Castle Rock saw the installation of 12 new stoplights this year,
and nearly half of those were paid for by the Colorado Department
of Transportation or developers, said Bob Watts, public works
director for the town.
“They grow wild,” Watts said. “This is a good example of how
growth pays for itself.”
Part of the development fees charged by the town are transferred
to the transportation fund, from which comes money for traffic
lights, street improvements and other projects that are a result of
increased population in town.
Each light costs between $150,000 and $200,000, depending on the
street and conditions, Watts said.
That price doesn’t count the cost of right-of-way acquisition by
the town, Watts said.
There won’t be nearly as many lights installed in 2003, Watts
said.
“We are budgeted in 2003 for two lights,” he said. “Their
location will depend on the results of traffic counts and safety
studies. We should know where they will go sometime in April or
May.”
The capital projects budget for 2003 is more than $40 million,
said Jeff Hansen, director of finance for the town.
Included in that budget is $11,175 for various street and
traffic-signal improvements, Hansen said.
This year, lights were installed at Front Street and Liggett
Road, Front Street near Douglas County High School and at Front
Street at Blackfeather Trail. They were part of the improvement
plan for Front Street. The light at Blackfeather was activated Dec.
18.
The lights were paid for by the town, Watts said.
Other lights paid for by the town were at Park Street and
Wolfensberger Road; Colorado 86 and Enderud; Founders Parkway and
Trail Boss; and Plum Creek Parkway and Plum Creek
Boulevard.
CDOT paid for the light that will be activated soon at U.S. 85
and Atrium Drive.
The lights at Meadows Parkway and Meadows Boulevard; Meadows
Boulevard and North Meadows Drive; Prairie Hawk Drive and
Wolfensberger Road; and Allen Street and Allen Way were paid for by
developers, Watts said.