Traffic
Address Traffic and Transportation needs
with data and logic
Traffic and road conditions consistently rank as the top concerns for Arvada residents in our annual community survey. We've all experienced frustrations, whether it's hitting every red light on 64th, Ralston, Sheridan, etc., dealing with potholes that damage tires and suspension components, or wishing for better access from the west in case of a fire emergency. These are real issues that affect our quality of life.
The good news is that the City of Arvada recently completed its first transportation master plan, the Transportation Systems Plan (TSP), after a 24-month effort that included extensive city-wide public outreach. The plan outlines over 70 key projects to address congestion and improve mobility throughout Arvada.
I am uniquely familiar with the TSP because, in my professional work, I led the effort from start to finish. Working with a team of highly qualified traffic engineers and planners, in collaboration with City staff and input from City Council, I am very proud of what the team accomplished and look forward to delivering a better transportation network for our community.
Challenges:
Signal timing across Arvada is poorly optimized and makes it difficult to drive without constantly hitting red lights.
Roadway is expensive to repair and modify and our annual budget is limited, Identifying priority projects and sequencing them so that construction efforts are minimally invasive to residents is difficult
Funding under the current federal administration for infrastructure projects can be harder to attain
East/West and North/South connections are limited, making it difficult to move easily across the city and creates choke points
Solutions:
Implement city-wide traffic light optimization. This will increase travel efficiency by 30% and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When vehicles come to a complete stop for a traffic light and then move again for a green light, tire and brake dust concentrate, significantly more energy is expended (lowering gas mileage), and greenhouse gases fill the air. By implementing city-wide signal optimization, if you are traveling the speed limit, you should only hit one red light per corridor.
Completing network gaps by creating new road, trail, and transit connections that make it easier to travel in all parts of the city. Today there are limited ways to move from the west side of Arvada to the east to access all the amenities, G-Line, and other destinations. In addition to the concerns over emergency fire access, our poor connectivity on the west side of Arvada constrains economic activity and frustrates residents. On Council I will work with my fellow Councilors and staff to prioritize the network improvement projects in the newly completed TSP.
Fully fund roadway maintenance programs to address the frequent complaints from our residents. Today, the City funds a small fraction of the estimated need for mill and overlay projects (asphalt repair). We have been behind for several years and recently received one of the lowest Pavement Quality Index (PQI) ratings in the entire metro area. Residents are tired of sinking into potholes and being jostled all around while moving about the city.
Implement high comfort bike facilities to encourage more bike lane adoption for local trips. Currently nearly all our bike facilities are painted on existing roads and the posted speed limits are as high as 45 miles per hour. The current facilities are far from comfortable and have several gaps in coverage. As a City Council member, I will advocate for buffered bike lanes and mixed-use trails that separate people and cyclists from the stress of riding next to fast-moving vehicles. Providing transportation options for people other than cars limits the number of vehicles on the road, lowering congestion.
Secure funding for signature projects like widening Indiana Street, widening 72nd Avenue (West), and the Olde Town Street Reinvestment. These investments were listed as high priorities by members of the public participating in the 2024 online TSP survey and were the highest scoring projects in their respective categories over all. These efforts and several other transportation projects will be top priorities for me if elected.