Arvada press 0919

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September 19, 2013

A Colorado Community Media Publication

ourarvadanews.com

Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 9, Issue 17

welcoming fall with scarecrows 17th annual festival taps into spirit of season By Clarke Reader

creader@ourcoloradonews.com

Rainstorm drenches region Ralston Creek Trail was awash in rain water Friday, Sept. 13, west of Indiana Avenue, south 72nd Street. Photo by Mikkel Kelly

Clean-up costs not yet assessed By Amy Woodward

awoodward@ourcoloradonews.com Days after torrential rains and flooding hit Jefferson County, the region is still recovering, with several municipalities now surveying the damage. Several schools across Jefferson County remained closed on Monday, Sept. 16, with most closures located in Evergreen and in the Coal Creek Canyon area. As of Monday, Sept. 16, at 12:30 p.m. road closures include: Interstate 70 eastbound off-ramp to Quebec Street; U.S. 40 at Floyd Hill (MP 269.5 to 270.5); SH 44 (104th Avenue) between Brighton Road and McKay Road; SH 72 (Indiana Street) between 72nd Avenue and 80th Avenue; and SH 72 between SH 93 and SH 119 in Coal Creek Canyon

Arvada

The flood waters impacted Arvada on several fronts, Storm continues on Page 24

The Clear Creek RV park was evacuated on Sept. 13 due to flooding conditions. The banks filled up although creek paths are still open. Photo by Amy Woodward

Straw men will be taking over Olde Town Arvada once again for the 17th annual Festival of Scarecrows. The free event will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, and include not only a variety of festively decorated scarecrows, but more than 40 community booths and activities for all ages. “The festival was originally started by merchants in olde town, and we joined a few years later,” said Judith Denham, a member of the Arvada Festivals Commission. “We love festivals and have been working with the merchants every year since.” Denham said the fall event has grown every year, with around 1,500 to 2,000 people taking part in last year’s festival. The event is put on by the Festivals Commission, Olde Town Arvada and the Arvada Gardeners. As the name implies, the festival is all about the scarecrows. Businesses, individuals and other organizations can enter a decorated scarecrow into the contest with a $20 entry fee and completed application. “We have seen scarecrows dressed up in all sorts of things,” Denham said. “We have judges who award prizes in a variety of different categories, and it’s always great to see what people come up with.” The scarecrows aren’t the only contest going on at the festival. There is a decorated pumpkin (no carving) contest that people can enter for free, just with a completed application. “We have four new activities this year, in addition to favorites like the children’s costume parade, hayrides and children’s maze,” Denham said. Scarecrow continues on Page 23

Study continues for ‘Western Beltway’ Public sees tolling as a funding option for project By Amy Woodward

awoodward@ourcoloradonews.com Jeffco engineers have pieced together the Western Beltway in increments for the past 45 years. As the project circles back to the west, developers had an open house on Sept. 10 at the Jeffco Fairgrounds, showcasing the history and progression of the transportation project, and inviting public feedback on possible funding options for the remaining segments. Although the segments are still in the planning phase, the four portions left to discuss, design, and construct are the Interlocken Loop; the Jefferson Parkway; Highway 93 to the northern limits of Golden and its continuation to U.S. 6 in Golden. Open house visitors got a chance to

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StatuS on widening C-470 Corridor The C-470 Corridor Coalition Policy Committee unanimously approved a tolled express lane option during improvements to the 13-mile stretch of the highway between Interstate 25 and Kipling Street. Finalizing the design, calculating costs and pursuing funding opportunities are some of the next steps that will be taken by the committee. weigh in on potential funding options like increased property tax, sales tax, and license plate fees. One option that received the most votes was funding through tolling, with increased license plate fees coming in a close second, and a tolled managed lane in third. “It’s going to happen,” Rex Davis of unincorporated Jeffco said about the WestConnect project. “The thing we can only do is ensure it happens in a good manner,” with little impact on residents.” An agreement was made earlier this year between CDOT and the city of Golden to relocate Highway 93 to the west so its alignment is consistent with Golden’s desire to maintain current speed limits, develop structures to help mitigate noise, and provide opportunities for pedestrian crossing. As the city and county continue to work

Rex Davis of unincorporated Jeffco leaves his feedback on several funding options for the last remaining segments of the WestConnect project at the open house on Sept. 10 at Jeffco Fairgrounds. Photo by Amy Woodward together, there is still one more issue facing Golden: The impact a toll funded highway will have on Golden’s city streets. Traffic in the city could increase should commuters decide to use “side streets” as a way to avoid toll costs. “Implementation of any tolling option,

all-toll or managed lanes, can have several positive and negative aspects,” Kevin French transportation and engineering director for Jeffco said. “One negative aspect is the shifting of Beltway continues on Page 23


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