October 29, 2020
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
CastlePinesNewsPress.net
VOLUME 8 | ISSUE 12
Town OKs road map for transit options Plan has no funding, aims to be a ‘practical blueprint’ for future transit BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Jessica Moore, of Castle Rock, drops off her ballot at a walk-up location at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in town. PHOTO BY JESSICA GIBBS
Voter turnout rises in Douglas County That’s due in part to ballots going out earlier, officials say BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Douglas County is seeing a higher volume of ballots cast compared to the same period in 2016, according to county officials. As of Oct. 23, about 58,500 more ballots had been returned in Douglas County compared to the same period in 2016, said county Clerk and Recorder Merlin Klotz. “Volume is higher, there’s no SEE TURNOUT, P6
REGISTRATION BY CITY IN DOUGLAS COUNTY
Party registration by community Here is a breakdown of the voter registration figures in the most populous communities in Douglas County as of Oct. 21, according to numbers compiled by the county: REPUBLICAN
DEMOCRAT
UNAFFILIATED
Castle Pines
41.9%
19.2%
37.9%
Castle Rock
41.0%
17.8%
39.5%
Highlands Ranch
35.2%
22.8%
40.7%
Lone Tree
37.1%
21.9%
39.8%
Greater Parker area
38.4%
19.4%
40.8%
COUNTY TOTALS
38.2%
19.6%
40.8%
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 20
Castle Rock now has a road map for bringing transit options to town in future years, although none of the plans are funded and it will be up to the town council to prioritize if, how and when the proposals are implemented. The town council unanimously approved the Castle Rock Transit Feasibility Study on Oct. 20. The study, a year in the making, lays out what forms of transit town staff would recommend for Castle Rock and how to phase the different modes of transit into town services if the town council chooses to pursue them. There is no funding in the 2021 budget for any of the study’s plans, nor is there any in the town’s five-year capital improvement plan. “This feasibility study’s goal was to provide a practical blueprint for transit in Castle Rock,” Public Works Director Dan Sailer said. Tom Reiff, the town’s transportation planner, said the study found transit would help the town serve vulnerable populations, improve connectivity throughout the region, support the local economy and support the town’s population growth. SEE TRANSIT, P15