Littleton residents urge full traffic signal, safety fixes at Mineral Avenue–South Peninsula Drive intersection

At the Aug. 19, 2025 Littleton City Council meeting, residents of The Peninsula described repeated near-misses and traffic confusion at the intersection of Mineral Avenue and South Peninsula Drive and urged the city to replace the existing pedestrian-activated crossing with a full traffic signal and pursue other traffic-safety measures.

The residents said the intersection is especially hazardous when the Highline Canal trailhead and Bridal Vista Park are busy. "The problem is our darling children and their parents ... no matter how much signage, it seems like they still don't pay attention," resident Linda Baker said during public comment. "We believe that it really is due to be upgraded to a full traffic controlled intersection, full traffic light controlled intersection, not pedestrian controlled."

The call for a signal came from multiple neighbors. "At certain times, it becomes a chaotic intersection with a confusing traffic signal and overall it's a safety issue that affects residents and visitors alike," said Kevin Kelly, who lives in The Peninsula. Kelly said the peak problem windows are generally between about 3 and 5 p.m., mornings and Saturdays when the trailhead and park draw many visitors. Jim Gale, another Peninsula resident, told council the area’s 50-space parking lot often fills, pushing cars onto South Peninsula Drive and increasing conflicts between turning vehicles and pedestrians.

Why this matters: Speakers said the intersection's configuration can leave drivers stopped in the roadway unable to see pedestrians walking between parked cars, creating risk for small children and older residents. One resident recounted a family crash: "My son got blindsided by a snowplow attempting to a left turn out of the Peninsula Drive on the Mineral 18 months ago. Thankfully, he was not hurt, but his car was totaled," Kevin Kelly said.

City staff and council framed the problem as complex and under study. City Manager Jim Becklenberg told council the intersection has been studied three times over five years by city staff and third‑party traffic engineers, including reviews tied to other Mineral Avenue projects. Becklenberg said staff will continue to evaluate changes as the corridor evolves and listed possible measures under consideration: signal timing adjustments to create gaps for unsignalized access; limiting or restricting certain turn movements; adjusting pedestrian signal phasing; and evaluating speed limits once nearby Mineral Mobility improvements are complete.

"We appreciate all the thoughtful comments," Becklenberg said. "This intersection has been studied ... The city staff would like to continue to evaluate, monitor the situation as that corridor evolves. There's gonna be a lot of change over the next year or two in that area." He did not announce a definitive schedule for a design change or a new signal.

Council members acknowledged residents' safety concerns. Councilmember Zink said she has been in the neighborhood and that striping added on Forest Hill Street has helped enforcement; she said the city recently added a parking enforcement officer and she would discuss additional funding for enforcement. Councilmember Grove thanked staff and planning for work on the issue and said changes that better fit the ultimate configuration of Mineral Avenue will be considered as nearby development and signals are completed.

What was not decided: Council did not vote on a new signal or a binding mitigation plan at the meeting. Becklenberg said staff will report back with additional analysis and that changes will be considered in the context of larger corridor projects already underway.

Ending: Residents said they plan to continue working with staff and council. Council members encouraged people to contact the city manager's office with ongoing concerns and promised follow-up as the Mineral corridor projects move forward.