Neighbors press Arvada council for speed reductions on Jellison and Ralston Creek Trail

Kelly Lyons, a resident and first-responder, asked the Arvada City Council during public comment on Aug. 5 to take action to reduce speeding and improve safety on Jellison and the unprotected portion of the Ralston Creek Bike Trail near her neighborhood.

Lyons described a block with many young children and said the current residential speed limits and lack of modern infrastructure create recurring hazards. “These streets are not raceways,” she said, and urged the council to be proactive and not wait for a crash before acting.

Lyons told the council that by 2026 nearly 1,000 new apartment units will exist within a mile of her home and that nearby retail and the Arvada Beer Garden attract additional traffic. She described the trail’s unprotected section as a place where pedestrians and trail users must interact with roadway traffic.

Council member Sam Pfeiffer (transcript: Pfeiffer) and Council member Jacqueline Davis both responded in council comments. Pfeiffer noted recent traffic fatalities in the region and promoted awareness of distracted and impaired driving; he also acknowledged receipt of similar “Ask Arvada” reports and said staff are working to upgrade that system. Davis said she has raised the Jellison area with Arvada Police Department traffic staff and that the location is “on their list and on their radar.”

No formal motion or vote occurred on the matter at the meeting. Council members referenced an upcoming Traffic Safety Summit and Arvada Police Department resources and said staff and traffic engineers will review the requests and data submitted by residents.

Lyons offered a map to staff; the mayor’s office said copies would be collected and distributed to staff for follow-up.