SANA's Work on Traffic Issues
Committee's Origins and Purpose
Following a series of serious accidents in our peaceful neighborhood, SANA held an urgent meeting to discuss traffic concerns and possible solutions. Attendees included members, concerned neighbors, Good Shepherd School parents and others. Also in attendance were Councilman Wayne New, State Representative Lois Court, a City of Denver Traffic Engineer, and two officers from the Denver Police Department.
Immediate ActionFollowing the meeting, a Traffic Committee was established to work with Councilman New and Denver Traffic Engineering to address our traffic concern. Specifically, the Committee is developing a clear list of prioritized concerns and a robust list of potential short- and long-term solutions.
|
Productive SolutionsMany of the ideas we collected from our neighbors and committee members, and incorporated into the Committee's recommendations document, are supported with research and recommendations from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), as well as case studies on what has worked well in municipalities across the country.
|
Next Steps and ExpectationsThe next step both traffic engineering and Councilman New have agreed to is to walk the parkway with a select group of committee members in an attempt to better understand the issues. Traffic management has also requested a list of recommendations, such as locations for additional measurement (average speed, car counters, etc), which the committee had submitted.
|
Update as of April 2018
From Jorge Castillo, Chair of SANA's Traffic Committee:
Before the 2/22/18 crash at 7th and Downing, but especially since then, numerous persons from the neighborhood have commented on the traffic problems and have proposed solutions to them.
On behalf of SANA I’ve been in touch with the City Traffic Engineer’s office and with the neighborhood enforcement teams.
The main problems that attract the attention of our public have been the traffic light timing and accidents at the intersections of 8th avenue with York and Josephine, speeding on 7th Avenue, the running of stop signs along 7th avenue, motorists use of side streets to cut through to 7th avenue from 6th and 8th avenues, speeding along the parkway and bike safety.
The solutions proposed by persons who live in the neighborhood include:
Some of the problems fall within the jurisdiction of the city Traffic Engineer and others under the Police Department through its Neighborhood Enforcement Teams. The enforcement teams are swamped.
So here is a summary of what is being done:
TRAFFIC LIGHT TIMING AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF 8TH AVENUE WITH YORK AND JOSEPHINE. The City is aware of the problem with the Josephine light turning green before the York light turns green. In an effort to solve it, the City recently installed new traffic lights a those intersections. It is in the process of adjusting the timing of those lights and is seeking input from persons who live in the areas adjacent to the intersections in issue as to how the timing is working and what changes should be made. When I told the Traffic Engineers’ representative of the concerns that Kirstin made me aware of, he promised to pass them on to the persons who are dealing with the timing of the lights. I’m satisfied that he has done just that or will do it in the very near future.
PLACING STOP SIGNS EVERY TWO BLOCKS ON 7TH AVENUE AND PLACING STOP SIGNS AT EVERY INTERSECTION ALONG 7TH AVENUE. The City claims that all the studies written about stop signs at
every intersection on a street like 7th avenue have shown that practice as resulting in a significant increase in the number of motorists who disregard to stop signs by not stopping or do only rolling stops.
Apparently in areas of heavier traffic (e.g., 3rd avenue in Cherry Creek) , the result may be different because the sheer number of cars limits a motorist’s ability to disregard the stop signs. So, bottom line is that the City will no consider a stop sign at every intersection on 7th Avenue.
On the other hand, the City is amenable to considering a stop sign every two blocks, with a caveat: the City does not want to have a stop sign at T-intersections because it thinks that motorists that come up to the T intersection from the north or the south are used to stop and to realize that the through street traffic has the right of way. The City also wants to avoid the backing up of 7th Avenue westbound traffic from Colorado Boulevard. Nevertheless, the City will shortly undertake to measure traffic volume and accidents on 7th at the Garfield, Jackson and Harrison intersections to determine whether placing stop signs every two blocks in that portion of 7th would lead to the stacking of westbound traffic from Colorado Boulevard. If the data justifies it, the City is amenable to placing stop signs every two blocks on that part of the parkway as it does on the portion of the road to the west).
PLACING COUNT DOWN CLOCKS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF 7TH AVENUE WITH YORK AND JOSEPHINE. Both intersections will soon have bigger traffic lights that are easier to see. The Josephine intersection has count down clocks that show the pulsating red hand after the white walk light goes off. The new light at York is supposed to have a countdown clock, but I have not been able to find out what kind.
INSTALLATION OF SPEED BUMPS. Because of the maintenance problems that they bring and because they damage cars whose owners then blame it, the City will not consider speed bumps.
MARKING AS PRIVATE THE STREETS THAT RUN FROM 6TH AVENUE TO 7TH AVENUE AND 8TH .
The City is not inclined to mark any of the side streets that connect 6th avenue to 7th Avenue or 8th to 7th private. It reasons that the congestion that makes peak traffic motorists go from 6th avenue to 7th avenue is not solved by keeping them on 6th avenue. Also, for the designation of a street as private to work, it requires the use of physical barriers that apply to everybody. In any event, the City will not designate any of the connecting streets as private ones.
PROVIDING BETTER SIGNAGE. The City believes that the signs within the SANA boundaries are adequate but s willing to consider changes based on specific objections.
STEPPING UP THE POLICE PRESENCE, INCREASED USE OF SPEED MONITORS. These two proposed solutions are crucial to the improvement of traffic conditions in the SANA area. The placing of speed monitors and the presence of uniformed officers and police cars in strategic portions of 7th Avenue would create at least a suspicion that 7th Avenue is a big speed trap. Those two areas fall within the jurisdiction of the police Department’s Enforcement Teams. The enforcement teams are swamped (the receptionist told me not to hold my breath because they are very busy. She records complaints all day long. They add to the work load, but the number of officers in the enforcement teams is static, it does not increase with the work load. Your turn will come, she said, but be patient. From my conversations with those folks I believe that when our turn comes, the Enforcement Team assigned to us will provide a greater police presence and more speed monitors, at least for a while. But for that we’ll have to wait.
Before the 2/22/18 crash at 7th and Downing, but especially since then, numerous persons from the neighborhood have commented on the traffic problems and have proposed solutions to them.
On behalf of SANA I’ve been in touch with the City Traffic Engineer’s office and with the neighborhood enforcement teams.
The main problems that attract the attention of our public have been the traffic light timing and accidents at the intersections of 8th avenue with York and Josephine, speeding on 7th Avenue, the running of stop signs along 7th avenue, motorists use of side streets to cut through to 7th avenue from 6th and 8th avenues, speeding along the parkway and bike safety.
The solutions proposed by persons who live in the neighborhood include:
- Changing the traffic lights timing at the intersections of 8th avenue with York and Josephine
- Placing stop signs every two blocks on 7th avenue, placing stop signs at every intersection along 7th avenue
- Placing countdown clocks at the intersections of 7th avenue with York and Josephine
- Installation of speed bumps
- Marking as "private" the streets that run from 6th avenue to 7th avenue and 8th
- Providing better signage
- Stepping up the police presence, and
- Increased use of speed monitors
Some of the problems fall within the jurisdiction of the city Traffic Engineer and others under the Police Department through its Neighborhood Enforcement Teams. The enforcement teams are swamped.
So here is a summary of what is being done:
TRAFFIC LIGHT TIMING AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF 8TH AVENUE WITH YORK AND JOSEPHINE. The City is aware of the problem with the Josephine light turning green before the York light turns green. In an effort to solve it, the City recently installed new traffic lights a those intersections. It is in the process of adjusting the timing of those lights and is seeking input from persons who live in the areas adjacent to the intersections in issue as to how the timing is working and what changes should be made. When I told the Traffic Engineers’ representative of the concerns that Kirstin made me aware of, he promised to pass them on to the persons who are dealing with the timing of the lights. I’m satisfied that he has done just that or will do it in the very near future.
PLACING STOP SIGNS EVERY TWO BLOCKS ON 7TH AVENUE AND PLACING STOP SIGNS AT EVERY INTERSECTION ALONG 7TH AVENUE. The City claims that all the studies written about stop signs at
every intersection on a street like 7th avenue have shown that practice as resulting in a significant increase in the number of motorists who disregard to stop signs by not stopping or do only rolling stops.
Apparently in areas of heavier traffic (e.g., 3rd avenue in Cherry Creek) , the result may be different because the sheer number of cars limits a motorist’s ability to disregard the stop signs. So, bottom line is that the City will no consider a stop sign at every intersection on 7th Avenue.
On the other hand, the City is amenable to considering a stop sign every two blocks, with a caveat: the City does not want to have a stop sign at T-intersections because it thinks that motorists that come up to the T intersection from the north or the south are used to stop and to realize that the through street traffic has the right of way. The City also wants to avoid the backing up of 7th Avenue westbound traffic from Colorado Boulevard. Nevertheless, the City will shortly undertake to measure traffic volume and accidents on 7th at the Garfield, Jackson and Harrison intersections to determine whether placing stop signs every two blocks in that portion of 7th would lead to the stacking of westbound traffic from Colorado Boulevard. If the data justifies it, the City is amenable to placing stop signs every two blocks on that part of the parkway as it does on the portion of the road to the west).
PLACING COUNT DOWN CLOCKS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF 7TH AVENUE WITH YORK AND JOSEPHINE. Both intersections will soon have bigger traffic lights that are easier to see. The Josephine intersection has count down clocks that show the pulsating red hand after the white walk light goes off. The new light at York is supposed to have a countdown clock, but I have not been able to find out what kind.
INSTALLATION OF SPEED BUMPS. Because of the maintenance problems that they bring and because they damage cars whose owners then blame it, the City will not consider speed bumps.
MARKING AS PRIVATE THE STREETS THAT RUN FROM 6TH AVENUE TO 7TH AVENUE AND 8TH .
The City is not inclined to mark any of the side streets that connect 6th avenue to 7th Avenue or 8th to 7th private. It reasons that the congestion that makes peak traffic motorists go from 6th avenue to 7th avenue is not solved by keeping them on 6th avenue. Also, for the designation of a street as private to work, it requires the use of physical barriers that apply to everybody. In any event, the City will not designate any of the connecting streets as private ones.
PROVIDING BETTER SIGNAGE. The City believes that the signs within the SANA boundaries are adequate but s willing to consider changes based on specific objections.
STEPPING UP THE POLICE PRESENCE, INCREASED USE OF SPEED MONITORS. These two proposed solutions are crucial to the improvement of traffic conditions in the SANA area. The placing of speed monitors and the presence of uniformed officers and police cars in strategic portions of 7th Avenue would create at least a suspicion that 7th Avenue is a big speed trap. Those two areas fall within the jurisdiction of the police Department’s Enforcement Teams. The enforcement teams are swamped (the receptionist told me not to hold my breath because they are very busy. She records complaints all day long. They add to the work load, but the number of officers in the enforcement teams is static, it does not increase with the work load. Your turn will come, she said, but be patient. From my conversations with those folks I believe that when our turn comes, the Enforcement Team assigned to us will provide a greater police presence and more speed monitors, at least for a while. But for that we’ll have to wait.
Update as of July 13, 2016
During the July 13th Semiannual Meeting, Steven Floyd, head of SANA's Traffic Committee, provided a full update on the results of the Traffic Engineering report and on SANA's four key requests to the city. If you weren't able to make the meeting or if you have any questions, please contact us.
Update as of April 30, 2016
The City of Denver's Traffic Engineering Department executed a series of traffic studies on the Parkway, and the testing has now been completed. We are waiting on the city to issue a report on their findings, which should occur by mid May at the latest. After SANA receives final report, the SANA traffic committee will do a comprehensive review of the entire process and the results. They will make this available to the residents in our neighborhood.
The test results that the SANA traffic committee have seen thus far indicate the traffic issues on 7th Avenue Parkway are not as problematic as in other areas of the city. The initial speed tests, which were executed by the Denver Police Department, found that the vast majority of cars traveling down 7th Ave. were going at or below the posted speed limit.
In response to SANA residents' requests, Denver Police Department has increased its presence on the Parkway, resulting in increased enforcement of the traffic laws, especially those drivers who are failing to stop at each stop sign.
Councilman New, and the Traffic Engineering department have been extremely supportive and helpful throughout this entire process. They have really gone above and beyond to assist the committee with every issue. Thank you from SANA!
The test results that the SANA traffic committee have seen thus far indicate the traffic issues on 7th Avenue Parkway are not as problematic as in other areas of the city. The initial speed tests, which were executed by the Denver Police Department, found that the vast majority of cars traveling down 7th Ave. were going at or below the posted speed limit.
In response to SANA residents' requests, Denver Police Department has increased its presence on the Parkway, resulting in increased enforcement of the traffic laws, especially those drivers who are failing to stop at each stop sign.
Councilman New, and the Traffic Engineering department have been extremely supportive and helpful throughout this entire process. They have really gone above and beyond to assist the committee with every issue. Thank you from SANA!
