Funding Request for the Diagonal Bikeway does not include some Niwot underpasses

The third round of funding requests from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Transportation Improvement Projects (TIP) is in the works. This round includes a proposal for another segment of the Regional Transportation District (RTD), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and a bikeway on Colorado State Highway 119 (the "Diagonal"). This is part of the safety and transportation improvements plan for the highway between Boulder and Longmont.

The design is laid out in segments and each is funded separately. The segment currently being considered for funding extends from Niwot Road to Airport Road and includes improvements to the intersections with the Diagonal at Niwot Road, 83rd Street and Airport Road.

The average daily traffic count on the Diagonal is 45,000 vehicles and is expected to rise to 56,000 by 2040. Safety is a primary concern at these intersections. The recent fatal accident at Niwot Road involved a passenger van and an RTD bus. This is a reminder that safety improvement is of utmost importance for cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

The bikeway part of the project will be located on the median between the two travel directions of the Diagonal. Adding a flow of cyclists and pedestrians between the intersections of two directions of auto traffic with turn lanes, BRT acceleration lanes and cross traffic adds to its complexity and risks of travel. For this reason, the plan includes an underpass for the bikeway that will go under Niwot Road so that the cyclist and pedestrian traffic is completely separated from the auto traffic.

The diagram furnished by DRCOG shows this design for the Niwot Road intersection and is more detailed than previously published versions. The spur paths that lead from the main bikeway to Niwot Road can be seen. This is how bikeway users would get to and from Niwot.

Northbound and southbound traffic on the bikeway will enjoy the safety of an underpass separating them from auto traffic on Niwot Road but eastbound and westbound cyclists and pedestrians will continue to be exposed to the risk of directly interacting with increasing auto traffic density by having to negotiate the streets themselves.

A number of Niwot residents have expressed concern about this and have suggested to the County that the project should include underpasses in both directions.

Eric Bergeson is the owner of Niwot Wheel Works,The Wheel House and is the president of the Niwot Business Association. Bergeson said, "An underpass for bicycle and pedestrian traffic traveling onto and across the Diagonal would be a game changer. If designed properly, an underpass would be a tremendous asset to both Niwot and the overall Boulder County cycling community, mostly by providing safe and unimpeded bicycle and pedestrian traffic to and from the proposed bus stops as well as across the Diagonal."

Bergeson also identified the value of underpasses at that intersection to the business community saying, "Many of the charming events and activities we put on here in Niwot are cyclist friendly and easier access means more people are comfortable making that trip. Niwot is really a cyclist's paradise in terms of its location. It is extremely well located for a wide variety of recreational rides and a convenient way station for bike commuters along the Diagonal corridor. I believe Niwot would see a lot more bike traffic if a tunnel were built."

The Airport Road intersection has a path under the northbound lanes of the Diagonal. Some have requested that the project include finishing that underpass project by constructing an underpass for the southbound lanes of the Diagonal. But that second underpass is not included in the current design.

The intersection with 83rd Street would not include any underpasses, including under 83rd Street itself.

Oct. 26 is the last day to comment on the DRCOG funding request for this Diagonal project improvement. However, the project is in the design phase and public comments should continue to be sent in.