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CU Denver student study urges Wheat Ridge to add QR reporting, consider single‑hauler trash collection to protect streets
Summary
A University of Colorado Denver class presented a city map of bus‑stop assets, a QR‑code reporting tool linked to Google Sheets, and analysis showing multi‑hauler trash systems correlate with lower pavement condition indices; students recommended considering a single‑hauler model to reduce road wear and maintenance costs.
A University of Colorado Denver student team presented city officials Monday with a package of recommendations to improve Wheat Ridge bus‑stop maintenance, reduce trash‑truck wear on pavement and increase rider feedback using low‑cost digital tools.
The student team demonstrated a QR‑code, mobile‑friendly reporting tool that posts issue reports to a centralized Google Sheet in real time and captured bus‑stop locations, benches and trash cans using GIS. "This type of system reduces barriers to reporting while providing the city with precise, structured data to act on," Jason Dutcher said during the presentation.
Students also used Wheat Ridge pavement data to explore the relationship between trash‑collection models and pavement condition. They reported that Wheat Ridge’s Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is about 66 based on the data they used and that, in a regional comparison, cities with single‑hauler trash systems had an average PCI of 74 while multi‑hauler cities averaged 60. "When full, trash trucks can weigh almost as much as a semi truck," a team member said, arguing that multiple haulers operating in residential neighborhoods increase edge wear and reduce pavement life by an estimated three to five years.
The team recommended three primary actions: map and optimize contractor routes for trash pickup to reduce redundant trips, pilot a QR‑code reporting form that captures bus‑stop ID plus geolocation and issue type (trash overflow, damaged bench, snow removal, etc.), and consider a single‑hauler collection system to reduce total truck traffic and long‑term pavement repair costs. The presenters said the QR reporting tool was deliberately built with free Google tools to allow immediate, real‑time access to reports and to be easily extensible with dashboards and ticketing numbers in future iterations.
Councilors asked technical questions. "Is there an identification number on shelters, or are you using GIS on their phone to get the correct location?" Councilor Larson asked. Presenters said the system currently relies on user‑entered stop IDs and captures latitude/longitude automatically when users submit reports. Councilor Holstein asked whether the reporting form could accept photos or issue ticket numbers for tracking; presenters said Google Apps Script limits the free tool’s image handling but that ticket numbers and photo upload functionality are feasible if the city wants to advance the code base.
Director Maria D'Andrea, who worked with the student teams, praised the practical focus of the research. "Bus stops seem a little innocuous, as does impervious surface area. But these students dug right in," she said.
The student team also proposed that city staff consider a single‑hauler collection model to reduce road wear and maintenance costs; they emphasized the finding that, in their dataset, multi‑hauler jurisdictions tended to have lower average PCI scores. The students noted exceptions exist and that pavement condition is influenced by many variables.
Ending: Councilors thanked the students and asked staff to consider how the QR reporting pilot might integrate with existing ViewWorks reporting and with contractor workflows. The presentation will be followed by a technical memo and final reports due to the city in the coming weeks.
