Speed limits LOWERED on two city streets

ERIE

Limits will be reduced on County Line Road, Erie Parkway

A speed limit sign is seen on Erie Parkway near Brennan Street on Monday. The speed limits for Erie Parkway and County Line Road are expected to be lowered starting Wednesday. PHOTOS BY MATTHEW JONAS — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Image

By Andrea Grajeda

agrajeda@prairiemountainmedia.com

Speed limits along two major corridors in Erie will be reduced as the town continues to manage traffic.

Erie has made a commitment to the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Regional Vision Zero philosophy to have zero deaths along roadways.

Starting Wednesday, speed limits on County Line Road, from Colo. 7 to Colo. 52, and Erie Parkway, from U.S. 287 to Interstate 25 will be reduced. The project is anticipated to be completed Feb. 28, weather permitting.

John Firouzi, transportation and mobility manager, said that certain segments of both roads currently have speed limits of 45 or 50 mph. Speed limits will decrease by 5 mph, with further speed reductions in school zones.

He said a 5 mph decrease has a significant impact on safety, both for the vehicle and pedestrians.

As an example, Firouzi said the corridors have “hotspots,” where motorists are driving faster than the posted speed limit.

“That speed differential can make it feel unsafe for drivers, and those who are pedestrians or cyclists along the road,” Firouzi said.

The speed decrease helps pedestrians and cyclists feel and be safer on the road while reducing the gravity of potential accidents.

Signage about the speed reduction and speed radars have been posted along the roads, with the Erie Police Department monitoring the area during the educational period, through the completion of the project. After the educational period, motorists will be expected to follow the new speed limits.

“The intention is not to go into this with a ‘gotcha.’ The intention is to provide advance warning and information and then ease into (the speed reduction) by monitoring the conditions along these major corridors and ensure people are being compliant,” Firouzi said.

According to a Monday newsletter from Erie, the town’s population as of Dec. 31, 2024, was 40,183, about a 9.1% increase since the end of 2023. Firouzi said that as the town continues to grow, transportation plans will adapt and continue to prioritize safety. Later this year, the town is also planning to launch the Neighborhood Speed Management Program, also aimed to reduce speed and increase safety within neighborhood streets.