To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Ceila Rethamel, Acting Director, Public Works and Development
Prepared By:
prepared
Jim Katzer, Transportation Division Manager, Public Works and Development
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presenter
Presenter: Jim Katzer, Transportation Division Manager, Public Works and Development; Daniel Hutton, VP Transportation & Mobility, Denver South
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Subject:
title
2:30 PM *Expansion of the Micromobility Services within the Denver South Transportation Management Association Area
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Denver South Transportation Management Association (Denver South) is looking to expand micromobility service through a pilot project in Centennial, Greenwood Village, and unincorporated areas within the County.
In this Study Session the proposed micromobility service expansion - which would be provided at no cost to the County - will be detailed. The Board will be asked about their concerns and if they support the expansion of the Denver South micromobility service in unincorporated portion of the County Denver South.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Sustainable Growth and Infrastructure - Enhance public transit and transportation options to improve mobility and job access.
Background and Discussion: The expansion of micromobility services within the Denver South area supports the County’s current effort in the ArapaGO - Transit Connection Plan and the County’s strategic plan by providing transportation options to improve mobility and job access. The ArapaGO study will consider the results of this project when moving forward with future project recommendations. The ArapaGO Transit Market Analysis supports this project and notes that micromobility is likely to be successful in this area of the County.
The Denver South boundary extends along the I-25 corridor from Briargate Parkway in Doulgas County on the south to I-225 on the north and include both sides of the interstate. In November 2021, micromobility services were first launched in Meridian Village, the southern portion of the Denver South area, with 75 eScooters and 25 eBikes. This initial pilot program began as a contracted services model between Meridian Metropolitan District (Meridian) in unincorporated Douglas County and Spin. Spin is a micromobility company that provides dockless eScooters and eBikes. For this first pilot project, Meridian implemented an enterprise model and contracted with Spin to actively manage the program with the distribution, balancing, and charging of the devices. Users - including employees, residents, and visitors to the area - paid $1 to unlock a device and Meridian covered the remainder of the charges. Based on steady demand and growth of ridership, services eventually expanded into the Inverness Metropolitan Improvement District (Inverness) and Greenwood Entertainment District (GED) near Arapahoe Rd & I-25 in 2024.
Based on the success of the current pilot projects and continued demand from users and regional employers, Denver South proposes to lead the expansion of Spin micromobility services north into Arapahoe County, Centennial, and Greenwood Village. Denver South will formally work with and on behalf of local jurisdictions and metropolitan district partners to establish a contiguous corridor-wide service area for the expanded service. The goal of the pilot is to increase mobility by providing discounted micromobility services to commuters, residents, and visitors of the South I-25 Corridor and supports the County’s strategic goal of Sustainable Growth Infrastructure. Please see Exhibit A - Proposed Scooter Expansion Map DRAFT.
Building on the existing programs, users would pay a $1 unlock fee and the program funding partners would cover the remaining service charges. In addition to Denver South, program funding partners would include Goldsmith Metropolitan District (Goldsmith), Greenwood Consolidated Metropolitan District (GCMD), Inverness, and Meridian.
Initially, 210 eScooters would be deployed to provide service throughout the South I-25 Corridor, including within unincorporated portions of Arapahoe and Douglas Counties and incorporated areas of the Cities of Centennial and Greenwood Village. Though Denver South seeks permission to expand the operations of the pilot into these areas, there would be no request for program funding from Arapahoe County or the cities.
Denver South anticipates the one-year expansion pilot would launch September 1, 2026, and conclude August 31, 2027, at which time Denver South and the program participants would evaluate the potential for ongoing service, further expansion of the program, or conclusion of the program, among other potential next steps.
Denver South will manage Spin during the pilot project and will coordinate with the County and others during the monthly Denver South Technical Committee meetings.
The Transportation Division will look to address the County’s concerns with Spin in a license agreement and in close coordination with Denver South. The County will use license agreements implemented by others in the area that have successfully deployed eScooter programs. The license agreement will look to address eScooter litter, physical blocking of sidewalks and ramps, distribution of scooters, and customer service.
To determine the level of success of the pilot, performance measures will be established and will be used by Denver South to determine the success of the pilot. Please see Exhibit B - Spin Operations and Maintenance Plan; Micromobility Services Program Goals.
Alternatives: One alternative to the expansion of micromobility services by Denver South, is to deploy a similar service through the ArapaGO study. This option would be at the County’s expense and it is not a guarantee that this pilot project would be chosen by the ArapaGO study to be implemented. The second alternative is to take no action and continue to monitor other micromobility deployments.
Fiscal Impact: There is no cost to the County associated with the implementation of this pilot project. The project will provide the County with information and experience relevant to potential future deployments of micromobility services within other unincorporated areas of the County.
Alignment with Strategic Implementation Strategies: The attached framework helps Arapahoe County institutionalize value-based, transparent decision-making, documenting how we make decisions and carry out actions to achieve the County’s strategic plan.
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Denver South Micromobility pilot be extended into unincorporated Arapahoe County and that the County work with Denver South to implement an agreement to ensure a high level of service.
Concurrence: Inverness Metropolitan Improvement District agrees that the Denver South Micromobility Pilot be expanded into the County. The City of Centennial and Greenwood Village will also be discussing the pilot project in their jurisdictions in the coming months. The County Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office have been consulted in considering how to move forward with this opportunity.