Colorado Boulevard Protected Bike Facilities

Project Overview

To advance local priorities and create an accessible, multimodal transportation network, the city of Thornton is undertaking the Colorado Boulevard Separated Bike Facility Study to address multimodal mobility needs along Colorado Boulevard from 88th Avenue to the E470 interchange. This project will study the feasibility of different types of separated bike facilities, such as multiuse side paths, cycle tracks, or protected bike lanes, for various sections of the 8.25-mile-long corridor and complete a preliminary design. Protected bike facilities provide physical separation between vehicles and bicycles, creating a safer, more comfortable environment for biking. The study is funded through a Transportation Improvement Program grant administered by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (TIP-ID 2024-017).

A person walks along a wide sidewalk beside a section of Colorado Boulevard with two lanes in each direction, a center turn lane, and bicycle lanes on both sides. A tall wooden fence lines the left side, while a grass buffer with streetlights separates the sidewalk from the road. The vehicle traffic is light with only a few cars traveling towards and away from the pedestrian in the distance.

Public outreach during the development of Thornton’s Transportation Mobility Master Plan (TMMP) revealed the following are considered the top barriers to bicycling in Thornton, as identified by residents:

Busy streets
Lack of connectivity of comfortable bicycling facilities
Disconnected trails
Insufficient or poorly marked bike lanes

Focusing on improving the bicycle network by adding separation between bicyclists and vehicle traffic can help provide safer, more efficient, easier-to-navigate, and higher-comfort multimodal facilities to accommodate people of all ages and abilities and break down barriers to multimodal travel.

An isometric view of a section of Colorado Boulevard with two lanes in each direction, a center turn lane, bicycle lanes on both sides, and a right turn lane at the signalized intersection in the distance. Dashed lines mark parts of the bicycle lane, indicating the mixing zone where vehicles must merge through the bicycle lanes to reach the right turn lane. Traffic, including a city bus and several cars, drive by or queue at the traffic light.

Colorado Boulevard is a major north/south arterial roadway. The majority of the corridor, from 88th Avenue to 136th Avenue, is included in the Thornton's Vision Zero High-Injury and High-Risk Network, which identifies roadways with the greatest risk and highest occurrence of fatal and serious-injury crashes. While there are on-street bike lanes in some sections of the study corridor, high vehicle speeds and volumes create a stressful bicycling environment that is uncomfortable for users of all ages and abilities. Due to the current bicycling environment and history of serious and frequent crashes, the city of Thornton has prioritized Colorado Boulevard as a key corridor to address bicycle network gaps and focus safety improvements.

Get involved!

We want to hear from you! The project team will be popping up at local events and destinations to hear about your experiences on Colorado Boulevard, answer questions, and gather feedback. The success of this project relies on the voices of community members who live, work, and travel along Colorado Boulevard. Participate and speak with the project team at future events and pop-ups.

Timeline and Key Milestones

Project Commencement: Spring 2026
Existing Conditions Analysis: Spring 2026
Public Engagement Phase 1: Spring/Summer 2026
Alternatives Analysis: Summer/Fall 2026
Public Engagement Phase 2: Fall 2026
Preliminary (30%) Design and Final Study: Winter 2026/Spring 2027

Questions

Please contact David.Marsh@ThorntonCO.gov with any questions.

Colorado Boulevard Protected Bike Facilities

Project Overview

Why Separated Bike Facilities?

Why Colorado Boulevard?

Get involved!

Timeline and Key Milestones

Questions