Council gives general go‑ahead to refined 2J bond project list and agrees $500,000 set‑aside for school crossings

The Wheat Ridge City Council reviewed a refined project list May 19 for the city’s Next Chapter (2J) bond program and gave staff general direction to proceed with design and public outreach on the prioritized projects, with one addition: a $500,000 set‑aside to fund safe‑routes‑to‑school crossing improvements.

Why it matters: The 2J bond measure provides the primary funding source for major street, sidewalk, bikeway and drainage improvements in the city. Staff said the refined list balances corridor work, pavement maintenance and sidewalk/bikeway gap closure while preserving funds for drainage emergencies.

Public Works Director Maria DeAndrea told council the recommendation follows internal prioritization and outreach: "As you may recall, this was passed in the fall of 'twenty 3. And in the fall of 2024, we issued the first tranche of bond proceeds, which netted us about $33,300,000," she said. Staff emphasized the scale and cost of key corridor projects — notably an estimated $26.4 million for the 38th Avenue West project between Youngfield and Kipling — and described how corridor work often includes sidewalks, bikeways and drainage improvements.

Staff presented a condensed portfolio that seeks to fund a mix of corridor upgrades and network infill within a $75 million cap. In summary staff said the proposed program would deliver roughly 17 miles of improved pavement, about 12.3 miles of new or upgraded sidewalks and just under 9 miles of new bike lanes or bikeways, while preserving approximately $4.4–$4.5 million for drainage projects and emergency repairs.

Council questions highlighted tradeoffs between design studies and construction and how the 2J program interacts with the city’s regular capital improvement program (CIP). Several councilors said they were concerned about dedicating funds to studies without secured construction budgets and urged staff to identify which projects would proceed in the first bond tranche. Councilor Holten asked whether the package aligned with voter expectations for bike‑ped and vibrant corridors; Director DeAndrea said the list attempts to hit corridor, sidewalk and drainage priorities and noted the city had already committed to design for the 38th Avenue West project.

Councils' direction and next steps: Councilor Hoppe asked for consensus to proceed with the proposed list and to direct staff to reserve $500,000 for school crossing improvements; the council recorded consensus to move forward. Staff said it will advance design work on the agreed projects, prepare public materials and return with further details on timing, cost and the first tranche of projects for implementation. No formal roll‑call vote was recorded — council provided direction by consensus.

What’s next: Staff will start design procurement and public outreach for priority corridor projects, continue pavement maintenance on the city’s zone rotation, and prepare a public‑facing schedule so residents can see whether their neighborhood is included in upcoming work.