Boulder to Erie Regional Trail (BERT) Master Planning Process

Background

Boulder County, in partnership with the City of Boulder and Town of Erie, is evaluating options for the creation of a new soft-surface regional trail connection linking the City of Boulder and Erie.

This connection was identified in the county’s regional trails prioritization process in 2003 and is eligible for funding through the Countywide Sales Tax. The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan and Boulder County Transportation Master Plan identify this trail connection as an important link in the Boulder Valley and regional trails systems.

The first step in trail development is to conduct a master planning process to identify needs, opportunities, and constraints of constructing the regional trail. That process began in the spring of 2019 and is ongoing. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

The BERT Plan

(Available for public review Sept. 6 – 25)

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

The BERT Plan Appendix

(Available for public review Sept. 11 – 25)

The BERT Plan Appendix includes supplemental materials from the planning process, including base mapping, photos, detailed information from the data collection phase of the project, documentation of meetings and the presentation materials shared at meetings, survey results, documentation of additional work with project partners on raptor nests, public comments on the plan, and concurrence memos/approval documentation.

Upcoming Board Meetings and Important Dates

Open Space Board Presentations – BERT will be an agenda item at these meetings:

• Erie Open Space and Trails Advisory Board: Virtual meeting – Monday, September 9, at 6:30 p.m.
• City of Boulder Open Space Board of Trustees: Hybrid meeting – Wednesday, September 11, at 6:00 p.m.
• Boulder County Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee: Hybrid meeting – Thursday, September 26, at 6:30 p.m.

Boulder County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) Hearing – BERT Plan approval will be the main topic:

• Boulder County Board of Commissioners Hearing: Hybrid meeting – Thursday, October 10, from 1 – 4 p.m.

BERT Plan Public Comment Period:

• September 5 – 25

Past Public Meetings

Open House in Boulder – August 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.

Open House in Erie – September 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