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Transportation - What to expect? What are your first memories of transportation? Perhaps your bike, walking or maybe skates, street cars, buses, trains, your first vehicle. All of these modes of transportation, in some degree, were made easier with a path that was created of dirt, gravel, black top or concrete. Our awareness of a well planned transportation system became more important as we grew up and our needs changed. In an ever-growing community, these issues may seem simple to the user, but become complicated in the real world of politics and budget constraints. For instance, we face providing not only miles of paved streets and paths, but maintenance and safety issues multiply: pot holes or wash board gravel roads get our attention; safe shoulders that allow us to pull over if necessary are required; we expect snow removal before we go to work, stop lights that are synchronized so we keep moving, signage we can easily see, turn lanes so traffic can safely go around us, clean, on schedule, inexpensive bus and light rail all while we improve air quality and conserve energy. Can we really plan and provide for all these needs? Yes! and Yes! In fact it is the county's charge to address all of these issues. All of these elements and more are in the 2020 County Transportation plan finalized in March 2003 by citizens and county staff to minimize our travel time and keep us safe. The plan will help us attract economic development for community sustainability and quality of life improvement. This includes mountain roads, rural roads, city roads, side walks, airports and railroads. While serving on the Castle Rock Town Council, 1996 - 2000, I was the Council's liaison to the Public Works committee dealing with transportation issues. This work was critical in creating a plan and vision for the future of our community, including the best use of our taxes in the most efficient and cost effective way possible. It took many hours of study, listening to the citizens suggestions and understanding that the vision of our community had to include well thought out planning and hinged on details, details, details. That included learning from mistakes in the past and the foresight to invest in new products or equipment that lasts longer and is cost efficient. What became very apparent to me is the collaboration and regionalism that is supported by our commissioners which will in turn support and guide our future. The commissioners and county staff have a positive working relationship with the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Federal Highway Administration and the regional transportation plans of Castle Rock, Parker, and Lone Tree entities. It is only through these channels that the county is able to afford to fulfill the transportation vision, and I believe that the tremendous needs in Douglas County necessitates commissioners that are team players in the transportation arena. It is the only way to continue to develop our transportation systems. This working cooperation was not always present in the past, and has made a huge difference in getting road work and mass transit accomplished in Douglas County. My philosophy is to be at the table where decisions are being made, or our needs will not be discussed, let alone met. Commissioner Melanie Worley has diligently pursued Federal and State monies as they became available through these channels and should be commended for her participation and persistence. Each community within Douglas County has a long list of projects and is working, in many cases, with the county. Collaboration on projects must continue for best use of our tax dollars. Major projects to increase access are; C-470/E-470 corridor; continued expansion of State Hwy. 85 to Sedalia; Douglas Lane enter-change / I-25; Rapid Transit RTD's Santa Fe and I-25 corridors; myriad of extensions and expansions of our county and city roads and expanded local transit services by the Highlands Ranch Rider, CATCO in Castle rock and hopefully new services in the Parker and Lone Tree area. These are only a few of the areas listed in the Douglas County 2020 Transportation Plan. To be determined in November election, by the citizens, will be the FasTracks project. This will provide a comprehensive network of trains and inter-connecting bus routes by 2017. I urge the citizens to read and evaluate this project and look to the future for our communities. |
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