The City of Boulder is taking a proactive stance on road safety with the commencement of the Folsom Street Safety Improvements Project. As a part of the Core Arterial Network initiative aimed at overhauling travel infrastructure within the city, the city officials are inviting members of the community to contribute their experiences and suggestions for the future transformation of Folsom Street, stretching from Pine Street to Colorado Avenue. Interested parties can participate in the planning process by completing an online questionnaire available through early January 2025, accessible via Boulder's project webpage.

According to the City of Boulder, statistics from Boulder's Safe Streets Report reveal that arterial streets, though only accounting for 17% of Boulder's total street network, have witnessed 67% of serious or fatal crashes. The segment of Folsom Street in question has seen a staggering 566 crashes from January 2015 to July 2024, with a disproportionate number affecting those biking, walking, or rolling. This troubling trend highlights the urgency with which the city approaches these safety upgrade projects.

The strategy to overhaul Folsom Street heavily relies on community feedback, paired with the scrutiny of transportation data and professional benchmarks of design. This blend of information will be the backbone of forthcoming conceptual design options. These options will subsequently undergo an evaluation by the Community Environmental Assessment Process (CEAP), ensuring alignment with the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan's vision for the future.

Targeted for mid-2025, the CEAP's endorsements will face review by both the city's Transportation Advisory Board and the City Council. With eventual approval and available funding, the full-fledged design and implementation phases of the approved option will commence. This effort is supported in part by federal funding sourced from the Denver Regional Council of Governments Transportation Improvement Program.