Town Council to Review Recommendations for Full Implementation of E-Vail Courier Program to Permanently Improve Loading and Delivery Operations in Vail Village

Sweeping changes to the town’s existing loading and delivery regulations that will build upon the success of the E-Vail Courier pilot program will be reviewed by the Vail Town Council at its evening meeting on Tuesday, July 19. The presentation is listed as 5.1 on the meeting agenda which begins at 6 p.m. in the Vail Town Council Chambers with opportunities for public comment.

During the presentation, Town Council will review key provisions of a draft ordinance that would amend the Vail Town Code to fully implement use of electric carts to deliver goods to storefronts in Vail’s pedestrian areas while strictly limiting access by other vehicles. As drafted, the ordinance outlines new regulations and corresponding maps detailing changes to traffic flow, limitations on vehicular access, use of outlying loading docks and proposed fee schedules that would be collected from businesses and delivery companies to recover a portion of the estimated annual operating cost of $1.2 million.

Opportunities for public comment are available in advance of Tuesday’s meeting by emailing publicinput.vailtowncouncil@vailgov.com or will be available in-person at the meeting or virtually by registering at www.vailgov.com/town-council. The meeting will be live streamed by High Five Access Media.

Since its launch in November 2021, the goal of the E-Vail Courier pilot program has been to improve the guest experience by reducing the number of idling oversize delivery vehicles in the Village core and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Since contracting with local logistics company 106 West to facilitate the program, 40 businesses are now being serviced on a regular basis which has taken 18 trucks out of the pedestrian area and into the nearby loading dock at Mountain Plaza. Up to 60,000 pounds of deliveries are being handled on busy days, with a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced with an estimated 16.8 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) eliminated from trucks no longer idling in Vail Village. This also greatly reduced noise and air pollution. The expanded program has the potential to reduce an estimated 50.8 metric tons of CO2e annually while improving air quality.

The pilot program has been overseen by a working group with representation from numerous town departments, 106 West and Vail Mountain. The program has been funded by the town through Sept. 30 and is currently operating with 1 dockmaster, 4 delivery drivers, and 2 low speed electric vehicles. Full implementation of the program requires code amendments authorized by the Vail Town Council as well as additional staffing, equipment and infrastructure.

As outlined in the draft ordinance multiple funding sources have been identified to help offset costs without overburdening any one sector of the business community or the town’s budget. This includes:

• Monthly Loading Dock Fee – The loading dock fee, ranging from $250 to $2,250 per month, would be charged for delivery businesses that access any loading dock in the Village or Lionshead. The loading dock fee would be charged on an annual basis through a permit process managed by the police department on a tiered system.
  
  
• Annual Loading and Delivery Fees – Business owners would be charged annually during the time of renewal for each business license to cover approximately 20% of the costs of loading and delivery facilities. This requirement would apply to all businesses located in the Vail Village and Lionshead Core. (See map)
  • Commercial accommodation service establishments: $13 per rental interest, with a minimum fee of $200 per business
  • Accommodations service businesses in residential buildings with 24/7 on-site management services: $13 per rental interest, with a minimum fee of $200 per business
  • Restaurants, taverns, or any other business with the primary purpose of serving food and beverages: $15 per seat, with a minimum fee of $200 per business.
  • Retail establishments: $775 per business
  • All other businesses: $200 per business
    
    

• Town subsidy - In addition to $100,000 start-up capital needs, the town would subsidize annual operations by approximately $340,000 from the General Fund.

The draft ordinance also contains a map detailing access modifications to Vail Village as follows:

• A new vehicle direction of travel
• Additional parking for service vehicles
• High volume commercial carrier zones
• No delivery vehicle access on Bridge Street
• Business owner/employee close-in vehicle access to designated areas from 10 to 11 a.m. when actively loading or unloading
• Ski/snowboard tuning access twice daily 7 to 8 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.

Loading and delivery operations in Lionshead Village would remain largely unchanged with adoption of the new policies; however, stricter restrictions are proposed for vehicles entering the pedestrian mall and the proposed annual loading and delivery fee would apply to those businesses.

During Tuesday’s review, Town Council will be asked to authorize initial funding to purchase three electric carts in advance of the start of the permanent program to address supply chain issues and to provide feedback on any modifications to the ordinance before scheduling the draft for first reading consideration at the Aug. 16 meeting. Town ordinances require two readings and a public hearing for adoption. As proposed, the full-scale program would become effective Oct. 1, 2022, with the start of monthly loading dock fee collections. Annual business fees would be due by Jan. 31, 2023.

Review the staff memo outlining the draft ordinance here or for questions, contact Police Cmdr. Ryan Kenney at 970-477-3433 or rkenney@vailgov.com.

Village Core Map

Village Access Modifications