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1. Can you help me out with a reference in the Town Code regarding the pedestrian warning lights such as those on Wilcox Street in the Downtown area?

Although there is no specific mention of our flashing beacon crosswalks in Town Code, our Traffic Engineering Division regularly references the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to determine their use and function.

Additionally, the Federal Highway Administration has approved the use of flashing beacon crosswalks as a supplemental treatment to improve the visibility of pedestrians trying to cross. The flashing lights inform drivers that there is a pedestrian present. This should raise drivers' awareness and their ability to yield, which is the State law in Colorado.

The Town has found that when using flashing beacon crosswalks, we improve the driver yield rate to over 90% of the time versus without, which is only about 50% of the time. Pedestrians need to make sure the driver is yielding to them before proceeding and to always proceed with caution. The section that references yielding is from the Colorado Model Traffic Code, which was adopted by the Town in the Town Municipal Code with a few exceptions and clarifications. For more information on the Model Traffic Code, reference Title 10 of Town Code.

2. Why are the striping on the roads not reflective?

The striping on all Town roads is painted with reflective material. The Public Works Department uses a contractor to paint and place reflective beads on our road markings to follow Colorado Department of Transportation specifications. To ensure Town striping is effective, Public Works completes a nighttime inspection at the beginning of the winter season to confirm that its reflective nature will last through the cold weather. Another layer of reflective paint striping is applied to our roads in early spring.

The lifespan of pavement markings can vary based on traffic volumes and weather conditions. If you have a certain spot of concern, please send the location to the Public Works Department by email or by calling 720-733-2462. The team would be happy to look into this further for you.

Published Dec. 14, 2022

3. Will the middle segment of Woodlands Boulevard ever be built?

Construction of the middle segment of Woodlands Boulevard is identified in the Town's Transportation Master Plan. The Town prioritizes roadway improvements based on the available budget. After the annual budget review, this construction project was not included in the Five Year Capital Improvement Program. This is mostly due to the undeveloped property that Woodlands Boulevard would need to pass through. If this property does not develop within either the Town or Douglas County, a future determination on the need for this improvement will be assessed. The property owners of this section of land have submitted a development application with Douglas County. The Town of Castle Rock is strongly opposing the application before the County. For more information on Douglas County development applications, visit the County web page regarding development review and regulations.

Published Aug. 12, 2022

4. Will there be plans to update the Wilcox Street/Wolfensberger Road and Interstate 25 intersection?

The Wilcox Street/Wolfensberger Road and Interstate 25 interchange is owned, operated and maintained by the Colorado Department of Transportation. However, Town staff is leading a Townwide signal system project that includes upgrading vehicle detection and retiming the traffic signals at this interchange. The vehicle detection was upgraded in April 2022, and the traffic signal retiming effort will begin in June 2022.

Published May 26, 2022

5. What process does the Town use to decide whether to install a stoplight or a roundabout at an intersection?

The Town reviews the need to install a traffic signal or roundabout at an intersection during the review of new development projects and for Town-initiated projects.

For new development areas, we ask developers to document traffic through a Traffic Impact Analysis to determine the best method of traffic control. Where the amount of vehicles is forecasted to be higher, roundabouts are the preferred option, due to the advantages they have over traffic signals related to safety and efficiency.

Roundabouts can reduce accidents and improve traffic flow at intersections. As a result, they are preferred to traffic signals or to four-way stop controls unless it can be demonstrated that a specific location is not a good candidate. View the at benefits of a roundabout.

Read more about the Town's process for installing traffic signals. The Town follows the national guidelines of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to meet the minimum requirements to install a traffic signal. This process includes an engineering evaluation called a Traffic Signal Warrant Study. These studies are conducted annually based on the Town's intersection watch list and changes in traffic volumes across the community. Intersections are also evaluated at least every two years as a part of the Town's Crash Facts Report, which determines locations across Town that would most benefit from safety improvements.

During the Town's engineering evaluation, the feasibility of installing a roundabout is considered. This evaluation includes an operational and safety analysis consisting of a review of crash history, pedestrian and bicycle safety, vehicle safety, available land use and overall benefit-to-cost analysis. Based on this portion of the analysis, the recommendation for installing a traffic signal versus a roundabout is made.

The Town strives for transparency when making traffic decisions. Typically, the Town will hold an open house or will seek community feedback through our website. This assists us in making a final decision.

Published May 17, 2022

6. Is there a plan to extend Prairie Hawk Drive to Plum Creek Parkway?

As part of our Transportation Master Plan (PDF), the Town is recommending to connect Prairie Hawk Drive and Plum Creek Parkway. This project would be in partnership with a future development, so timing is not yet determined.

7. Are there any plans to widen Wolfensberger from Red Hawk Drive to Coachline?

As part of our Transportation Master Plan and the Five Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP), the Town has plans to widen Wolfensberger Road. Currently, the design phase of the project is set to begin in 2022. If land acquisition is needed, design may extend to 2023, with construction set to begin in 2024. These timeframes are subject to change based on yearly updated revenue projections.

Updated Jan. 10, 2022

8. What is the plan for roadways in terms of fifth street and the traffic through downtown as it relates to the new developments up on ridge road and north of highway 86? It is already very congested,

and it would appear those 1200+units going in would make it very very difficult to navigate downtown. Will there be a bypass for those who live in downtown, terrain, etc?

The Town's Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is the document that provides a guide on how the Town will work to address the additional traffic from new development. The TMP projects what future traffic conditions are expected to be with the planned growth and then identifies what roadway projects will be needed to address congestion associated with that growth. A new bypass in the vicinity of Downtown Castle Rock is not a project in the current TMP. The recommended projects from the TMP are reviewed and prioritized each year based on the available funding. The highest priority projects are included in the Town's five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

Specifically regarding Downtown, the Town initiated the Downtown Mobility Master Plan in 2018 as a follow up to the TMP to plan for future growth and its impact on Downtown. The goal of the plan was to identify transportation improvement projects that maintain mobility, reduce congestion and improve access throughout Downtown. Several improvement projects have been identified in the report and will be implemented with other priorities in Town. This includes intersection improvements and bike and pedestrian improvements.

Some of the key recommendations identified as part of the Downtown Mobility Master Plan include a series of intersection improvements such as new roundabouts and new traffic control patterns. Similar to the larger TMP, all recommended capital projects identified in the Downtown Mobility Master Plan will need to be prioritized against other transportation needs.

Additionally, the Town is underway with a design to widen Fifth Street and add bike lanes and sidewalks in an effort to improve mobility along this corridor. Construction is expected to begin in 2023, according to the Town's Capital Improvement Program.

Updated Jan. 11, 2022

9. Is there a plan to make the city more accessible by walking/biking? We have a lot of sidewalks that end abruptly and bike lanes that go nowhere.

Our neighborhoods seem to be on their own little islands. Rec trails are great for families or walking the dog, but they don't allow people to get from A to B. I've seen the master plan documents, but it seems like CR is way behind the times when it comes to transportation and it seems to be getting worse as we expand without a comprehensive plan.

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding biking and walking in Town. The Town strongly supports being able to bike or walk to destinations in Town and surrounding communities. In 2017, the Transportation Master Plan was updated and is available to review on the Town's website. It shows the master planned vision which is our goal, and includes adding bike lanes and multi-use sidepaths (wide sidewalks) to a number of streets throughout Town. Wide sidepaths are wide enough to accommodate people walking or biking, which is especially important for adults or children who do not feel comfortable biking in the roadway. As guided by this plan, the Town is also constantly adding new on-street bike lanes every year as part of the Pavement Maintenance Program, which will add a new striped bike lane where one is planned and where pavement width permits. In some instances, new sidewalks will also be constructed as part of the annual Pavement Maintenance Program (PMP) work.

Updated Jan. 11, 2022

10. Why can't the traffic engineer time the lights so you don't have to stop at every red light. Founders is a mess.

Timing signals is an imperfect science, and in Castle Rock, managing that science is a partnership between the Town and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

CDOT owns and operates signals along U.S. Highway 85, including the segment between U.S. 85 and I-25 known as Meadows Parkway. The same is true for Founders Parkway, between I-25 and Fifth Street. Some signals are pre-programmed to go with the ebb and flow of traffic, based on traffic counts and patterns during certain times of the day.

Considering the level of growth and changing traffic patterns in and around Castle Rock, the Town and CDOT have regular discussions and review traffic operations. The Town is currently working with CDOT on two projects with the anticipated implementation date of spring 2022. One project is related to adaptive signal timing, which adjusts the signal timing based on real-time traffic needs, balancing the delay of all vehicles on the corridor. You can learn more about the Town's philosophy and how we measure this topic in our asset management plan on our website.

Updated Jan. 10, 2022

11. What road construction is happening in Castle Rock?

Generally speaking, the Town defines two types of roadwork: maintenance and capital improvement projects. For maintenance projects, the Town takes a strategic approach through the annual Pavement Maintenance Program. Neighborhood roadwork is concentrated to one of five areas of Town on a rotating basis. This maintenance extends the life of Town roads and helps the Town get the most out of its investment in infrastructure. Learn more and see when improvements are coming to your area. Capital improvement projects are those that address safety or congestion-related concerns. This work includes adding new lanes, improving intersections and more. Learn more about capital improvement projects and the pavement maintenance program.

View current lane and road closures.

Updated Feb. 9, 2021