Public transit is an integral part of Colorado's multimodal transportation system providing mobility to thousands of residents and visitors throughout the state. Not only does transit connect residents, employees, and visitors to major activity centers for jobs, schools, shopping, medical care, and recreation, but it also promotes greater personal independence. Provision of transit services contribute greatly to the economic, social, and environmental health of the state and provide many benefits to individuals and communities in both rural and urban areas from fostering economic development along routes and at station locations to creating mobility options for all.
This research monitored the effectiveness of a wildlife mitigation project on SH 9 in Grand County Colorado. The purpose of the mitigation was to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions while providing permeability for wildlife across the highway. was designed to improve driver safety while allowing for wildlife movement across the road. This study uses motion-activated cameras and WVC crash and carcass data to determine how successful the mitigation measures are.
Historically the Colorado Department of Highways has approved roadside sign material based on data obtained using the weatherometer. While the weatherometer gives some comparative performance data related to UV stability and exposure to moisture, the true performance is best measured under actual field conditions. An outdoor exposure deck was constructed to test sign materials for their field performance and expected longevity. Sample materials were split into three pieces, one for the weatherometer testing, one for the outdoor exposure deck, and one to remain in original condition for later comparison. This report describes the construction of the deck, and the sheeting results after three years of exposure to Colorado weather.
This report covers the pre-construction, construction and the first evaluation following construction at the following locations: I-25, Colorado Boulevard; I-25, Pueblo; Highway 85, Santa Fe Avenue; and I-70, Flagler. An additional project has been added that will be constructed during the 1992 construction season. This project is located on Brighton Boulevard between I-70 and Sand Creek. This project will contain a section with Type I polymer, a section with Type III polymer and also a section with no binder.
Swareflex wildlife warning reflectors were installed on a four-mile section of road near Denver. Two half-mile test sections were alternately covered and uncovered for a three-month period to see if any significant change in deer-vehicle accidents could be detected. No accidents occurred in the test sections during the evaluation period. The cover/uncover evaluation method proved too costly for the limited budget of this study. Photometric measurements of the reflectors have been made using vehicle headlights as the light source. The use of wildlife warning reflectors should be discontinued until more evidence is available on their effectiveness--especially on mule deer. A regional pooled-fund study should be started to investigate the effect of the reflectors on mule deer. This needs to be a large-scale effort to obtain results in a short period of time and to ensure validity.
