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Cherry Hills Village study finds traffic-signal warrants unmet at Belleview and Franklin; council to work with CDOT
Summary
An independent warrant study concluded that MUTCD criteria for a traffic signal at Belleview Avenue and South Franklin Street were not met; Council agreed to engage CDOT on alternatives while exploring local enforcement and traffic-calming options.
An independent traffic-signal warrant study commissioned by Cherry Hills Village concluded the intersection of South Franklin Street and East Belleview Avenue does not meet the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) criteria for a traffic signal.
Mayor Katy Brown told the City Council the new study — prepared after community concerns and conflicting prior analyses — found Warrant 1 (eight-hour volume), Warrant 2 (four-hour volume), Warrant 4 (pedestrian volume) and Warrant 7 (crash experience) were not satisfied. Deputy City Manager and Public Works Director Jay Goldie said, “the warrants are not met,” and detailed that the minor-road eight-hour threshold requires at least 53 vehicles in an eight-hour period and that the study recorded only one hour meeting applicable thresholds. Goldie also noted the crash warrant’s component counts fell short (three crashes in the one-year window versus the ten required, and six in three years versus the sixteen threshold). He emphasized the study captured turning movements over four collection days in clear weather.
Councilors and staff said speeding on Belleview is a separate, measurable concern: Mayor Pro Tem Earl Hoellen confirmed the 85th-percentile speed exceeded 40 miles per hour. Several residents urged action during public comment; resident Lauren Giuffra praised the “data-driven” approach and urged consideration of alternatives such as traffic-calming islands or medians. Saeed Sobhi, Director of Traffic Engineering at WSB Design and Consulting LLC, said the methodology and findings were consistent with professional practice.
Because Belleview is a state highway under Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) jurisdiction, Council agreed the next step is active engagement with CDOT as it conducts its own evaluation. City Manager Chris Cramer directed staff to report back with CDOT’s intentions and timeline; Council debated pursuing a parallel City analysis but reached consensus to participate fully in CDOT’s process while preparing to present independent options if CDOT’s timetable or scope does not address local concerns. In the near term Council supported stepped-up speed enforcement and other non-physical measures the City can implement without CDOT approval.
The Council did not vote on installing a traffic signal. Mayor Brown said the data does not support a signal at this time and encouraged residents to participate in CDOT’s evaluation process. The City will include the Franklin/Belleview data in a forthcoming citywide traffic study.
