Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Can something temporary be installed now to help calm traffic and make a safer crossing?

Appropriate temporary and permanent solutions are being implemented. Options include:

• Additional intersection and pedestrian crossing signs, including a flashing pedestrian crossing sign
• A speed radar sign with flashing lights

2. What about the other intersections along Candelas Parkway that are still being studied?

We have heard additional concerns at other intersections, particularly near the businesses at the other end of the Parkway near 91st Drive. The City will continue to monitor the safety for pedestrian crossing in this area and provide any interim solutions that may be deemed appropriate.

3. Why is the signal installation going to take so long? Is there any way to speed it up?

The lead time for ordering a traffic signal is between 6 to 8 months. Every traffic signal has to be designed specifically for that intersection based on the design of the road. Even once the signal is designed it can take 12 to 16 months to get the signal ordered and installed.

4. How will the signal work?

Update 11/8/23: The plan for the signal has been updated to install the full traffic signal that will operate in flash. The east / west signal will operate with a yellow-flash and north / south signal will operate with a red-flash. When a pedestrian arrives at the intersection they can push the button to cross. The signal will turn to solid red in the appropriate directions allowing the pedestrian to cross. Once the light turns back to the flashing mode vehicle traffic can begin moving again.

5. How does the City decide what types of traffic control to implement where?

The type of traffic control employed at an intersection is determined through a traffic impact study. This process considers a variety of factors, including traffic (motorized and non-motorized) demand, traffic safety, and intersection operations and function within the entire City transportation system. 

The City of Arvada engineering standards provide the framework for this industry-standard traffic impact study. The framework is flexible for the City Traffic Engineer to accommodate the variables involved in determining the most efficient, effective, and safe traffic control at each unique intersection.

As communities, like those in the Candelas area, continue to develop the traffic control may need to be periodically assessed and updated as the population and associated motorized and non-motorized traffic in an area increases to ensure safe and efficient traffic operations. What may be needed when a development is first built may change as more homes and businesses are added in the area.

6. How is the City involved in the development of an area and impacts on traffic demand?

When development is proposed it goes through a process with the City through both internal teams and City Council for approval. This process requires developers to complete traffic studies on existing traffic demand and projections for future traffic demands once the project is complete and even 10 to 20 years into the future. 

The City holds developers accountable for building the appropriate infrastructure for the proposed plans and any impacts to traffic demands through that area.

 

However, these developers can only be held accountable to the areas they are directly impacting. This is why the City has decided to study the entire Candelas Parkway corridor, as studies up to this point may have been limited to various sections on the corridor and may not have taken a recent, holistic view of the area.

7. What is the process for re-evaluating the needs of intersections?

The recommendations from the traffic impact study, the possible impacts from the surrounding developments, ongoing feedback from the community members and law enforcement officials, and the crash history are the factors that help the City assess the potential intersection improvements for an intersection.

8. Are there any other traffic studies in the area?

The City requires each developer to submit a traffic study detailing the impacts of traffic from their development. These studies are prepared by a professional engineer and reviewed by City staff. These studies can be found associated with each development in our permit system at arvadapermits.org.