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Traffic Relief

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1. Why is the Town of Frederick Board considering placing a 1% sales tax proposal on the November 2023 ballot?

The Board seeks to address some of the community’s most pressing transportation-related challenges, including traffic congestion, snow removal, pothole maintenance, and multimodal transportation options. Funds from a sales tax would be used to make a variety of improvements, including:

• Upgrading key intersections to reduce traffic congestion
• Bringing pothole management in-house to make year-round repairs
• Expanding snow removal capabilities to better clear roadways, especially during heavy snowfall 
• Adding multimodal connections such as paths, sidewalks, and trails to improve access to parks, open spaces, and downtown Frederick

2. What are the benefits of the proposed transportation improvements?

There are many anticipated benefits, including:

• Reduced traffic congestion
• Increased intersection capacity and decreased wait times
• Improved commuter and pedestrian safety
• Decreased wear and tear on vehicles
• Faster response times and safer travel for first responders
• More pedestrian and bike-friendly connections

3. What types of intersection upgrades would be made to improve traffic flow?

The proposed intersection upgrades would include:

• Auxiliary turn lanes
• Protected left-turn movements
• Striping and signage
• New traffic signals 
• Americans with Disabilities (ADA) curb ramps
• Sidewalk connections and crossing controls
• Drainage infrastructure, if needed (inlets, culverts, curb, and gutter) 

4. Would the intersection improvements be similar to those incorporated at Colorado Boulevardand Tipple Parkway?

Yes. This project is an excellent example of how intersections throughout Frederick would be upgraded to reduce traffic congestion and improve commuter and pedestrian safety.

5. Which specific intersections would be improved?

Improvements would first be made to the highest-priority intersection projects, located at:

• Silver Birch Boulevard and Godding Hollow Parkway
• Silver Birch Boulevard and Bella Rose Parkway
• Colorado Boulevard and Bella Rosa Parkway
• Silver Birch Boulevard and Tipple Parkway
• Aggregate Boulevard and Bella Rosa Parkway

Additional intersections throughout Frederick would be addressed as funds from the proposed sales tax become available. There are more than 25 intersections in need of upgrades. 

6. How would snow control be improved?

During times of heavy snowfall, road closures often occur because the Town does not have the resources to effectively clear the snow. Adding personnel and equipment would improve the Town’s snow removal capabilities, helping keep the roads open and safer to drive on.

7. What snow control equipment would be added?

To better address snow control in Frederick, especially during heavy snowfall, the Town proposes adding key snow control equipment, including a tandem snowplow, a 1-ton plow truck, a single-axle dump truck, a small loader, a plow blade for the larger loader, skid-steer front-end snow box and track attachments, and a street sweeper for the clean-up of abrasives after snow events.

8. How would pothole repairs be improved?

Frederick currently outsources its pothole repair work, primarily during the summer months. This means potholes are not filled as rapidly or as often as needed. With voter-approved funding, equipment and personnel would be added to bring pothole maintenance in-house. This would enable quicker, more efficient year-round fixes. Funds would also be used to purchase the equipment and hot mix asphalt needed for timely regular maintenance.

9. How many new staff members would be hired to address pothole maintenance and snow control?

Three new Public Works Street Department employees would be phased in to help make improvements, including pothole maintenance, snow control, and other duties.

10. What pedestrian and bike-friendly connections would be addressed?

To better connect our residents to our parks, open spaces, and the downtown area, a variety of multimodal projects are proposed, including: 

• No Name Creek Trail (3 separate projects)
• Fox Run Connector (3 separate projects)
• Carbon Valley Academy Link Trail
• Eagle Valley Connector
• Bella Rosa Parkway/CR 20 Trail 
• Godding Hollow North Trail
• Godding Hollow South Trail 
• Colorado Boulevard Trail
• Frederick Way/Downtown Frederick Trail 
• Godding Hollow/Boulder Ditch Connector

11. What is causing increased traffic congestion in Frederick?

Traffic flow is the Town’s most pressing transportation challenge. Many of Frederick’s key roadways lack turn lanes, which causes traffic backups, congestion, and collisions, especially during peak travel times. With recent and projected population growth, the number of vehicles on the roads will only increase, making the problem worse. Adding auxiliary turn lanes and making other related intersection improvements would help improve traffic flow and enhance safety for motorists and pedestrians. Funding is also needed to help improve snow removal, address year-round pothole repairs, and expand the Town’s multimodal transportation options. 

12. Why now?

The longer we wait to address our transportation challenges, the worse—and more costly—they will become. With more than 90% of our residents commuting by vehicle, bottlenecks and unsafe intersections will only expand as the population increases. Construction costs are also on the rise, increasing approximately 6 percent annually. Addressing our roadway issues now protects residents and their vehicles, enhances our community’s infrastructure, and saves money.

13. Why is a sales tax proposal being considered rather than a property tax proposal?

A sales tax proposal means that everyone, including out-of-town shoppers, pays their fair share—not just Frederick’s homeowners.  

14. How can community members weigh in on the proposed transportation improvements?

Residents are encouraged to participate in the Town’s online Transportation Survey. A link to the survey appears below.  

15. When will the Town of Frederick Board of Trustees vote on whether to place a 1% sales tax on the ballot?

The final decision on whether to place a sales tax measure on the November 2023 ballot will be made by the Board this summer, allowing ample time for additional public input. 

16. What if residents have additional questions about the proposal?

Please contact:
Jason Leslie
Deputy Town Manager
720.382.5561

17. What is being done to improve Hwy 52?

While Hwy 52 is maintained by CDOT, the Town continues to communicate resident and Town interests to our CDOT partners. In 2022, the Town entered in to a multi-jurisdictional access control plan that identifies when and where access onto and from Hwy 52 should occur. As development occurs along Hwy 52, developer improvements will be made to conform to all adopted plans and traffic studies. For example, the Town is currently reviewing plans for the proposed Silverstone Marketplace development at the northwest corner of Hwy 52 and Colorado Blvd. As part of that proposed project, the applicant will be proposing to make and fund several improvements in and around Hwy 52 including:

• Intersection improvements to Hwy 52 and Colorado Blvd. 
• Intersection improvements to William Bailey and Hwy 52.
• Improvements to Hwy 52 to include turns lanes, acceleration and deceleration lanes approaching intersections.
• Hwy 52 widening adjacent to the planned development.
• Sidewalk installation along the north side of Hwy 52 providing pedestrian connectivity.
• Installation of a new intersection at 13^th St. and Colorado Blvd and extension of 13^thSt. to the West. 
• Improvements to Colorado Blvd. as needed to connect to Hwy 52 and the new proposed intersection at 13th St.

Two neighborhood meetings have already occurred for this proposed development and additional opportunities to provide input will be forthcoming during the summer. Staff anticipates going to Planning Commission and the Board of Trustees for review and consideration mid-late summer 2023.

To contact CDOT directly: Richard.christy@stateco.us 970.350.2368

18. What is the current sales tax rate in the Town of Frederick and what does a 1% increase look like in dollars?

The current combined sales tax rate in Frederick is 6.4% which the Town of Frederick receives 3.5% and the remaining 2.9% goes to the State of Colorado. The Town of Frederick’s 3.5% sales tax revenue is split three ways: general sales tax (2%), public safety (1%), and open space (.50%). If a 1% sales tax (or approximately $2.1-2.4 million depending on economic conditions) were to be approved, it would go towards transportation infrastructure and maintenance.