We had our first "Traffic & Safety" Action Committee meeting this month. For those of you who attended -- thanks; Linda D. has written up the outline from the meeting we'll get that out to you in a day or two. If you have previously volunteered for this committee, we have you on the list and will invite you to the next meeting. If you haven't already volunteered but would like to, send an email to [traffic@cpnhoa.org] or call (303) 265-9306.

We're planning a followup meeting with county staff -- if you're interested in attending, pencil in the evening of Thursday, April 5 on your calendar -- we're checking to see if the county folks can make that date.

Douglas County is beginning the work to install two traffic lights on Castle Pines Parkway, expecting to be completed by early summer. There is a huge lead time involved in this process in getting the signal poles ordered.

• one at Charter Oaks (across from the Village Square commercial center) The grocery store developers say they will have this installed by the time their store(s) open.
• one at Monarch Blvd.

This is a several month process, the County is projecting completion by summer 2001.

There are some neighborhood residents working on a Speedwatch program in CPN. If you are interested in volunteering, send an email to traffic@cpnhoa.org.

In other traffic news, the County is out looking at areas that need traffic signals. Join our Action Committee to work with the County on signals, speeding and other traffice and pedestrian issues

Planning has begun for what additional transportaion improvements would be needed to meet traffic needs over the next 20 years, (Linda Nuzum has been participating on the study committee).

Discussions of I-25 needs by the Year 2020 include adding another lane, so that there would be 8 lanes total between Lincoln and Meadows/Founders (the current construction project is being designed with this possibility in mind). Also under consideration is to at least preserve the right-of-way for future transit (light rail or buses; park-and-ride facilities that include one immediately to the east of the CPN exit).

Even if all these improvements are made by the Year 2020, Douglas County population is expected to grow to the point that I-25 congestion will remain a problem — with these current times looking like the good old days. It becomes imperative to look at having alternate routes.

Highlights from the committees that include government agencies, county residents and interest groupd begun in 1999 (including our representative Linda Nuzum) include the following visions. There are still many steps before finalizing plans including public comments, environmental clearance and funding. But here goes:

Highways:
I-25: Eight lanes, C-470 to Castle Rock
U.S. 85: Four lanes, Highlands Ranch Parkway to Castle Rock
Relocate the southern end of US 85 to join I-25 south of Castle Rock rather than north of it
Interchange improvements
Various "management" measures, such as improving response times for clearing accidents.

Transit:
Ultimately, Light Rail from the future southeast corridor transit station near C-470 and I-25 to downtown Castle Rock. Political realities mean this would come later than 2020.
Possibly a Front Range rail system that would go from Northern Colorado to Colorado Springs or further south - this would use trains that could follow the path of US 85 from Castle Rock into Denver.
Bus Service as a "demonstration" of transit usage and as a "feeder" to other transit lines.
In the interim, preserve the right-of-way for future rail options.

Douglas County would need to resolve the issue of responsibility and funding for transit; most of the county does not belong to the Regional Transportation District.

Park-and-Ride:
Park-and-ride lots along I-25, including one east of the Castle Pines Parkway/I-25 interchange.
A park-and-ride for U.S. 85 at Highlands Ranch Parkway.

Other Planning Considerations include:
Considerations for sound impact on residential areas near the highways.
A "wildlife friendly design" for all improvements, particularly in the areas west of U.S. 85.

Bus Service has been suggested as a "demonstration" of transit usage and as a "feeder" to other transit lines. The Regional Transportion District plans to start bus service from Highlands Ranch Parkway to Mineral Avenue to work with the Sante Fe light-rail service.

Douglas County would need to resolve the issue of responsibility and funding for transit; most of the county does not belong to the Regional Transportation District.

There are no immediate plans to pave the length of Daniels Park Road. Douglas county expects that some of the traffic currently using Daniels Park Road will shift to Monarch-to-Quebec once that segment is contructed and they will delay any plans for paving until the need is determined and issues are resolved.

The northern-most mile or so of Daniels Park Road (near its current intersection with Wildcat Reserve Parkway, just north of McArthur Ranch Road) will end up being paved as homes are constructed in that area. The road will be re-aligned so the access from the north will be changed (once again). This is expected to happen in 2000.

The area between the south end of Highlands Ranch and the eventual north end of CPN (near the power lines that cross the road) is a large stretch of Open Space — there will never be homes or commercial building, but there will be some public and recreational uses (such as parks and schools). At some point, this section will probably be paved.

Just south of the power lines, the Road goes through the park, crosses Castle Pines Parkway and continues south to US 85. There are a number of political, environmental, and engineering challenges associated with any plans to pave this remaining section of the road.

Using Daniels Park Road
The County is planning on using road alignments and signage to discourage use of the road through Daniels Park. Travelers coming from Highlands Ranch would be guided toward the road through Romar West and travelers coming north from US 85 would be guided toward Castle Pines Parkway.

Last year's proposal to utilize Forest Park Drive for a Castle Pines Village "north gate" are tentatively resolved. Many CPN residents recall the proposal for new homes in the northern section of Castle Pines Village (Filings 27 and 28) to use Forest Park Drive as an access to the Village.

The developer has now submitted a revised proposal which DOES NOT include the Forest Park connection. Instead, they will design the development to eventually create a North Gate from Castle Pines Village that would exit to the Legae Ranch (details of which are not yet worked out)

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