As part of discussions about the city’s 2017 budget on Tuesday, the Longmont City Council approved two high-profile transportation projects.

First, the council approved funding the Ride Free Longmont bus program.

The program, where the city and Boulder County paid to buy out the farebox for Longmont local routes as a way to increase bus ridership, began in July 2014. Until 2016, the county paid 72 percent of the program cost, while the city picked up the remaining 28 percent.

If the city and the county had not bought out the farebox, the local fares are $2.60 per person per one-way trip.

In 2016, the county and the city split the cost of the program 50-50, but the county isn’t planning on funding the program in 2017 and beyond, choosing instead to focus on other communities’ projects.

Dale Rademacher, general manager for Longmont public works and natural resources, said staff estimate continuing the program would cost the city $275,000 in 2017 and $1.46 million over five years.

Funding the program for five years would mean one public-works fund might not be able to meet required reserves in 2017 and the Hover Street Bridge — which is only partially funded anyway — would be put off another two years.

Rademacher said he thinks the fund might still be able to meet reserves using leftover money from other planned projects.

Sandy Stewart, a resource manager at the Outreach United Resource Center, asked the council during public comment to fund the program because it helps low-income families and others.

“It allows people on the margins — including families with children — to save money they can use on other aspects of life,” Stewart said. “Students have told me that Ride Free Longmont allows them the ability to get to school, after-school activities and jobs without putting the strain on their families, some of which are single-parent households.”

Scott McCarey, Boulder County alternative transportation coordinator, also spoke during public comment and urged the council to fund the program, mentioning that council previously stated it was a high priority for this budget.

“Boulder County does believe it’s a cost-effective program. And it expands access for residents who need it the most,” McCarey said.

The council echoed McCarey and Stewart’s comments. Councilwoman Polly Christensen said funding the program would help with Longmont’s affordable housing crisis and Mayor Dennis Coombs said funding it could decrease vehicle traffic, therefore preserving streets longer.

The vote to fund Ride Free Longmont passed 6-0 with Councilman Brian Bagley absent.

First and Emery

Secondly, the council approved keeping the First Avenue and Emery Street open, aligning themselves with the majority of Longmonters who took a survey on the subject.

The plan passed 6-0, with Bagley absent.

The intersection is part of the city’s agreement with developer 150 Main LLC for the South Main Station public-private partnership, which is supposed to transform the old Butterball plant into 315 high-end apartment units and 10,500 square feet of commercial space.

The original plan was for the city and 150 Main LLC to split the estimated $1 million cost of making the intersection safer with crossing arms and pavement improvements. But the three Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks make the intersection more complicated and expensive. Instead of $1 million, the improvements will cost an estimated $1.8 million.

Alternatively, the city could have closed the intersection, with Emery ending in a cul-de-sac north of First. This option would have been much cheaper, city staff have said in the past.

Rademacher presented the results of a city survey about the issue. The city received 140 responses and 79 percent of respondents said they would like the intersection to remain open.

City staff have budgeted the extra $800,000 into the 2017 budget and capital-improvement program, Rademacher said.

City Manager Harold Dominguez said the city is still in talks with 150 Main LLC about how much of the extra cost the developer can take on.

While the city is improving the intersection, they plan to go ahead and make it a railroad quiet-zone intersection.

Councilwoman Joan Peck said she was slightly reticent about putting in a quiet zone because a developer asked when residents in the Historic Eastside Neighborhood have been asking for 12 years.

When Longmont staff member Nick Wolfrum explained that the safety upgrades would make the intersection a de facto quiet zone anyway, Peck voted for the project.

Dominguez clarified that the railroad crossings at First and Martin streets and First and Main streets would also need to be improved to get a true quiet zone — a quarter-mile where a train engineer doesn’t have to blow the horn as often.

City staff plan to use the First and Emery crossing as leverage to apply for grant funding for the other crossings, Rademacher said.

Karen Antonacci: 303-684-5226, antonaccik@times-call.com or twitter.com/ktonacci