FAQs

The goal of this project is to reduce the number of crashes and improve the level of comfort for all people walking, riding bicycles and driving in the 7th Street and Walnut Street corridors. Also, the Town of Windsor’s Transportation Master Plan identified the 7th and Walnut corridors as early action corridor based on community input and Town Board direction in March 2020.

The proposed designs will formalize and reorganize spaces in the streets for everyone who is traveling along the corridors. New signage, striping and curbs will provide more awareness and protection for everyone. The new designs are expected to improve compliance with the posted speed limits and increase visibility for people crossing streets. New landscape and lighting will add safety and character.

The basic designs are intended to be the first step toward the enhanced design. Most of the basic design features will be transferrable to the enhanced design to save time and money. The basic designs allow the project team to immediately address safety changes in 2021. The team will work over the next 3 years to secure grants to help pay for the enhanced design. Also, by making the basic design changes in 2021 more data can be collected to inform the enhanced designs.

Over the next decade daily motor vehicle traffic volumes and travel times are forecasted to increase from commercial, industrial and housing development along the North Front Range and in the Town of Windsor. The recommended changes for 7^th and Walnut have been designed based on these forecasts and emphasize crash reduction for all travelers over new motor vehicle lanes or intersection expansion. The recommended changes will formalize lanes at intersections, provide safe spaces for people to cross streets and introduce safe places for people to bicycle along the corridors.

The ability to provide four motor vehicle travel lanes, turn lanes, sidewalks, landscaping, parking and a place for people to ride bicycles in the entire corridor from Eastman Park Drive to Main Street within the existing right of way is not possible. Acquiring additional right of way to widen 7^th Street to accommodate four travel lanes was evaluated in the Town of Windsor Roadway Improvement Plan in 2017. The conclusion was that widening would not be possible due to the need to acquire a large number of different private properties in the corridor, removal of old growth trees in Old Town, the overall cost and other constraints at major intersections.

We are trying to balance the needs and safety of everyone who wants to travel in this area. The 7th and Walnut corridors connect to Windsor Schools, regional trails, parks and downtown Windsor. A top goal of Town of Windsor’s Transportation Master Plan is to reduce crashes and increase comfort for people who are walking and bicycling in the area.

Tractor trailer trucks over 45 feet long are currently restricted on 7^th Street from New Liberty Road to Main Street and on Walnut Street west of 1st Street. Pre-COVID daily traffic counts of total trucks on 7th street was 34 and Walnut Street was 6. These are trucks that are less than 30 feet long and have three axles. This was considered an acceptable amount and no additional restrictions for the 7^th and Walnut corridors are being considered at this time. The 7th and Walnut Street corridor studies are not associated with any regional or local truck route studies.