35th Avenue in Greeley Readies for $1 Million+ in Improvements

With Greeley being one of Colorado's fastest-growing cities, the roads become more and more busy; with that, they become apt for being dangerous. 35th Avenue is one of Greeley's heavily-traveled streets; what they'll be doing will make it much safer.

According to a press release from the City of Greeley, they are going to be putting an overall $1,510,619 into safety upgrades at four intersections along 35th Avenue:

• 35th at 16th.
• 35th at 20th.
• 35th at 22nd.
• 35th at 25t.

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Those familiar with Greeley will note that this area of 35th is near Greeley West High School, along with a few elementary schools such as James Madison; along with Westlake Village. The safety improvements will help pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, as 35th is one of the city's "high crash" corridors.

What Will the City of Greeley Be Doing at Those Intersections?

According to the City:

..better traffic signals, improved crosswalks, and upgraded lighting. Some locations will also get new technology to detect people crossing on foot, as well as changes to slow vehicle speeds.

I asked the City of Greeley what they meant by "changes to slow vehicle speeds," and they replied:

• Curb ramp reconstruction, which will tighten the turning radius at intersections.
• Median refuge islands added mid-crossing. Beyond giving pedestrians a safe place to pause, median refuges also prevent vehicles from winging wide and fast through a turn.
• Speed feedback signs that display drivers' speeds back to them, encouraging speed awareness and self-correction.

Our Vision Zero Action Plan shows that even modest speed reductions have a significant impact on outcomes for people walking and biking.

 

The risk of death roughly doubles with every 10 mph increase in speed, so slowing a turning vehicle from 30 mph to 20 mph might feel minor to a driver, but cuts the risk in half for the person in the crosswalk.

 

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Where Did the $1.5 Million+ Come From for the Project?

According to the City of Greeley, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and District 8 Congressman, Gabe Evans, requested the Federal funds on the city’s behalf, and received $850,000; the rest of the money came from Greeley's Transportation Development Fee fund.