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Boulder to Erie Regional Trail (BERT)
An old railroad line along the BERT Trail corridor in a plains setting with trees and grass and a fence looking west sunset

Boulder to Erie Regional Trail (BERT)

The Boulder to Erie Regional Trail (BERT) project will create a regional multi‑use connection between Boulder and Erie by converting a portion of the former Union Pacific rail corridor into an accessible trail.

Boulder County, in partnership with RTD, the City of Boulder and Town of Erie, is designing a new soft-surface regional trail connection linking Boulder and Erie. The Boulder to Erie Regional Trail (BERT) will provide a safe, accessible route for bicyclists, pedestrians, equestrians, and other users traveling between Boulder and Erie for both transportation and recreation.

This connection was identified in the county’s regional trails prioritization process in 2003. The Boulder County Comprehensive Plan, the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, and the Boulder County Transportation Master Plan all recognize this trail as an important link in the Boulder Valley and regional trails systems.

View or Download the BERT PlanSubscribe to Email or Text UpdatesSubmit BERT Plan Comments

Timeline

The BERT Plan

The project began with conceptual planning in spring 2019, evaluating alignment options and gathering community input. In October 2024, the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners adopted the BERT Plan, establishing a preferred alignment. The preferred alignment parallels an unused railbed for approximately 8.5 miles.

Preliminary and Final Design – Current Work

The conceptual alignment is currently being refined and advanced through environmental surveys and engineering analysis. This process will result in construction-ready documents, permits, and specifications. The goal of the Preliminary and Final Design phase is to advance the adopted BERT Plan concept into a well-defined, technically sound, and permittable project that is ready for final design, funding, and construction.

Preliminary Design

Preliminary Design will:

  • Survey environmental, cultural, utility, drainage, floodplain, geotechnical, and property conditions to identify constraints early, define mitigation, and establish permitting pathways.
  • Refine the conceptual trail into a safe, constructible corridor that responds to site conditions, crossings, structures, and user needs.
  • Define scope, cost, and phasing to support funding decisions, interagency coordination, and phased implementation.
  • Build consensus and readiness for final design through documentation, stakeholder coordination, and a clear technical record.
  • Develop design plans and cost estimates for each of the four trail segments, allowing construction as funding becomes available.

Final Design

Final design will transform preliminary plans into construction-ready documents. The team will complete environmental permits, finalize engineering for structures and crossings, and prepare detailed construction specifications. This phase also includes additional community meetings. At completion, the project will be ready to bid for construction.

Next Steps

Boulder County is actively pursuing funding from regional, state, and federal sources to support approvals, permitting, and construction. Once funding and permits are secured, construction can begin. Construction may proceed in segments, allowing incremental completion as resources become available. Each segment will be independently accessible while contributing to the complete trail.

Engagement Opportunities

Boulder County is committed to gathering input from community members, adjacent landowners, and partner agencies throughout the project. During the design phase, there are several ways to stay informed and share feedback.

Public Meetings

Two public meetings will be held during the preliminary design phase. These meetings will be offered in hybrid format (in-person and online) with Spanish interpretation available. Each meeting will include a survey to gather public feedback. Additional public meetings will be scheduled during the final design phase.

The first meeting has not yet been scheduled. Please sign up for project notifications to receive updates on opportunities to participate.

Adjacent Landowner Meetings

Property owners, residents, and businesses adjacent to the trail corridor will have opportunities to meet directly with the design team during the design phase. These smaller group meetings provide space for detailed discussions about design impacts and concerns. These meetings have not yet been scheduled. The project team anticipates reaching out to landowners in summer 2026.

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee meets prior to public meetings to receive project updates, preview meeting materials, and support outreach efforts. Committee members serve as liaisons between the project team and the broader community, helping share information and engagement opportunities with interested groups.

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

The TAC brings together agencies and partners to provide technical guidance related to design, permitting, and construction. The TAC includes representatives from Boulder County, the City of Boulder, the Town of Erie, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Regional Transportation District (RTD), and the Mile High Flood District.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I get involved?

Public engagement and coordination with adjacent landowners will continue throughout preliminary design. You can sign up for notifications, email questions or comments, or attend public meetings.

How are adjacent landowners involved?

Adjacent landowners will have multiple engagement opportunities. The design team will share concepts, answer questions, address concerns, and identify potential issues early. At this time, changes to adjacent property use regulations are not anticipated. If landowners wish to be part of the process, please email the project team to set up a time to talk.

How will Indigenous People and Native Americans be involved?

The project team is working with indigenous residents of Boulder County as well as tribal and nation leaders and representatives to understand the history and significance the project area may have for American Indian tribes and indigenous peoples.

How will environmental impacts be evaluated?

The project team is currently in the design phase, undertaking new surveys to thoroughly assess environmental, cultural, utility, drainage, floodplain, geotechnical, and property conditions. This comprehensive effort is aimed at proactively identifying and managing constraints, clearly defining necessary mitigation measures, and establishing efficient permitting pathways. Collaboration with partners is ongoing to pinpoint the least environmentally sensitive areas for the project.

At the end of the preliminary design phase, there will be 30% designs. What does 30% design mean?

30% design represent an early stage of engineering that shows the proposed trail alignment and major features, such as crossings, structures, drainage concepts, and typical sections. These plans are detailed enough to understand how the trail will work, identify impacts and constraints, and develop preliminary cost estimates, but many details will be refined later.

What is the difference between preliminary and final design?

Preliminary design defines the overall concept and confirms feasibility, including alignment, major features, and permitting needs. Final design advances the project to construction-ready plans by completing detailed engineering, finalizing permits, and preparing documents needed to build the trail.

What happens after design?

After preliminary and final design (estimated 2028), and if funding is secured, the project will move into construction. The trail may need to be built in segments as funding becomes available.

What will happen to the rail within the alignment?

BERT is planned as a “rail with trail” project. This means the trail will not preclude future rail use. At this time, there are no known plans to use the corridor for rail.

What are the plans for crossing US 287?

The preferred crossing at Highway 287 is an underpass that will be in line with the rail right-of-way. This crossing will be designed to safely accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians.

Is the BERT fully funded through the Countywide Sales Tax (Regional Trails Fund)?

No, it is not fully funded. The project is eligible for funding through the Countywide Sales Tax and Transportation Sales Tax and has received some funding from these sources. Boulder County is actively pursuing additional local, state, and federal funding to support design, permitting, and construction.

Past Public Meetings and Documents

2024

BERT Plan Appendices:

BERT Plan Survey and Summary Report:

Open Space Board Presentations – BERT agenda item:

Open House in Boulder – Sept. 29, 2024

At the Boulder to Erie Regional Trail (BERT) Project Open House held in Boulder, the team shared an overview of the project, the preferred alignment for further consideration, and opportunities to review and provide comments on the draft plan.

Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearing – Oct. 24, 2024

On Thursday, October 24, the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners approved the Boulder to Erie Regional Trail (BERT) Plan in a 2-1 vote. Public testimony was taken during the hearing. Thank you to everyone who submitted written comments and spoke at the public hearing.

The BERT Plan evaluates multiple conceptual alignments and identifies a preferred alignment for further consideration for an 8.5 mile east-west multi-use trail connection between the City of Boulder and Town of Erie. The BERT Plan includes the project process, public and partner input and engagement, technical evaluation, conceptual level alignment, opinion of cost, and next steps.

With the adoption of the BERT Plan, local, state, and federal funding opportunities can be pursued, and the preliminary design process can begin. The plan’s preferred alignment is the starting point for more detailed engineering and in-depth technical analysis, including additional environmental analysis. We will also be looking at strategies to minimize potential environmental impacts of the preferred alignment.

Partner coordination and community outreach will continue in the next phases of the project. We will continue to provide regular updates as the project progresses.

View the video of the Oct. 24, 2024 Board of County Commissioners hearing, the staff report for Oct. 24, 2024, and additional public comments received.

2023

Open House in Erie – Sept. 13, 2023

An open house was held in Erie to provide an update on the BERT project. During this open house, the project team discussed project updates, evaluation criteria for different trail options, and conceptual alignments. View the BERT Public Meeting Presentation, Sept. 13, 2023

2019

Four neighborhood workshops were held in the Spring of 2019

Project Contact

Kelly Leadbetter

Grants Coordinator

kleadbetter@bouldercountyg.gov

Contact Us

Community Planning & Permitting

planner@bouldercounty.gov
303-441-3930
Ask a Planner Form

Hours

Public Office Hours:
8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday

Virtual Service Hours:
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday
Schedule an Appointment

Mailing Address

Community Planning & Permitting
PO Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306

Location

Courthouse Annex Building
2045 13th St.
Boulder, CO 80302

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which partners is the County working with on this project?

The County has convened a Steering Committee of County staff, City of Boulder (including OSMP), Town of Erie, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and RTD. The County is also working with additional agencies as needed during the planning process, including the Mile High Flood District and Colorado Department of Transportation.

Will the trails be connected to other networks, including I25 and US 36?

A primary goal of the project is to connect with both the Town of Erie and City of Boulder trail systems. These trail systems provide extensive connectivitiy to other regional trails.

What are the plans for the Highway 287 Crossing?

The crossing of Hwy 287 is dependant on the preferred route chosen, but potential crossings could be an underpass within the RTD rail corridor, under the existing 287 bridge over Boulder Creek, and at the Isabelle signal.

How is the project team working with adjacent land owners who might be impacted by this trail?

The project team is committed to working with and understanding the perspectives of adjacent landowners. To date, the team has met with some landowners adjacent to the RTD rail corridor and held neighborhood workshops for neighbors within a quarter mile of the center line of the rail corridor. If additional adjacent landowners wish to be part of the process, please email the project team to set up a time to talk.

How will the project team determine the environmental impacts of a proposed trail?

The project team will use existing data, including management area designations from both Boulder County and the City of Boulder, as well as individual species habitat and occurrence data from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the County, and the City to gain a general understanding of the species with habitat or potentially occurring within the project area. The project team will further refine this data and work with project partners (including the City and County staff) to identify more and less environmentally sensitive areas within the corridor based on environmental resources, conservation priorities, and permitting requirements. High level site visits along the corridor will also inform this process. The project team will then use this information to develop evaluation criteria to assess the various conceptual alignments.

Is this a "Rails to Trails" project?

Any conceptual trail alignments, or portions of alignments, that are located in the RTD Rail ROW will be planned as a “rail with trail” alignment. This means any outcome of this project will not preclude the ability for trains to run along the tracks of this corridor. At this time, we do not know of any plans by RTD to use the corridor for rail.

How will Indigenous People and Native Americans be involved in the project?

The project team is working with indigenous residents of Boulder County as well as tribal and nation leaders and representatives to understand the history and significance the project area may have for American Indian tribes and indigenous peoples.

What animal or plant species might be imnpacted by the proposed trail?

Impacts to animal and plant species will vary depending on the trail alignment location. Common animal species found in the area include mule deer, fox squirrel, deer mouse, striped skunk, raccoons, black-billed magpie, and red-winged blackbird. Numerous native and non-native plant species occur in the area. Conceptual alignments within or near floodplains, wetlands, and streams could impact sensitive species including federal and state listed species, such as Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, black -tailed prairie dogs, Ute ladies’ tresses orchid, and several raptor species. The conceptual alignments along more developed upland areas would be less likely to impact sensitive animal and plant species. Impacts to all plant and animal species will be limited as much as possible through the master planning process.

What will be done to guarantee that the trail enhances rather than degrades a sensitive environmenal area?

The master planning process will define and analyze multiple conceptual alignments based on criteria developed in partnership with the Steering Committee, Community Working Group, and Native American Community Leaders. Some of the alignments will not be located in senstive environmental areas. For any conceptual alignments that are in areas of concern, this planning process will identify design, engineering, and mitigation requirements to limit any environmental impact.

Preliminary and Final Design (Current Work)

The goal of the Preliminary and Final Design phase is to advance the adopted BERT Plan concept into a well-defined, technically sound, and permittable project that is ready for final design, funding, and construction.

Preliminary Design

Preliminary Design will:

  • Survey environmental, cultural, utility, drainage, floodplain, geotechnical, and property conditions to identify constraints early, define mitigation, and establish permitting pathways.
  • Refine the conceptual trail into a safe, constructible corridor that responds to site conditions, crossings, structures, and user needs.
  • Define scope, cost, and phasing to support funding decisions, interagency coordination, and phased implementation.
  • Build consensus and readiness for final design through documentation, stakeholder coordination, and a clear technical record.
  • Develop design plans and cost estimates for each of the four trail segments, allowing construction as funding becomes available.

Final Design

Final design will transform preliminary plans into construction-ready documents. The team will complete environmental permits, finalize engineering for structures and crossings, and prepare detailed construction specifications. This phase also includes additional community meetings. At completion, the project will be ready to bid for construction.