Chaffee County hears crash analysis: lane departures and vulnerable users drive safety priorities

Fair and Pierce consultant Patrick Picard summarized the Safe Streets for All crash analysis and community outreach, telling commissioners the team reviewed crash data from 2017–2024 and identified patterns that will shape countermeasures. “In those 8 years, for example, there was 128, fatal and serious injury crashes, that resulted in 30, deaths,” Patrick said, and added that roughly three out of four KSI crashes were lane-departure incidents that often involved speeding, failure to negotiate curves or impairment.

Patrick highlighted that vulnerable users are overrepresented in serious crashes: bicycles and pedestrians comprise less than 2% of all crashes but about 9% of KSI crashes. The project’s first-round engagement produced 470 survey responses and 667 map pins; the top survey concern was missing or inadequate bikeways (44% listed), with speeding second (35%). The consultant described a countermeasure toolbox (rumble strips, shoulder widening, intersection improvements, roundabouts) and said staff have identified about 32 priority intersections and ~63 miles of segments to target.

Commissioners asked how the county would work with CDOT on state highways that account for many KSI locations; Patrick said CDOT is on the steering committee and recommended the county use the plan to pursue state and federal grant funding. Staff expect to wrap project prioritization this month and return to the public in August for a second round of outreach.

Next steps: finalize draft recommendations, pair countermeasures to priority locations, develop concept-level designs for the top projects, and prepare materials to pursue grant funding with CDOT coordination.