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Public comment sought on Parker Road improvements

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Contributed by: Kevin Hamm/YourHub.com on 8/19/2008

The third public meeting concerning improvements to the Parker Road corridor will take place Aug. 21.

The study is examining the eight-mile stretch of Parker Road from Hampden Avenue to E-470. The goal of the 18-month study is to provide a blueprint for city and county planners as development and traffic along the road increases.

According to figures from David Evans and Associates, the company doing the study, traffic along Parker road could double by 2035 if no improvements are undertaken.

During the first two meetings about the corridor, the public was invited to give input about improvements they would like to see made to the road, including everything from mass transit to bicycles and pedestrian access. Those suggestions have been narrowed down, said Joe Hart, the project manager for the study, and the public is invited to comment on them at the meeting.

One of the busiest intersections on that stretch of Parker Road is the Quincy Road intersection.

"It's got an incredibly high volume of traffic," Hart said. "That's one of the locations we're recommending a grade separation. There's really not much more you can do."

A grade separation involves one road being elevated above the other so no traffic signal is required, such as at the Parker Road and Hampden Avenue intersection.

Arapahoe Road is actually the busiest intersection along that stretch of Parker Road, but a separate study has already been completed for it. It will involve a grade separation as well.

Another area of concern along Parker Road is Broncos Parkway. Hart said the traffic along it is rapidly increasing, partly due to people avoiding the congestion on Arapahoe Road.

In addition to the public's suggestions, the cities of Aurora and Centennial, and Arapahoe and Douglas counties are giving input for the study.

Hart said one concern expressed by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office is that with grade separations, there won't be traffic signals to slow people down and the road might turn into a freeway.

"I think there's ways it could be reconstructed to make it function more efficiently but also look aesthetically pleasing and help keep the speed limits down," he said.

Mac Callison, Aurora's transportation planning supervisor, agrees that Quincy Avenue is in need of the most attention given the volume of traffic on it.

The city's main concerns with any recommendations are how pedestrians are accommodated, noise is mitigated and how mass transit is incorporated into the plan, Callison said. He also said the city is very mindful of how any improvements to the corridor impact Cherry Creek State Park.

David Evans and Associates plans to have its recommendations for the Parker Road corridor to the government agencies by early 2009. Then it's up to the agencies whether to adopt the recommendations and incorporate them into their transportation master plans so they have a blueprint for when development occurs.

"There are lots of bits and pieces to the project," Hart said. "Collectively, it could be a substantial improvement to the traveling public. We're looking at 20 year travel forecasts - that's where the need is."

The study is being paid for mainly with federal funds, with the remainder shared between Arapahoe County, Douglas County and the city of Aurora

No funding has been identified for the yet-to-be recommended improvements, but when the time comes, the agencies will work with the Denver Regional Council of Governments to secure federal and local funding for the roadwork.

The public meeting is scheduled from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Shalom Park Retirement Community Meeting Room, 14800 E. Belleview Ave. (behind the Goodwill on Parker/Belleview). Exhibits will be posted in an open house format from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and there will be a brief presentation by the project team at 6 p.m.

More information can be found at the Web site set up for the Parker Road corridor study at www.parkerroadcorridor.com.

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