Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: What are the plans for improvement to Arapahoe and Parker?
A: The Arapahoe Road/Parker Road interchange project is a separate CDOT project now underway. The project will include interchange final design, right of way acquisition, and phased implementation of improvements (ring road, Arapahoe widening east of Parker Road to Lewiston, storm sewer construction, ramps, bridge). CDOT and Arapahoe County continue to pursue funds to cover the entire cost of the project. The plan is for Parker Road to cross over Arapahoe Road.
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Q: Will future development plans be coordinated with improvement alternatives that will be identified in the Parker Road Corridor Study?
A: This study will provide the County and adjoining city governments the opportunity to preserve right of way for future transportation improvements through their land planning and development approval processes. An example of this is the ROW preservation that the City of Aurora facilitated with the development at the northeast corner of the Arapahoe Road/Parker Road intersection. Based on the recommended interchange improvements from the Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment completed in the late 1990's, the City of Aurora was able to preserve right of way on that corner for the future interchange configuration, while allowing the development to proceed.
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Q: Will this study consider interchanges at major intersections along Parker Road?
A: Grade separations of high volume traffic movements at major intersections may be considered. Grade separations to be considered may be similar to the recent improvements along Parker Road between I-225 and Hampden Avenue.
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Q: Are the project's TAC & EC meetings open for public attendance?
A: This is a publicly-funded project, and all meetings are open to the public. Although meeting agendas do not include public input/participation, public attendees can observe and listen to committee discussion.
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Q: Will mitigation of traffic noise be considered?
A: Yes. The environmental overview portion of this study will consider noise mitigation options that could be implemented in conjunction with future roadway or intersection improvements. This Corridor Study will make prioritized recommendations for short and long term improvements. Once funding is identified for construction of a specific portion of the improvement recommendations, a more detailed environmental analysis would be conducted, including noise analysis of future noise levels. (No funding has been identified yet, so the noise study would not likely occur for several years, at the earliest.) If there will be areas impacted by the proposed improvements, CDOT policy requires that noise mitigation for the areas needs to be evaluated. (CDOT’s noise guidelines) The mitigation actions could include traffic management, horizontal/vertical alignment changes, buffer zones, building insulation or noise barriers. Noise mitigation is a decision that is made in the NEPA process when an alternative(s) has been selected for detailed environmental analysis. More detailed design plans need to be developed to perform such an analysis. We will not reach that point on this Corridor Study; we will only identify which alternatives should be carried forward into the NEPA process. However, we will identify which homes are currently impacted by traffic noise.
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Q: Will cities involved in the Parker Road Corridor Study project be coordinating with special districts?
A: Special districts have been asked to be involved in the project through participation at Community Resource Panel meetings.
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Q: What is the status of potential improvements to Arapahoe Road east towards Grandview High School?
A: That is a separate project. The City of Centennial and Arapahoe County are planning improvements to make Arapahoe Road six lanes from Waco to Liverpool, but funds have yet to be identified to complete the improvements.
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Q: When would recommended improvements likely be constructed?
A: Since little to no funding has been identified, implementation of improvements could be many years in the future. Please see the Implementation Process graphic for more information.
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Q: Why is this study being conducted when no funding has been identified for corridor improvements?
A: The recommendations of this study will assist policy makers in understanding the needs of the corridor and the costs of the recommended improvements for consideration in the next regional funding cycle planning process.
Glossary
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At-Grade Intersection
Intersecting traffic movements at an intersection controlled by traffic signals, stop signs or yield signs.
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Auxiliary Lanes
Left and right turn lanes and acceleration lanes are examples of common auxiliary lanes along urban arterials.
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Call-n-Ride Service
Call-n-Ride service is designed to supplement existing RTD service, using small vehicles that are easy to board and wheelchair accessible. Passengers can call RTD at least an hour in advance to request a trip within the service's territory, and a small bus will pick up the passenger and deliver them directly to their location if within the call-n-Ride area.
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CDOT
Colorado Department of Transportation. The state agency responsible for state highways.
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CDOT Access Code Classification
Determines the degree to which public and private access to a state highway is controlled.
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Context Sensitive Design
Context sensitive design focuses first on the need and purpose of the transportation project, and then addresses safety, mobility, and the preservation of scenic, aesthetic, historic, environmental, and other community values. Context sensitive design represents a comprehensive process that attempts to bring all stakeholders together in a positive, proactive environment with the objective being the completion of projects that meet transportation needs and are viewed as improvements or enhancements to the community through preservation efforts and sensitivity to local values.
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Delay
The increased travel time experienced by a person or vehicle because of circumstances that impede the desirable movement of traffic. It is measured as the difference between actual and free-flow travel time.
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Density
A common measure of intensity of development such as people per mile, households per acre, jobs per block, etc...
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Express bus service
Bus service with a limited number of stops, either from a collector area directly to a specific destination or in a particular corridor with stops en route at major transfer points or activity centers.
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FHWA
Federal Highway Administration. The federal agency responsible for federally funded highways.
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FONSI
Finding of No Significant Impact. A document that briefly states why a project will not significantly affect the natural or man-made environment.
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Grade Separation
Construction of a bridge for one intersecting traffic flow to cross over or under the other without the need for traffic controls.
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High occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane
A form or preferential treatment in which lanes on streets or highways are restricted for the exclusive use of high-occupancy vehicles for at least a portion of the day.
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Junior Interchange
This interchange concept consists of a grade separation of the intersecting through traffic movements with low speed, right turn only type ramp connections.
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Level of Service (LOS)
a descriptive measure of the quality and quantity of transportation service provided to the user that incorporated finite measures of quantifiable characteristics such as travel time, travel cost, number of transfers, and so forth. Operating characteristics of levels of service for motor vehicles and transit are described in the Highway Capacity Manual.
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Light Rail (LRT)
Lightweight rail cars operating on fixed rails that provide intra-urban transportation.
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MS 4 Requirements
Polluted storm water runoff is often transported to municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) and ultimately discharged into local rivers and streams without treatment. EPA's Storm Water Phase 1 program for MS4s requires operators of 'large' MS4s, that is, those that generally serve populations of 100,000 or greater, to implement a storm water management program as a means to control polluted discharges from these MS4s. The Phase II Rule establishes an MS4 storm water management program that is intended to improve waterways by reducing the quantity of pollutants that storm water picks up and carries into storm sewer systems during storm events. Common pollutants include oil and grease from roadways, pesticides from lawns, sediment from construction sites, and carelessly discarded trash, such as cigarette butts, paper wrappers, and plastic bottles. When deposited into nearby waterways through MS4 discharges, these pollutants can impair the waterways, thereby discouraging recreational use of the resource, contaminating drinking water supplies, and interfering with the habitat for fish, other aquatic organisms, and wildlife.
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Off-peak direction
The direction of lower demand during a peak commuting period. In a radial corridor, the off-peak direction has traditionally been toward the central business district in the morning and away from the central business district in the evening. However this trend is changing in many metropolitan areas as suburban employment grows.
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Peak direction
The direction of higher demand during a peak commuting period. In a radial corridor, the off-peak direction has traditionally been away from the central business district in the morning and toward the central business district in the evening.
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Peak hour
That hour during which the maximum amount of person travel occurs, generally specified as the morning peak hour or the evening peak hour.
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Redevelopment
The rejuvenation of existing residential, commercial, industrial and retail structures/buildings.
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RTD
Regional Transportation District. The public agency responsible for the provision of transit in the Denver Metro Region.
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Single Point Urban Interchange
An interchange configuration with only one common signalized intersection of entry and exit ramps with the crossing arterial street.
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Tight Diamond Interchange
An interchange configuration that involves two closely spaced signalized intersections of ramp terminals with the crossing arterial street.
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Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
Moderate to higher density development, located within an easy walk of a major transit stop, generally with a mix of residential, employment, and shopping opportunities designed for pedestrians without excluding the auto.
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Transportation Systems Management (TSM)
The use of non-capital-intensive transportation improvements to increase the efficiency of transportation facilities and services. Examples include carpool and van-pool programs, parking management, traffic signalization coordination, and park-and-ride lots. The term is also applied to techniques used to reduce the demand for travel in a defined area (see travel demand management).
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Travel Demand Management
The art of modifying travel behavior through policies, programs, and actions implemented to increase the use of high-occupancy vehicles (public transit, carpooling, and vanpooling), cycling, and walking; to encourage commuting outside congested time periods; and to encourage telecommuting and other techniques as alternatives to driving.