Boulder County eyes bigger 2027 push on two regional trail projects

Boulder County commissioners said Tuesday they want to keep moving two major regional trail projects toward design as they head into the 2027 budget, setting up possible tradeoffs within the county’s transportation sales-tax program.

In a June 23 work session, staff asked the Board of County Commissioners how aggressively to fund next-year design work for the US 36/North Foothills Bikeway and the Boulder-to-Erie Regional Trail, or BERT. Staff said the county expects about $1.7 million to $2 million in 2027 Transportation Sales Tax money for the regional trails and commuter bikeways program, while the two projects’ option lists exceed that if both are advanced aggressively.

For the North Foothills bikeway, Option 1, at about $2.5 million, would fund preliminary design for segments 2, 3 and 4, final design for segment 1, and the 1041 and NEPA review process. Option 2, at about $1.3 million, would fund final design for segment 1 plus 1041 and NEPA work. Option 3 would be a smaller, still-to-be-defined scope under $1.3 million.

For BERT, Option 1 is about $1.6 million and would fund preliminary design for the full corridor, the 1041 and NEPA process, and 60% design. Option 2, at about $900,000, would fund preliminary design for the full corridor plus 1041 and NEPA work. Option 3 would be a smaller reduced scope under $900,000.

Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann said she supported “option one” for both projects, according to the meeting record. Commissioner Claire Levy said she was leaning toward option one for both projects but wanted to weigh that against other demands on the same sales-tax funding source.

Staff said outside money could offset some local costs. A pending federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant could reduce the North Foothills ask by $620,000 if awarded. For BERT, the county already has a $515,135 award from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, with no local match required.

The broader budget challenge remains much larger. The county’s transportation sales tax brings in about $9 million a year across all project categories, and staff said more than $120 million in additional funding would still be needed to complete design and construction of North Foothills and BERT.

The county memo says to stay on track for possible 2029 construction, commissioners would need to approve North Foothills Option 1 or 2 and BERT Option 1. No vote was taken at the work session; the funding question will return in the fall 2027 budget process.