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End-of-the-line access concerns
Lincoln station, off of Park Meadows Drive, is preparing to accommodate volumes of people as the end of the southeast light rail line. Its location raises issues of accessibility, congestion and connectivity.
By By:Stephanie McCall
Lincoln station, off of Park Meadows Drive, is preparing to accommodate volumes of people as the end of the southeast light rail line. Its location raises issues of accessibility, congestion and connectivity.
"It's a major concern how much congestion there may be," John Cotten, director of Public Works for the city of Lone Tree, said. "We're gearing up for a major problem, hoping for no problem and guessing it will be somewhere in between."
Cars traveling from the Interstate 25 Lincoln Avenue off ramp to the station could take up to nine minutes, according to Cotten.
"It's pretty much gridlock," Cotten said.
The public works department of Lone Tree is looking to relieve surrounding areas to lessen the backup on Lincoln Avenue.
Lone Tree has an access application in to the state to widen Lincoln Avenue by one lane heading north next spring, Cotten said. The city also hopes to improve Peoria to create capacity and relieve congestion.
"We're building two traffic signals at Lincoln station: one at the north end of parking lot across from AMLI and one at the main entrance of the structure," said Cotten.
The parking structure may be able to hold a lot of cars, but the trick will be the congestion in the areas approaching the station.
"So many people from Castle Rock, Colorado Springs and Highlands Ranch are traveling to Lincoln," said Susan Squyer, planning commission for the city of Lone Tree. "Obviously RTD realized the need; that's why they built the parking structure so large."
The Lincoln station parking structure offers 1,734 spaces.
On whether or not the parking will meet the demand, Georgann Fisher, public affairs media relations specialist for RTD, said there is no way to tell.
"We will be monitoring the parking situation," Fisher said. "We're thinking some will switch from the Southwest line to the Southeast line. We'll have to gauge it."
Stations on the Southeast line feature electronic signs indicating whether or not the parking lot is full.
"This way people aren't spending time looking for a spot," Fisher said.
To increase accessibility and relieve some of the congestion around Lincoln station, RTD is encouraging people to utilize buses, Call-n-Ride, biking and walking.
"As someone who lives here, I don't think about the Call-n-Ride," Squyer said. "Now light rail is coming, it's something I consider."
RTD expanded the call-n-ride service and expects an increase in use after the light rail opens. One challenge with Call-n-Ride is it only runs until 8 p.m.
"After the service opens, we'll survey to see if adjustments need to be made," said Bruce Able, RTD.
Three times a year, RTD revises the ride board and adds or subtracts routes based on use, according to Cotten.
"We're beefing up Call-n-Ride by having two vehicles and widening service to outside the city limits," Cotten said.
As for hopeful bikers and pedestrians, the city is looking at alternative routes, such as trails.
"Most streets in Lone Tree aren't wide enough to make room for biking," Cotten said. "We're making trails for transportation around and out of the city."
Another problem is that sidewalks along Park Meadows Drive don't connect in front of the station. On the west side of the drive, the sidewalk ends at AMLI apartments. On the east side of Park Meadows Drive, the sidewalk ends at the Marriott Hotel.
Because the land surrounding Park Meadows Drive belongs to Douglas County, the city is unable to complete the sidewalks.
Cotten said the developer isn't interested in annexing. Although the developer has an obligation to build sidewalks to adjacent streets, the process must go through the county.
Squyer said the city charter prevents the city from aggressively annexing properties.
The coming of light rail is one step forward in the Ridgegate urban development in Lone Tree.
"A lot of people said the main reason they bought there was the light rail," Keith Simons, vice president and community develpment director for Coventry Development Corporation.
The light rail will also connect the south Denver metro area to the commercial areas of Lone Tree.
"Another important thing in Lone Tree is bringing employment," Squyer said. "A community like this doesn't offer an affordable place to live."
Skyridge is eager for light rail because most nurses can't afford to live here, Squyer said.
"The advantage of RidgeGate is that it knows in advance it will be a transit-oriented area: it can plan for it," Squyer said. "Original Lone Tree has to retrofit itself to maximize access."
Contact Stephanie McCall at 303-566-4113 or smccall@ccnewspapers.com.
"It's a major concern how much congestion there may be," John Cotten, director of Public Works for the city of Lone Tree, said. "We're gearing up for a major problem, hoping for no problem and guessing it will be somewhere in between."
Cars traveling from the Interstate 25 Lincoln Avenue off ramp to the station could take up to nine minutes, according to Cotten.
"It's pretty much gridlock," Cotten said.
The public works department of Lone Tree is looking to relieve surrounding areas to lessen the backup on Lincoln Avenue.
Lone Tree has an access application in to the state to widen Lincoln Avenue by one lane heading north next spring, Cotten said. The city also hopes to improve Peoria to create capacity and relieve congestion.
"We're building two traffic signals at Lincoln station: one at the north end of parking lot across from AMLI and one at the main entrance of the structure," said Cotten.
The parking structure may be able to hold a lot of cars, but the trick will be the congestion in the areas approaching the station.
"So many people from Castle Rock, Colorado Springs and Highlands Ranch are traveling to Lincoln," said Susan Squyer, planning commission for the city of Lone Tree. "Obviously RTD realized the need; that's why they built the parking structure so large."
The Lincoln station parking structure offers 1,734 spaces.
On whether or not the parking will meet the demand, Georgann Fisher, public affairs media relations specialist for RTD, said there is no way to tell.
"We will be monitoring the parking situation," Fisher said. "We're thinking some will switch from the Southwest line to the Southeast line. We'll have to gauge it."
Stations on the Southeast line feature electronic signs indicating whether or not the parking lot is full.
"This way people aren't spending time looking for a spot," Fisher said.
To increase accessibility and relieve some of the congestion around Lincoln station, RTD is encouraging people to utilize buses, Call-n-Ride, biking and walking.
"As someone who lives here, I don't think about the Call-n-Ride," Squyer said. "Now light rail is coming, it's something I consider."
RTD expanded the call-n-ride service and expects an increase in use after the light rail opens. One challenge with Call-n-Ride is it only runs until 8 p.m.
"After the service opens, we'll survey to see if adjustments need to be made," said Bruce Able, RTD.
Three times a year, RTD revises the ride board and adds or subtracts routes based on use, according to Cotten.
"We're beefing up Call-n-Ride by having two vehicles and widening service to outside the city limits," Cotten said.
As for hopeful bikers and pedestrians, the city is looking at alternative routes, such as trails.
"Most streets in Lone Tree aren't wide enough to make room for biking," Cotten said. "We're making trails for transportation around and out of the city."
Another problem is that sidewalks along Park Meadows Drive don't connect in front of the station. On the west side of the drive, the sidewalk ends at AMLI apartments. On the east side of Park Meadows Drive, the sidewalk ends at the Marriott Hotel.
Because the land surrounding Park Meadows Drive belongs to Douglas County, the city is unable to complete the sidewalks.
Cotten said the developer isn't interested in annexing. Although the developer has an obligation to build sidewalks to adjacent streets, the process must go through the county.
Squyer said the city charter prevents the city from aggressively annexing properties.
The coming of light rail is one step forward in the Ridgegate urban development in Lone Tree.
"A lot of people said the main reason they bought there was the light rail," Keith Simons, vice president and community develpment director for Coventry Development Corporation.
The light rail will also connect the south Denver metro area to the commercial areas of Lone Tree.
"Another important thing in Lone Tree is bringing employment," Squyer said. "A community like this doesn't offer an affordable place to live."
Skyridge is eager for light rail because most nurses can't afford to live here, Squyer said.
"The advantage of RidgeGate is that it knows in advance it will be a transit-oriented area: it can plan for it," Squyer said. "Original Lone Tree has to retrofit itself to maximize access."
Contact Stephanie McCall at 303-566-4113 or smccall@ccnewspapers.com.
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