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The 1st & Main Station project is a master plan and revitalization study for the area near the old flourmill site at 1st Avenue and Main Street. The study, expected to be complete by April 2012, is examining short-, mid- and long-term development and land use potential for the site in addition to determining bus, pedestrian, bicycle and auto connections at the future train station at the 1st & Main location. With the announced closure of the Butterball plant, there is an additional opportunity to explore land use changes to help offset this loss to the local economy.
Knowing that about half of Longmont’s population commutes to jobs outside the city, there is an opportunity to revitalize the 1st & Main Station area into a walkable, livable neighborhood designed bring some of the future growth back into downtown and reshape Longmont as a destination city. The south part of downtown has the opportunity to absorb new population and housing and funnel employment growth into the city.
In addition, the natural environment of the area with the St. Vrain River and Greenway provide numerous opportunities for a River/Park District.
While no decisions have been finalized, a number of design ideas have already been suggested by the community consistent with Longmont’s unique attributes and values. These ideas have been incorporated into the design concepts to be presented at the January 25, 2012 Community Roundtable. Ideas so far include:
- Early construction of bus bays as a transit investment mirroring what RTD will eventually need for its commuter rail/bus Park-n-Ride
- Redevelopment planning of the Butterball plant sites. One short-term suggestion is to use the plant’s west parking lot as overflow for bus Park-n-Ride and to build critical mass, connecting activity from 1st & Main to downtown north of 3rd Avenue.
- Construct the Boston Avenue extension to the east
- Connect the residential areas to the St. Vrain Greenway with new bike/pedestrian corridors, creating a new underpass/overpass across the railroad tracks
- Public art competition for substation screens
- Coffman/Emery Streets bike enhancements
- Trail connections and improved access to the St. Vrain River Greenway
- Design Main Street streetscapes to the river and gateway bridges on Main and Pratt Streets
- Consider a River/Park District concept complementary with downtown
Transit Users Weigh-In
The 1st & Main Station project team met December 8, 2011 with a group of current Longmont public transit users to discuss ideas for the 1st & Main Station site including repackaging and optimizing local transit service. Suggestions, taking into consideration RTD’s current fiscal constraints, include:
- Higher frequency buses with more visibility along Main Street, possibly with reduced fares and links from the north (Wal-mart) to the south (Community College)
- Cross-town shuttle; fixed route serving the hospital, Main Street, senior center, and library, etc.
- Optimized fixed routes, an expanded/flexible Call-n-Ride, and various flexible shuttle options
- Coordination with Boulder County regarding the new service to the Town of Lyons (starts Jan. 22, 2012) to include local service in Longmont
Contact us:
For more information about the 1st & Main Station Transit and Revitalization Plan, contact Phil Greenwald at: firstandmain@ci.longmont.co.us or by phone at: 303-651-8335
