Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Road Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pitkin County staff recommend radar signs and reduced speed near Flying Dog after Prince Creek Road safety review
Summary
County engineers presented traffic counts and speed data showing mixed vehicle and bicycle use on Prince Creek Road and proposed temporary radar feedback signs and a reduced 25 mph zone near a blind corner; commissioners declined to pursue widening now because of cost and rights‑of‑way concerns.
Pitkin County engineers told commissioners they found about 600 vehicles per day on the Prince Creek Road count and that cyclists make up roughly 3.5% of traffic, prompting a package of short‑ and long‑term safety ideas.
"During our count from May 27 through July 1 we saw a little over 600 vehicles a day and 3 and a half percent were bicycles," County Engineer Andrew Yap said, describing an average vehicle speed of 27 mph and an 85th‑percentile speed of about 31 mph. Yap told the board the 90th‑percentile was 33 mph and only two vehicles exceeded 50 mph during the study period.
Yap said the county has already installed a double‑yellow centerline and is recommending a modest, staged approach: install temporary radar feedback signs and a reduced speed zone (25 mph) in the Flying Dog corner/bullpen area, monitor the effect, then consider permanent signage if warranted. He described why speed bumps were not being pursued: Garfield County currently plows the segment and has a firm policy opposing speed bumps; if Garfield stopped plowing the road, Pitkin County would need additional equipment and staff to assume winter maintenance.
Commissioners echoed local comments that the yellow striping had improved lane discipline and supported testing temporary radar devices before committing to permanent posts. Several commissioners also cautioned against widening the roadway at this time, citing cost, potential right‑of‑way impacts and the risk that wider lanes could encourage higher speeds. Yap outlined long‑term options — matching Garfield County’s wider cross‑section, providing paved shoulders or building a separated path — but said each would require survey, design and possible property acquisitions and agency partnerships.
The board directed staff to pursue temporary radar feedback signage and to examine reduced‑speed postings through the bullpen to Stark Mesa and the curve after Stark Mesa, while deferring any widening projects pending further study and funding identification. Staff noted a chip‑seal preservation project for Prince Creek Road is programmed for 2031.
