Design for West 70th Avenue reaches 90%; residents press county on medians, maintenance and timeline

Public Works staff briefed the Board of County Commissioners on the West Seventieth Avenue corridor project, presenting a 90% engineering design and summarizing public engagement to date. The design package aims to improve safety and multimodal access along a corridor with schools, uneven cross sections and high crash incidence.

What staff proposed and why Staff said the design generally proposes a three‑lane section (one travel lane in each direction plus a center turn lane or median where feasible), new sidewalks or multi‑use paths where right‑of‑way allows, bike lanes or painted bike facilities in tighter sections, raised medians and pedestrian refuge islands in school zones, and Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFB) for pedestrian crossings. Staff said those features reduce conflict points and improve pedestrian safety but acknowledged they limit some driveway movements and require right‑of‑way negotiations.

Community concerns and board questions Several property owners and a vocal minority of residents objected to portions of the project where medians would prevent left turns into or out of driveways. Staff and commissioners pointed out trade‑offs: medians reduce conflict points and severe crashes but can increase travel distance for some local access movements. Staff also heard complaints about earlier communication and the project team acknowledged that outreach tools used early in the pandemic were imperfect; commissioners asked for clearer, continuing updates to the project website and additional community meetings.

Maintenance and aesthetics Commissioners repeatedly asked how medians would be maintained after construction, noting weed control, irrigation, public safety for maintenance crews, and winter snow operations. Staff described maintenance options — lower‑maintenance materials or rock palettes, drought‑tolerant plantings, or reduced landscape scope — and said they would coordinate with district maintenance teams to produce a plan and contracting approach that reduces long‑term upkeep risk and cost.

Cost, schedule and funding context Staff estimated a construction order‑of‑magnitude cost around $20 million and said projects can be phased to deliver high‑priority safety elements earlier. Right‑of‑way acquisition continues; staff said interagency coordination (water, sanitation, utilities) delayed earlier progress but has improved with regular quarterly coordination meetings. Staff also said they would bring the corridor into the county’s larger CIP prioritization and funding discussion next week; commissioners asked that staff be ready with recommended phasing options and estimated schedules.

Board guidance After extensive discussion the board signaled support for advancing the 90% design and directed staff to: continue targeted re‑engagement with residents (to present the design, explain safety reasoning and document suggested refinements), prepare a median maintenance plan and cost estimate, explore phasing strategies to deliver near‑term safety items sooner, and return with more specific project timing and funding alternatives as part of the upcoming CIP review.

Speakers and evidence Public Works staff led the presentation and fielded detailed technical questions about right‑of‑way, median placement, bicycle facility types and trade‑offs. Multiple commissioners emphasized communication, maintenance and credible timelines; commissioners also recommended neighborhood‑level follow‑up workshops before finalizing construction plans.