Show All Answers

1. 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 benefits of a roundabout at CRgov.com/Roundabouts.

Read more about the Town’s process for installing traffic signals at CRgov.com/TrafficSignals. 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

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

As part of our Transportation Master Plan, 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 multiuse 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

6. 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 owns and operates signals along US 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

7. 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 at CRgov.com/PMP. 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)