By John Herrick | Boulder Reporting Lab
A group of Boulder residents has started collecting signatures for a 2025 ballot measure that would close two blocks of West Pearl Street to most vehicles, reviving a pandemic-era street closure that made space for outdoor dining.
The move is expected to reignite debate over how to balance efforts to create pedestrian-friendly spaces with business interests, pitting transportation advocates against some business owners who want to keep that section of Pearl Street open to cars and parking. Opponents argue that lost parking during the previous closure hurt business.
The ballot measure calls for creating a “community space” on Pearl Street between 9th and 11th Streets by closing it to private vehicular traffic. Commercial and emergency vehicles would still be permitted. The measure does not specify whether the HOP bus could continue running on the stretch.