March 26, 2015 VOLU M E 1 49 | I S S UE 1 6 | 5 0 ¢
GoldenTranscript.net J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Heritage Road says goodbye to traffic signals Two roundabouts will be installed as part of city trend By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com The Heritage Road Improvements Project will commence in the following weeks, causing road closures and detours that will impact commutes. On Tuesday, March 31 at 6 p.m. at Shelton Elementary at 420 Crawford St., a public meeting will be held to discuss phasing plans
for the project that starts at Eagle Ridge Road and ends at Berthoud Way. The project will include the construction of two roundabouts, one at Eagle Ridge Drive and another at Fourth Street to replace existing traffic signals. Continue reading to learn more about Golden’s history with roundabouts. You can follow Public Works on Twitter @GoldenPW for updates on the Heritage Road Improvement Project and to receive immediate road closure announcements.
Roundabouts in Golden
How to use a roundabout
• South Golden Road and Ulysses Street, 1999 • Next three on South Golden Road, 2000 • Illinois Street, 2003 • Ford Street near Golden High School, 2008 • Heritage Road and Kimball, 2015 • Eagle Ridge Road, coming soon
• Yield to drivers in a roundabout • Look left for oncoming traffic • Do not stop in a roundabout • Look for pedestrians and use a turn signal when exiting a roundabout • Roundabouts can accommodate larger vehicles by drivers utilizing the “truck apron” or a raised section of pavement around the central island. The apron is meant to be driven on to help with tight turns • Splitter islands or curbs may also be used to assist in tight turns as the curves are not vertical • Central islands are usually filled with trees or statutes to prevent the driver from seeing across the traffic circle “Part of keeping things slow is by not letting you see more than you need and to have you focus where you need to focus,” said Dan Hartman, public works director.
Why the city likes them • Safety, including a sharp decrease in accident rates • Golden conducted a three-year study at South Golden Road before a roundabout was installed. After its construction, the city continued its study for five years. Results show 68 percent fewer accidents after the roundabouts were installed • Slower speeds that also result in less severe accidents. “You have less property damage, you have less injury accidents, and so the level of accidents — the trauma, the property damage — is way reduced,” Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick said. “So, my belief is it’s been a much better solution.”
Courtesy graphic
Bestor wishes city the best POSTAL ADDRESS
Outbound city manager says he tried to leave Golden in better shape than when he found it By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com
(ISSN 0746-6382)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Golden Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCI AL WITH US
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GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT
In what was his last State of the City address, City Manager Mike Bestor, gave a summation of the city’s accomplishments in 2014, with a synopsis of some of Golden’s future projects, all delivered to the audience in Bestor’s signature repartee. “You’re going to have a good discussion over the next two, three, four years about parking policies. I believe that we need to migrate towards paid parking,” Bestor said at the March 19 event. “I’m sure we can work it out — I’m sure you can work it out.” The Economic Development Commission, directed by Steve Glueck, received a $2.7 million grant from DRCOG to redesign Washington Ave., from Highway 58 to Highway 93, Bestor announced. “We’re going to have sidewalks, and bike lanes and we’re going to make it very, very attractive,” Bestor said, adding that the project will start in 2016 or 2017. “I am seriously very proud of what’s happened in this city over the last two years, the one thing in my business that’s in most of yours is that you try to leave it better than you found it, and I think I can definitely say that I did that,” Bestor said. “Golden is in such great financial shape, our infrastructure is well-maintained — up-to-date, our vehicle fleet, all of our equipment everything is up-to-date.” Business expansions and housing developments have helped attract tourism and new residents, which contribute to the city’s economic stability and vitality. “We seem to be growing in a really healthy way, I think that we still hold on to the small town and yet at the same time we have so much business growth happening,” said Councilor Pamela Gould. Last year, City Council set their priorities
Donald Tallman, executive director of the Colorado Railroad Museum, speaks with Mayor Sloan before the State of the City annual address. City Manager Mike Bestor gave his last speech on the State of the City and he didn’t hold back with his traditional wisecracks about city staff. Photo by Amy Woodward to building a healthy community. The rejection of retail marijuana and the passing of a smoking ordinance along Washington Ave., which took effect in January, have contributed to those goals. “We have several projects in the works that will be continuing to work on council priorities,” said Councilor Pamela Gould. Mayor Marjorie Sloan said she agreed with Bestor’s assessment of the city but the challenge that lies ahead is finding a new city manager after Bestor announced his retirement last month. “That’s the task that’s looming right now,” Mayor Sloan said.º
I am seriously very proud of what’s happened in this city over the last two years. Mike Bestor, outbound Golden city manager