It’s Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
Good morning, Boulder. It’s Wednesday.
Today, we’re covering the new design for Iris Avenue that is being considered by the city to make the road safer for cyclists. The city has unveiled its preferred plan, which would remove a lane from the thoroughfare and add a protected bike lane. About 20,000 drivers pass through Iris on a typical weekday. The proposal would add an estimated 46 seconds to those drivers’ passage from Folsom to Broadway.
Also, we have details on the new North Sky Trail that opened this week. It connects North Boulder to Joder Ranch via a single-track trail built with cyclists in mind. The $1 million project provides a link from Boulder to the trails in Left Hand Canyon, such as Heil Valley Ranch, without cyclists having to navigate the perils of US 36. Eight hundred volunteers contributed some 4,500 hours to the work. “Building a new trail in Boulder is really exciting,” said Wendy Sweet, executive director of the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance. “It does not happen very often.”
Finally, that haze is not just ozone but smoke blown down from Canadian fires. If the State of Colorado’s new smoke blog is to be believed, yesterday was the worst of it. We’ll see.
Have a tremendous day.
— Tim, reporter
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Downtown is for Everyone! The pad above the parking structure east of the St. Julien was designated as “civic space” over 20 years ago, but the St. Julien plans a monolithic building with a massive ballroom and 39 extended-stay hotel rooms. That’s not “civic space.” Boulder deserves input!
Featured stories
City of Boulder unveils plan to redesign Iris Avenue for cyclists’ safety
Transportation officials have proposed eliminating a traffic lane and adding a two-way protected bike lane on the north side of the street. The city is now seeking community feedback. Continue reading…
Boulder opens new North Sky Trail, a rare addition to the city’s cycling network a decade in the making
The 3.5-mile trail connects North Boulder to Joder Ranch on the west side of U.S. 36. It was built with cyclists in mind, with the help of some 800 volunteers. Continue reading…
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In other news
Mid-90s today, high 90s tomorrow
If you’re willing to brave the poor air quality, you’ll be rewarded with smoke-laden heat. Only two days in the next 10 are not forecast to hit the 90s, and those will be 89. So, drink that iced tea and settle in.
Canada sending us its smoke again
That haze isn’t in your head, nor is that icky feeling from breathing outside. Fires in Canada and the Pacific Northwest are sending us smoke through unfortunate wind currents. According to the State of Colorado’s new smoke blog, yesterday was expected to be the worst day. If you’re going to be outside on smoky days, officials recommend doing so as early as possible.
EPA boosts Front Range shift to electrify
The EPA has awarded $199.7 million to Denver, Boulder County and nearby areas to cut climate pollution by electrifying buildings. This funding, part of the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program and supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, will focus on energy-efficient upgrades and transitioning from gas to electric appliances.
Nearly half of the funds will benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities, aiming to lower energy bills and improve air quality. The grant will provide rebates for heat pumps, water heaters, induction cooktops and workforce training for 4,800 technicians.
“As our power grid shifts to cleaner energy, upgrading from fossil fuel-burning equipment to electric alternatives in our homes and buildings is crucial to reducing pollution,” said Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann. “This grant will cut greenhouse gas emissions from Denver metro area buildings by 70% by 2050, focusing on low-income and disproportionately impacted communities. It’s a win for the entire region.”
Create a fire-resilient landscape at home
Today at 6:30 p.m., Resource Central is hosting a webinar on creating a fire-resilient landscape. Attendees will learn how to integrate firewise principles into landscape design around their homes. The session will cover the use of native, low-water and pollinator-friendly plants, along with fire-resilient materials, to achieve both safety and aesthetic appeal. If you’re interested, make sure to register ahead of time.
West Nile mosquitoes nearby
Boulder County Public Health has confirmed the season’s first mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus, collected from a Longmont trap on July 15. No other positive cases have been identified in the county.
Residents are encouraged to take precautions against mosquito bites. Use DEET-enhanced repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, avoid outdoor activities from dusk to dawn and drain standing water.
Rabies found in bats in Boulder
Three bats in different locations across Boulder County have tested positive for rabies. Residents are urged to avoid contact with wild animals and keep their pets’ vaccinations current.
“Exposure to rabies most commonly occurs when people or pets interact with wildlife, pick up a bat off the ground, or try to remove it from their home or property,” said Carly Wilson, Boulder County Public Health Environmental Health Specialist. “Finding a bat hanging under the eaves of a house, under a porch overhang, or hidden behind shutters or gutters is normal.”
Rabies is almost always fatal unless treated before symptoms appear. If you have an altercation with a bat, seek medical attention immediately.
Colorado delegates endorse Kamala Harris
Following President Joe Biden’s decision to not seek reelection, Colorado’s Democratic convention delegates endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidential nomination. Harris has 95% support from both the party’s central committee and state Democratic National Convention delegates, Colorado Newsline reported. Several prominent Colorado Democrats, including Gov. Jared Polis, Rep. Joe Neguse and Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, have also backed Harris.
When asked by CNN’s Dana Bash if he would consider being Harris’s running mate, Polis replied, “Obviously, if somebody asks, I take a serious look at it, but my phone hasn’t rung yet. Look, if they do the polling and it turns out that they need a 49-year-old, balding, gay Jew from Boulder, Colorado, they’ve got my number.”
Bash laughed out loud and added, “That was very funny.”
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