A list of current and future City of Aurora & CDOT improvements along the On Havana Street Corridor

November 7th, 2022

Thank you to the City of Aurora Traffic and Transportation Planners and Engineers for keeping the District updated. Please see a list of the current and future City of Aurora & CDOT improvements along the On Havana Street Corridor.

Current projects:

• Havana Corridor Study – This corridor study was initiated in 2019 and is wrapping up now. The study includes multiple proposed projects that will be used to pursue future grant funding for multi-modal improvements. Learn More Here: https://engageaurora.org/havana-street-corridor-study
• Transit Signal Priority – The City received federal grant funding to install transit signal priority at nine (9) signal locations along Havana from Parker to Montview, as well as some curb ramp upgrades. The project is under construction now and should be completed in the next few months. This will improve bus arrival times along the corridor.
• Argenta development – the development is under construction on the west side of Havana at 4^th Way. This development is contributing to the cost of a future signal, which will be installed once federal criteria is met.
  • Warrants for a traffic signal are not currently met at this location based on volumes or crashes. While development at Argenta has continued, it does not yet generate enough traffic to require a traffic signal. If the current development pace continues, we expect a signal to be installed in the next 2-3 years.
• Havana & 4^th – Because Havana is a state highway, the City, in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Transportation, (CDOT) have reviewed this intersection multiple times over the last 2 years based on resident concerns.
  • In December 2020, CDOT replaced the northbound right turn arrow and “only” pavement markings, extended the northbound right turn channelizing asphalt striping to turn around the corner, added a strip of reflective tape around the corner of the curb on the northeast side of the intersection, and replaced the object markers on the corner.
  • In June 2022, City and CDOT hosted a public meeting for the residents in this area where all concerns were listened to and thoroughly discussed.
  • In July/August 2022, CDOT installed additional object markers, “right turn must turn right” signs, and a “thru traffic merge left” sign in the northbound direction approaching 4^th Way. The City also installed a “lane ends 1000 ft” sign on the mast arm at 1^st & Havana.
  • The City and CDOT are currently collecting survey to design a raised turn island for the northbound right turn movement. We believe this will help guide traffic in the northbound right lane to turn right at the intersection rather than using the lane to avoid queuing through traffic. The turn island should be constructed next summer 2023.
  • The actual number of crashes at this intersection is relatively low. Though there have been some crashes impacting the fence on the corner, very few crashes are considered correctable by engineering measures.

Future funded projects:

• Sidewalk improvements – The City was awarded grant funding to design and construct a missing sidewalk on Havana south of 4^th Way. This project will begin design in 2023 with construction estimated to be 2024.
• Curb extensions – The City was awarded grant funding to construct raised curb extensions at 16^th & Havana. This project will shorten pedestrian crossing distances and will provide traffic calming and safety benefits. Design is expected to begin in 2023 and construction in 2024.
• Havana & Colfax – CDOT has identified a safety project that would improve pedestrian and vehicular safety. This includes reconstructing curb ramps and rebuilding the signal. CDOT has identified funding for this project, which would likely be designed in 2023 and constructed in 2025.

Contacts for more information: