Get to Know the Transportation and Mobility Director, Natalie Stiffler

What drew you to Boulder?

The access to recreation drew me to Boulder. My family and I like to spend our free time outside, swimming, biking, hiking, or scooting, and I think Boulder is probably one of the best places in the world to do that.

What do you love most about the work you do?

I can say after working for Boulder for nearly nine years, that hands down, working with the kind, compassionate, hard-working, and brilliant people that work at the City of Boulder is the best part about my work.

What project are you most excited to begin or keep working on?

I’m really excited about all our work, and it’s easy to get excited about the projects that bring new enhancements to the system like the 30th and Colorado Underpass or programs like Boulder Social Streets. But I want to also lift-up, the, at times, miraculous work that our team members do to provide core city services of median maintenance, alley maintenance, potholes and street sweeping which are especially front of mind after all this record-breaking rain lately!

What do you hope to accomplish in your new role?

My hope for my time is this role is to continue to build a world-class transportation system that is safe, and for all people, and that can be maintained for many years to come. I want to do that while also developing a team of leaders and individuals that care about each other and approach their work with kindness and humility.

What is your perspective on the challenges we face in transportation, and how do you aspire to handle them as a leader?

I think three of our biggest challenges in the transportation & mobility space right now are safety, the climate crisis, and equity. We continue to see people walking, biking or rolling being seriously injured and killed on our streets at an increasing rate. It is essential that we prioritize measures such as improving walking, bicycling and rolling infrastructure like we are doing here in Boulder and have a long history of doing since our first Transportation Master Plan was adopted in 1989.

The climate crisis is upon us, and it is no secret that the transportation sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It is crucial to prioritize sustainable and low-carbon alternatives whether that be e-bikes (check out the city’s E-bike Incentives), electric vehicles, public transportation (Zero Fare for Better Air!), bicycling infrastructure, and promoting shared micromobility options.

Finally, on the equity front, ensuring equitable access to transportation is so important. We need to focus on providing affordable and accessible transportation options for historically underserved communities, and I’m super proud to work for a city where we’re committed to prioritizing racial equity in all the work that we do.

What is your vision for how transportation in Boulder will change in the next 20 years?

In 20 years, I hope we’ve achieved our Vision Zero community goal of zero deaths on our streets, we have a frequent, convenient, and reliable public transportation system connecting people within Boulder and around the region, we have protected cycling infrastructure on major north-south and east-west connections, and the majority of cars on our streets are shared and electric.

What are you looking forward to doing most this summer in Boulder?

One of my favorite things about summer is getting out for open water swims in the Boulder Reservoir. Even after nearly 10 years away from the west coast, I can’t shake my longing for open water swims. The reservoir is not quite La Jolla Cove but I’ll take what I can get!

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.6: By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents
   • Indicator: The article mentions the need to prioritize measures to improve walking, bicycling, and rolling infrastructure to reduce injuries and deaths on the streets.

2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
   • Indicator: The article mentions the need to prioritize sustainable and low-carbon alternatives in transportation, such as e-bikes, electric vehicles, and promoting shared micromobility options.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status
   • Indicator: The article mentions the importance of providing affordable and accessible transportation options for historically underserved communities and prioritizing racial equity in transportation planning.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all
   • Indicator: The article mentions the goal of building a world-class transportation system that is safe and accessible for all people.

5. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
   • Indicator: The article highlights the need to prioritize sustainable transportation alternatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat the climate crisis.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: bouldercolorado.gov

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