To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Bryan Weimer, PWLF, Director, Public Works & Development
Prepared By:
prepared
James Katzer, PE, Transportation Division Manager, Public Works & Development
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presenter
Presenter: James Katzer, PE, Transportation Division Manager, PWD; Bryan Weimer, PWLF, Director, Public Works & Development
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Subject:
title
11:15 AM *C25-11 Traffic Signal Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Arapahoe County and City of Aurora for the Funding of the Traffic Signal at Picadilly Road and Lehigh Ave/Plains Parkway
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Public Works and Development is seeking support from the Board of County Commissioners to approve the participation of the County in the funding of the construction of the warranted traffic signal at Picadilly Road and Lehigh Street/Plains Parkway by supporting the signature of the IGA with the City of Aurora by the Public Works and Development Director per Resolution No. 25-078.
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Background and Discussion: The eastern portion of the urban area within Arapahoe County has continued to develop and the Picadilly Road corridor that runs north and south connecting developments to the regional transportation network. Over the years this corridor has seen increases in both traffic volumes and pedestrian activity. The east ½ of Picadilly Road and adjacent development is located within the city boundaries of Aurora and the west ½ Picadilly Road and adjacent development is unincorporated.
The Dakota Valley Elementary School (Cherry Creek School District) is located on the west side of Picadilly Ave. and serves the community on both the east and west side of Picadilly Ave. The current configuration of Picadilly Ave. presents a walking barrier for a safe route to school.
A one mile stretch of Picadilly Road from Quincy to Hampden Ave has been studied by County Traffic and Aurora Traffic for its current safety and transportation needs. Currently, there are no signals or improved pedestrian crossing between Quincy Avenue and Hampden Avenue. Four possible intersections were reviewed for meeting current signal warrants. The warrant review was conducted per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) which has been adopted by the County.
One intersection was found to meet traffic signal warrants, Picadilly and Lehigh Ave (County) at South Plains Parkway (Aurora). This location is roughly ½ mile between Hampden and Quincy which provides optimal spacing for signalization and progression timing.
The City of Aurora has identified the MUTCD traffic signal warrant(s) to be met for the west bound vehicular volume approach to the intersection (South Plains Parkway). The County traffic operations supports the warrant finding to provide signalization and safe pedestrian crossing of Picadilly Road.
The Picadilly Road corridor is split jurisdiction between the County and the City of Aurora and the responsibility to construct the traffic signal is also shared by both jurisdictions.
To accomplish joint funding of the construction of the warranted traffic signal, an intergovernmental agreement has been drafted. The IGA covers the funding and maintenance of the traffic signal. The IGA defines the responsibilities of each party as follows:
• Cost is equally shared for design and construction
• The County share for the design and construction is $550,000 which include contingencies
• Payment is due January 29, 2026
• Aurora will provide project management services to manage the design and construction of the project and these costs will not be charged to the County
• Aurora will own, operate, and maintain the traffic signal and will be built to Aurora’s standards
• Underruns on the project will be shared back with the County in an equal amount as the original contribution.
Public Works and Development submitted this project as a 2025 budget request but was not selected for funding. This project ranks as a “Have To” in the Proposition 1A PWD presentation due to the safety, pedestrian access, and partnership obligations. The project lies within the Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) area but this location is not eligible for reimbursement.
The construction of the traffic signal is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Fiscal Impact: The County will be required to pay Aurora in January of 2026 and PWD will submit a CIP budget request for the funding of this project during the 2026 budget creation process. The estimated County share is $550,000.
Alternatives: 1) The County could deny the request to fund this traffic signal and ask Aurora to fund the entire signal. This would likely undermine the relationship the County has developed with Aurora over the years to share in road operation responsibilities and could have a residual effect on other joint projects. If the County does not participate in this project, the intersection will likely continue to be an unsignalized intersection thereby increasing the safety risk of pedestrians/bicyclist crossing Picadilly. 2) Staff recognize that timing may not be ideal for signing the IGA at this time prior to full considerations of all CIP projects during the 2026 Budget process. As such, an alternative would be for the BOCC to acknowledge the need for the signal and support of its installation by supporting the execution of the IGA by the Director of Public Works and Development per the annual signature authority if and when funding of the County’s share is approved through the budget process.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: PWD Staff recommends that the County sign the IGA with Aurora to share in the cost of the construction of the traffic signal at Picadilly Road and Lehigh Ave.
Concurrence: N/A