and Colorado Avenue intersection (assuming the needed $15,000 can be found). But the real kudos, if that device ever does get installed, should go to the members
of the Old Colorado City Security & Maintenance District's advisory committee, who have simply refused to let this issue go. In the past, they have pushed for a
stoplight, only to have Traffic Engineering tell them it didn't pass the “warrant” study. They were willing to settle for a crosswalk - even got a pledge on that from the
city manager at a committee meeting two years ago - only to have him do a 180 after Traffic Engineering explained its policy of not allowing crosswalks without lights.
This time, committee member Jim Heikes, who is also the president of the Old Colorado City Associates (OCCA) merchants group, went out and gathered 70 signatures from local business people. And Kathy Read prepared a report on the situation, including several photos and an itemization of the causes and effects of the frequent pedestrian crossings of Colorado at 24th.
In addition to the obvious safety issues, Old Town merchants have major business reasons to want that intersection controlled (not to mention overall vehicle speeds). There's a clear tie-in with the recent hiring of an agency to market the historic shopping district. If people visit Old Colorado City and have trouble crossing the street (to catch a bus, go to the Farmers' Market, attend an event in Bancroft Park, see the History Center, or what have you), they may not come back. Not a very good marketing scenario. So it's pretty unlikely, despite all the previous setbacks, that Old Town's leaders will give up on this issue now, even if the proposed new light goes a-glimmering.
- K.J.