that goal. The true cost of a home includes what it costs to get around from it, and better options mean fewer households need a second car.

Adapting to a changing world. A multimodal system that doesn't depend entirely on driving is more resilient when roads are damaged, evacuation routes are strained, or fuel costs spike.

Creating a trustworthy, effective government. Vetting every transportation dollar against a shared strategy is what fiscal stewardship looks like applied to transportation.

Climate-aligned decisions. Transportation is one of the biggest per-capita climate levers a city has, and every mode shift away from driving alone is a direct climate benefit.