The city of Durango has recruited residents to help perform counts of pedestrians and cyclists at the Main Avenue and 19th Street crossing as part of a study of the Main Avenue corridor launched in 2015 in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The study focuses on six segments of Main Avenue, starting at 14th Street and spanning north, according to the city’s 2015 North Main Avenue Mobility Plan.
Durango Transportation Director Sarah Hill said in an email to The Durango Herald that the purpose of the study is to “make recommendations for mobility improvements along the highway, adjacent routes, and intersections.”
“19th Street is one of the key crossings that was identified for improvements,” she said.
Although the North Main Mobility Plan recommends a conceptual design that includes a rectangular rapid flashing beacon near 19th Street, the concept needs to be revisited because of engineering feasibility and current conditions, she said.
“While CDOT has significant data related to car usage along N. Main, these bicyclist and pedestrian counts will give us a good idea of current usage and movement at the intersection,” she added.
A news release from the city says the counts will give the city and CDOT base numbers of crosswalk use and “the efficacy of vehicles yielding to crossers, and to assist with determining improvements.”
Within a day of Monday’s announcement seeking volunteers, the city filled nearly all eight volunteer slots. As of Wednesday morning, just two volunteer slots remained, according to the online sign-up form available at https://bit.ly/495jCJN.
The pedestrian and cyclist counts will be performed in two-hour increments from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on March 25, March 29, April 1 and April 5.
The two remaining volunteer slots are for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. March 29 and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 5.
Hill said pedestrian and cyclist counts like this one are great ways for residents who want improved safety around town to get involved.
“Residents often ask how they can get involved and help make a difference toward safer bicycle and pedestrian experiences, and this is a very tangible and immediately useful opportunity to contribute,” she said.
cburney@durangoherald.com
