May 20, 2025 Arvada City Council Study Session on Transportation Master Plan

The Arvada City Council convened on Tuesday evening for a study session on the Transportation System Plan. Arvada's Transportation Systems Plan (TSP) is approaching its final phase, with consultants from Kimley Horn presenting a comprehensive update to the city council on this ambitious 20-year infrastructure roadmap. The study session provided detailed insights into how the city will prioritize and fund $1.8 billion worth of transportation projects through 2050.

The entire study session can be viewed here.

Three-Phase Planning Process Nears Completion

The Transportation Systems Plan has progressed through a methodical development process since Q2 2023, demonstrating what collaborative governance looks like in practice. Phase one identified transportation network deficiencies and potential projects across the city. Phase two brought together diverse stakeholders—the Technical Advisory Group, Transportation Advisory Committee, public works managers, city leadership, and residents through online surveys—to establish goals and evaluation criteria.

The current third phase focuses on project prioritization and implementation recommendations, with completion targeted for July 2025. This inclusive approach ensures the final plan reflects both technical expertise and community priorities, creating a foundation for transportation decisions that will serve Arvada for generations.

The comprehensive stakeholder engagement process included ongoing meetings with various groups, public surveys that influenced selection criteria, and coordination with surrounding jurisdictions through the Technical Advisory Group. A summary of community feedback will be released in June, providing transparency about how resident input shaped the final recommendations.

Strategic Funding Framework: $12 Million to $49 Million Growth

Working with the finance department, the city has developed conservative funding projections that show substantial growth in transportation investment capacity through 2050:

• 2027-2030: $12 million available

• 2031-2040: $39 million available

• 2041-2050: $49 million available

These projections assume conservative rate increases, meaning actual opportunities could exceed expectations. The plan recommends establishing a dedicated TSP implementation fund with $638,000 in annual funding starting in 2027, specifically designed to seed early-stage project development.

This strategic seeding approach recognizes that grant funding is essential for major infrastructure projects. By investing in scoping studies and preliminary design work, Arvada positions projects for competitive advantage when applying for local, state, and federal grants. The early-stage investment puts the city in an optimal position to respond quickly to grant opportunities while demonstrating project readiness to funding agencies.

For residents, this means getting substantially more transportation improvements for their tax dollars. Rather than funding every project entirely through local resources, the strategic approach can leverage outside funding sources that multiply the impact of city investments.

Safety-First Approach with Data-Driven Prioritization

The Transportation Systems Plan employs a sophisticated scoring system that translates community goals into weighted, measurable criteria. Safety emerges as the top priority, accounting for 20% of project rankings—ensuring that every recommended project includes safety components that meet ADA compliance requirements and federal highway administration standards.

The comprehensive evaluation framework assesses projects across multiple dimensions:

• Cost Effectiveness: Projects are scored on cost per mile, ability to fit within existing right-of-way, and coordination requirements with partner agencies.

• Network Connectivity: The plan prioritizes projects that fill gaps in the transportation network, providing residents with more transportation options and improving overall system efficiency.

• Environmental Considerations: While not explicitly tracking emissions, the plan considers how network improvements and signal timing efficiency can reduce environmental impacts by giving people more transportation choices.

• Multi-Modal Access: Projects are evaluated on their ability to improve comfort and accessibility for all transportation modes, following established cross-section standards to ensure consistent quality.

This data-driven approach means project selection reflects both technical analysis and community priorities gathered through extensive public engagement. The emphasis on measurable outcomes provides accountability and clear justification for investment decisions.

Flexible Implementation Framework

Projects are strategically categorized by Arvada's anticipated role, providing clarity on implementation responsibilities and resource requirements:

• Lead Projects: Arvada manages the entire process from design through construction. The Wadsworth bypass trail serves as an example where the city has full control and responsibility.

• Partner Projects: Success depends on coordination with other agencies or jurisdictions, such as neighboring cities or the Colorado Department of Transportation. These projects require collaborative planning and shared resources.

• Advocate Projects: Arvada champions projects managed by other entities, such as RTD transit improvements that primarily benefit city residents but fall under regional agency jurisdiction.

This flexible framework acknowledges that agency roles may shift based on available resources, timing, and changing priorities. The $1.8 billion total project cost represents the full scope across all categories, not just Arvada's direct financial responsibility. The approach allows the city to adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining strategic focus on community needs.

Grant Strategy and Adaptability

The plan acknowledges significant shifts in federal grant funding strategy, particularly the emphasis on safety and capacity projects over multimodal equity or greenhouse gas reduction initiatives. The city is working proactively with staff to position projects according to evolving federal priorities while maintaining focus on community goals.

The consulting team has developed dynamic Excel-based planning tools that allow city staff to modify project rankings, update funding scenarios, and adapt to changing circumstances. This flexibility proves crucial given the evolving landscape of federal grant priorities and funding availability.

Projects exist on a continuum from initial scoping through final construction. The TSP funding focuses on early, lower-cost stages where strategic investment can unlock much larger funding opportunities. This approach maximizes the impact of limited city resources while building a pipeline of grant-ready projects.

Regional Coordination and Multi-Agency Partnerships

The Transportation Systems Plan recognizes that effective transportation planning requires coordination beyond municipal boundaries. The Technical Advisory Group includes representatives from neighboring agencies and cities, ensuring that Arvada's transportation investments complement broader regional development and avoid duplication of efforts.

This collaborative approach benefits residents who commute across municipal boundaries for work, shopping, or recreation. By coordinating with regional partners, the plan ensures that improvements connect seamlessly across jurisdictions, providing better transportation options for daily life in the metro area.

The plan identifies multiple funding sources for each project and recognizes that applicable funding sources will change over time. Examples include INFRA grants, BUILD funding, and SS4A (Safe Streets and Roads for All) programs, with specific funding strategies tailored to individual project characteristics and requirements.

What This Means for Arvadans

The Transportation Systems Plan represents a comprehensive approach to infrastructure investment that will directly impact daily life in Arvada for the next two decades. The plan's emphasis on safety means measurable improvements in traffic safety, pedestrian access, and ADA compliance across the transportation network.

The strategic grant readiness approach ensures residents will see substantially more improvements than would be possible through local funding alone. By positioning projects to compete successfully for state and federal grants, the city can deliver comprehensive transportation improvements without placing an unsustainable burden on local taxpayers.

The data-driven prioritization system ensures that projects moving forward address safety concerns residents have identified while building the connected network that supports both current needs and future growth. Community input gathered through extensive public engagement shapes these decisions, meaning improvements reflect what residents actually want to see in their neighborhoods.

The regional coordination approach recognizes that quality of life in Arvada depends on seamless connections beyond city borders. Whether traveling for work, recreation, or accessing services, residents benefit from transportation improvements that consider the broader metropolitan context.

Most importantly, the plan's adaptable framework using dynamic planning tools ensures that Arvada can respond to changing federal funding priorities and evolving transportation needs. Rather than being locked into today's decisions, the city can adjust project rankings and strategies as circumstances change—whether that means new grant opportunities, shifting development patterns, or emerging transportation technologies.

Conclusion

The Transportation Systems Plan positions Arvada for strategic infrastructure investment over the next two decades. By combining data-driven prioritization with flexible implementation strategies and proactive grant positioning, the city has developed a comprehensive approach to addressing transportation challenges while maximizing limited public resources.

When the final plan is implemented in July 2025, it will provide the foundation for transportation investment decisions that shape Arvada's development and quality of life for years to come. This approach demonstrates what's possible when a community chooses comprehensive planning over reactive responses, when diverse voices come together around shared goals, and when strategic thinking guides investment decisions. The Transportation Systems Plan creates pathways—both literal and figurative—for Arvada's continued prosperity and connection.

This article summarizes the May 20, 2025 Arvada City Council Study Session. The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2025. Community members are encouraged to attend and participate in the public comment session for matters not on the agenda.

What issues would you like to see addressed at future Council meetings? Share your thoughts in the comments below.