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Arapahoe County staff outline Vision Zero plan, eye federal SS4A and state HSIP grants
Summary
County public works presented a comprehensive safety study identifying a high‑injury network on unincorporated corridors (Parker, Iliff, Hampden) and proposed systemic countermeasures — upgraded signals, protected left turns, rumble strips and pedestrian infrastructure — while staff prepared a late‑April draft and a May adoption timeline to pursue SS4A and HSIP grant funding.
Arapahoe County public works officials on Tuesday presented a comprehensive safety study that aims to reduce serious and fatal crashes in the county’s unincorporated areas, and set an actionable timeline to seek federal grants to implement the plan.
Director Weimer and county traffic staff told the Board the study reviewed seven years of crash data and found about 128 serious‑injury crashes and 22 fatalities in that period across the unincorporated network, with a concentrated high‑injury network that includes Parker Road, Iliff Avenue and segments of Hampden Avenue. "The goal of this plan is to reduce, eliminate serious and fatal crashes in the unincorporated areas of the county," the presentation said.
The study uses a Safe Systems framework—safe roads, safe speeds, safe people, safe vehicles and improved post‑crash care—and identifies engineering countermeasures tailored to the rural east side and the more suburban/urban west side of the county. Recommended actions include protected left‑turn phasing and upgraded, high‑visibility signal equipment at intersections; pedestrian crossings, medians and curb cuts in areas with heavy foot traffic; and systemic rural treatments such as rumble strips, wider edge lines and improved signage.
Steven, the study presenter, said the county is well aligned with recent SS4A (Safe Streets for All) awardees that focused on suburban and rural jurisdictions and noted the effort is positioned to pursue both SS4A and CDOT’s HSIP funding. He noted one near‑term grant application already submitted to CDOT for rumble strips on Quincy and Kiowa‑Bennett Road: "The cost of implementing the rumble strips on those 18 miles was about $380,000," he said, and the benefit‑cost ratio on that application was calculated to be about 7, a strong score for HSIP.
Commissioners pressed staff on interjurisdictional challenges: Parker Road is a CDOT facility that runs through unincorporated Arapahoe County, Aurora and other jurisdictions. Director Weimer said staff had an initial, staff‑to‑staff conversation with CDOT Region 1 and planned further coordination; "we actually have not just crash data on Parker Road—we have a list of potential projects up and down that corridor," Weimer said.
Staff outlined a two‑step outreach and approval timetable: a final draft plan will be circulated for a late‑April study session, followed by a May business meeting for adoption; project cost estimates will be completed before staff recommends a target year for achieving the county’s Vision Zero commitment. The county also plans annual KPIs and transparent reporting to track implementation and funding allocations.
The presentation and the county’s prior investments on corridors such as the I‑Lift project were cited as examples that earlier infrastructure work has already reduced serious crashes. Staff said several lower‑cost, systemic countermeasures could be implemented from county capital funds and leveraged with state and federal grant awards. The board directed staff to continue refining cost estimates, coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and pursue appropriate grant opportunities.
The next public review of the draft safety plan is scheduled for a study session in late April, with an adoption vote expected at a May business meeting.
