Concerned citizens leads to speed limit change

The Boulder County Transportation Department has lowered the speed limit on Niwot Road between 95th St. and U.S. 287 due to requests from concerned residents about their safety. The speed limit dropped from 50 mph to 40 mph to ensure citizens remain safe when entering the road, according to Boulder County.

“They were concerned about speeding overall but more specifically with ‘close calls’ that they had with drivers moving well over the speed limit, similar to complaints we received last year on Isabelle Road between North 95th and U.S. 287,” Boulder County Engineer Mike Thomas said.

After performing a traffic study in 2015, Boulder County found that posting Isabelle Road to 40 mph was appropriate for the area as well as for citizens’ safety. Most roads in Niwot are similarly structured and after they lowered the speed limit on Isabelle Road, the county transportation department felt other roads in the county should be the same speed limit.

According to Thomas, what relates the two changes is that the roads have no shoulders, with heavy bicycle traffic and a reverse curve in the middle. Comparing both roads, the county felt it was appropriate to make the change for consistency through the area.

Niwot Road also has several power poles close to the edge of the pavement as well as deep irrigation ditches.

Boulder County currently is in the process of reconstructing many arterial and collector roads by adding shoulders, and is also making other substantial improvements. With these changes Boulder County has correspondingly reevaluated the speed limits.

Citizens of Niwot were not warned of this new speed limit change but have slowly adapted to the change.

“We typically do not warn drivers of a change in speed limits,” Thomas said. “But we also do not have the Sheriff’s Office begin to enforce these changes until enough time has been allowed for them to recognize the speed limit on the road.”

These changes in the speed limit have had an impact on the community. When talking with Thomas, he stated the impact maybe positive, primarily for those living on Niwot Road, but negative to those who drive the road constantly.

Although the speed limit has changed to accommodate those citizens living on the road, it is expected to help with future safety situations for those in the community. But not everyone agrees that the change makes the road safer.

Area resident Vicki Maurer drives the stretch of road at least twice daily.

“It definitely has changed the traffic flow,” Maurer said. “I’ve noticed a lot of tailgating and passing by drivers who have either not noticed the change in speed, or don’t think that it’s necessary for the speed limit to be 40. There are nine driveways along that stretch of road and most are spaced quite a distance apart.

“It’s too early for me to really say what the pros are, but the cons are that traffic is traveling at all different speeds. I’ve never seen an accident along this stretch of road between the signals at 95th and Highway 287 and it seems like there may be something until drivers are used to the change.”

As for whether or not it will help with safety, she said she is uncertain at this point.

“It’s hard to say at this point whether it will or will not,” Maurer said. “It’s just frustrating that Boulder County changed the limit without any notice to any of the daily drivers along that stretch. A sign at each end stating the change in speed limit would have been helpful, as well as requesting public comment on the change.”