In this Issue:

• Small = Agile: Managing the Federal Return-to-Office Orders
• New Colorado Hands Free Driving Law
• GoNoCo34 Transportation Management Organization (TMO)
• Partner Agency Updates
• Weld County Safety Action Plan Launched, Aims to Enhance Roadway Safety
• Mobility News in Northern Colorado
• RideNoCo Dashboard - Quarter in Review
• 2025 Coordinated Plan Survey
• Get Involved!

Read on for the latest transportation updates along the North Front Range.

VanGo™ isn’t the largest vanpool operator, though we do comfortably hold our own, but it is our size and management, both in operations and fleet, that allows us to make changes rapidly and therefore match the needs of our participants and potential participants exponentially quicker than most. Case in point, the recent return-to-office (RTO) orders affecting Federal employees. 

VanGo™ management was proactive from the start; coordinating adding routes, ensuring we had the fleet to support the demand, and, as always, providing the compassionate and caring service that the program is known for. This required working closely with current, returning, and new vanpoolers hourly—how quickly orders were changing! —to make sure everything was in order for all involved (a special shout-out to Brandon Fischer, our dedicated tech at City of Ft. Collins Fleet, for the many after-hours texts it took to get this done, as well as Taylor, a VanGo™ participant and coordinator who went above and beyond for the Federal employes on his route). It paid off. 

VanGo™ started three new routes, two to the Denver Federal Center (DFC) and one to Boulder, supporting the increase in Federal employee demand, and filled the seats of already formed routes to the Denver Federal Center and Downtown Denver. 

In foreshadowing the increased need, VanGo™ helped over two dozen Federal employees with their commute, ensuring they had a spot that matched their RTO orders and had a way of commuting that was both affordable and convenient. We served our goals of reducing single occupancy vehicles (SOVs), therefore reducing traffic congestion and pollution in Northen Colorado and the Front Range. All this managed under an extremely short, often same-day, time frame.

It is an honor and pleasure to be able to serve those that in return serve us. 

Shane Armstrong

Operations and Fleet Manager

New Colorado Hands Free Driving Law

In a significant move to enhance road safety and reduce distracted driving crashes, Colorado implemented a new law that prohibits drivers in Colorado from using a mobile electronic device while driving unless they use a hands-free accessory. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the new law prohibits holding or manually using a phone or other mobile device for voice calls or any other reason. 

According to CDOT’s 2024 Driver Behavior Report, 77% of Colorado drivers admitted to using their phones while driving. Since 2022, there has been a 13% increase in cellphone usage while driving among motorists.

Studies show that using a mobile device while driving increases the risk of a crash by two to six times. Distracted drivers pose a particularly high risk to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists. From 2015 to 2023, deaths among pedestrians and bicyclists increased by 50% and 112.5%, respectively, while Colorado’s population grew by less than 8% during the same period.

The new hands-free law includes exemptions for individuals reporting emergencies, utility workers, code enforcement officers, animal protection officers, first responders and individuals in parked vehicles. These exceptions ensure that critical communications are not hindered in emergency or essential service situations.

Penalties for violating the new law in Colorado start with a $75 fine and two license suspension points for the first offense. Repeat offenders face higher fines and more license suspension points. First-time violators can have the charge dismissed if they provide proof of purchasing a hands-free accessory. 

CDOT urges all drivers to acquire hands-free accessories such as dashboard mounts and car speakerphone systems to comply with the new law. Learn how to use your car’s Bluetooth system, invest in a dashboard cellphone mount or car speakerphone system, and review the penalties for violating the law at codot.gov/handsfreeco.

GoNoCo34 is the Transportation Management Organization (TMO) dedicated to improving mobility, reducing congestion, and promoting sustainable transportation options along the US 34 corridor in Northern Colorado. They are working with local businesses, public agencies, and the broader community to create innovative solutions that meet the region's growing transportation needs. Do you want to be involved in the movement to shape the future of transportation along the US 34 corridor? You can become a member and join other businesses, organizations, and individuals who are committed to promoting sustainable travel and reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips in Northern Colorado. Please visit GoNoCo34 for more information.

The Weld County Board of Commissioners is proud to announce the launch of the Weld County Safety Action Plan, a strategic initiative aimed at reducing fatalities and severe injuries across the county’s roadway system. This plan underscores the county’s commitment to enhancing transportation safety for all residents and visitors.

“Our primary goal is to ensure that every resident and visitor can travel safely

throughout Weld County,” said Perry Buck, Weld County Commissioner

Chair. “The Safety Action Plan represents a collaborative effort, and we encourage community members to actively participate by providing feedback and sharing their insight, which will be helpful in ensuring our roads can meet demand now and in the future.”

In 2023, Weld County received a U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All grant. The Safety Action Plan is based on the Safe System Approach, which focuses on identifying problem areas and implementing data-driven solutions to enhance safety for all road users. Informed by community and stakeholder input, the County’s Safety Action Plan will comprehensively lay out a framework of actionable, measurable and innovative strategies that emphasize design enhancements or improvements. In addition, the plan will include guidance for the responsible parties and the county departments to help implement strategies and policies.

”Safety and efficiency are elements we continually look at and strive for when making improvements to our transportation system," said Curtis Hall, Director of the Weld County Department of Public Works. "The feedback we receive from this Safety Action Plan will strengthen our effort. By residents identifying issues and critical areas through an interactive map or written comments, we can determine effective measures for improvements to make roads safer, with the goal of continuing to work toward reducing serious injuries and fatalities.”

The Safety Action Plan will encompass unincorporated areas of the county and several municipalities, including Dacono, Eaton, Evans, Firestone, Fort Lupton, Frederick, Gilcrest, Hudson, Keenesburg, LaSalle, Mead, Milliken, Pierce, Platteville and Severance.

Stay Connected

To learn more about the Weld County Safety Action Plan, and for updates, event details, ways to get involved and engagement and commenting options, visit www.WeldSafeStreets.com. Follow on the website to receive updates about the project and upcoming engagement events. Email the project team at SafeStreets@weld.gov with questions.

From January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025, the RideNoCo call center received:

100 calls &

1,447 website visits

60% of the calls received were from people aged 60+

53% of the calls needed help getting to Medical Appointments

4% of the calls were from Veterans.

Key Themes for the First Quarter of 2025

What we heard:

• Difficulty in finding transportation options between Fort Collins and Loveland that are affordable and efficient
• No volunteer transportation options for people with disabilities who are under 60 years old in Greeley
• No transportation options for seniors and veterans who live north of Fort Collins to go to Fort Collins appointments and VA clinics
• Need for transportation options in Wellington
• People having to cancel medical appointments because they could not get rides

Service gaps: Between Loveland and Fort Collins, Larimer to Weld County, Larimer County to the Denver area, weekend and evening service, and service to mountain and rural communities.

NFRMPO staff continue to work with the Larimer County and Weld County Mobility Committees to discuss these and other needs to learn more about the barriers and potential solutions from the providers' perspective. The barriers include service areas that are limited to single cities or single counties and a lack of specialized wheelchair-accessible vehicles for unique situations as mentioned above.

NFRMPO staff are also investigating which providers in the region can schedule rides and arrange drivers for clients who speak Spanish and other languages to ensure all members of our community have access to transportation options that meet their needs. Through their partnership with the Mobility Team, three transportation providers have been given access to LanguageLink live interpretation services to enhance their ability to serve non-English speakers in the community.

This survey is part of the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization's public involvement in creating the 2025 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan, also known as the 2025 Coordinated Plan.

The Coordinated Plan is updated every four years with the input of the public, stakeholders, the Mobility Committees, and the Planning Council. For further context, the Coordinated Plan is required for projects receiving Federal Transit Administration 5310 funds that serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, and low-income individuals.

The Coordinated Plan focuses on mobility for older adults, individuals with disabilities, low-income adults, and underserved communities. It considers mobility in all its forms, so it aims to look holistically and support providers, advocates, and stakeholders in improving at all levels.

See what's happening at the NFRMPO and join us virtually or in person at one of our upcoming events or meetings. For a comprehensive and up to date calendar of events, visit https://nfrmpo.org/calendar, and to download meeting materials, visit https://nfrmpo.org/meeting-materials.