Community Preferences Survey Comments As part of the Vision 2030 process, Castle Rock residents were asked to complete a Community Preferences Survey administered on the Town’s website. Nearly 500 individuals completed the survey. Following are open-ended comments provided in response to specific questions. Due to the volume of feedback received, similar comments have been grouped by topic under each question. Question 1. Do you have any additional feedback on the goals that are proposed to be carried forward? Transportation • I feel the transportation system is extremely important to our future in all aspects. • We need to be a part of the RTD so we can have Bus and Light Rail service from Castle Rock to Downtown Denver and surrounding areas ie. Boulder, Golden and DIA (everywhere lightrail services today and plans to service in the future). Those of us who commute which are the majority need Light Rail all the way down to Castle Rock to relieve traffic congestion on I-25 and help with the emission levels. • Bring back the FREE Clean Air Shuttle in Town. This served a vital link for seniors and youth in the town. • "Traffic: traffic planning seems to be lacking behind the overall growth. Traffic flow especially around the Meadows is terrible. • Loss of public transportation in town has been detrimental - shuttle, FREX, RTD • Public Transportation: Why do we pay taxes for RTD but have no public transportation in Castle Rock. • Under community planning, goal 5, I wonder of the ability to develop public transportation links, particularly if RTD is involved. • In regards to Community Planning Goal #5, in addition to creating new connections between roads and highways (such as the proposed North Meadows connection), it is pertinent that traffic flow on the current thoroughfares, especially Founders Parkway, is altered in such a manner as to support the growing number of cars in the town (ie. adjusting signal timing, turn lanes, on ramps, etc.) • We need to be connected to the Denver Public Transportation System." • We need to stay on top of traffic and ensure it is part of the growth plan to 100,000. Nothing is worse than growth without the roadway / traffic problems addressed. If we plan to grow to 100k, we need a plan to handle traffic for 150k. This is a huge quality of life issue. Overall excellent goals. • Spend less money on trails - - use money for public transportation. Why the town gov't ever eliminated the CATCO bus service, I'll never know. Elderly, school children, and special needs people NEED this. Many depended on it to get to work, doctors, and grocery stores. • The public transit part of Community Services, Goal 2 has been forgotten. Do you have any additional feedback on the goals that are proposed to be carried forward? Transportation • Build the connector from The Meadows to Santa Fe and I-25 that I've been hearing about for about the last 10 years." • I think a way to get to the airport without a car would be great but not at the visual expense of a rail system into town. Some kind of park and ride that was in town and went direct to the airport. Not the basic shuttle that drives around picking up people." • The streets need to be expanded prior to development so the traffic doesn't get any worse than it already is. • Community Services - while street trees and landscaping are nice elements, a focus on traffic control/flow and more efficient infrastructure should be the goal. Driving throughout Douglas County I have noticed that many of the cities have poorly timed stoplights which leads to traffic backup. Castle Rock's light timing is somewhat better than cities like Lone Tree and Centennial but it could be improved, especially in high traffic areas like Meadows Parkway. As a resident of the Meadows, it is very concerning that it can take 15 mins to reach the I25 on- ramp from my house. Completing the lanes that start by the new hospital that lead into the Meadows on Meadows Parkway that have been sitting unused would also be a huge help. I would love to see improvements in traffic flow be a priority going forward, as an increasing population will only make matters worse. • Improve founders parkway. It is to overcrowded and congested. • Community Services, Goal 2 should including extending light rail services to Castle Rock." • We need to alleviate traffic congestion in the meadows and along Founders Parkway. It gets very bogged down in those areas. • Having lived here nearly 20 years, it is clear we are in dire need of transportation solutions. What we don't understand is why the town would approve all the building upon Founders and 25 creating a very dangerous area to travel to. And why put in the new Meadows ram onto 25 to ease the Meadows horrible traffic and then turn around and allow for the development fora new upscale shopping center next to the Factory Outlets? We almost moved out of Castle Rock this year for some of these very reasons. If you're going to tout Castle Rock as a Senior community then please make it safe for those of us who are most likely to be run over by the growth. • Along the lines of transportation I think that extending the RTD Lightrail line as well as creating a "Park-n-Ride" would allow greater accommodation for residents, especially since a good majority of the residents work in the Denver Metro area. Extending the the Lightrail from the current Lincoln Station in Centennial all the way through town. • I think it's important for the town to work on providing more safe bicycle and walking paths that connect the housing subdivisions with the town center. My greatest concern is that the town build a bicycle/walking path along Ridge Road between Plum Creek Pkwy & Mikelson. We need to support other types of transportation besides automobiles for the sake of the environment and health of our citizens. • I'm not sure how to phrase this, but attention should be paid not just to roads, but how the traffic lights control traffic, as we have more and more vehicles using our roads. For example, driving from the Meadows to King Soopers by I25 can be a nightmare during busy hours. Part of the problem is that at certain minor intersections (especially around the schools and near the movie theater) a single car will immediately trigger a light change--while dozens of cars from each direction must come to a stop. Inefficient traffic light control sometimes leads to cars 2 Do you have any additional feedback on the goals that are proposed to be carried forward? Transportation backed up from the intersection of Meadows Parkway and Santa Fe Dr. to Limelight Ave. Recently, traffic from the Meadows was so bad that I drove down to Wolfensberger Rd to get on I25 North to go to King Soopers. • "Need traffic light engineering as many lights are way out of sync and is causing traffic problems and unnecessary delays. Planning, zoning and road engineering plans need to be revisited as many buildings are placed too close to the road. Egress and ingress plans are not as efficient as can be along with turning radiuses being too tight. Lane switching and turn lanes are not set up properly in all areas to facilitate the flow of traffic. Bike and foot trail plans need to be removed in order to tie in effectively with other communities and towns. Castlewood Canyon is a good example. Joe Albers - 4860 Bluesky Dr., Castle Rock, 80109." • There is a need for some form of public transportation to Denver metro area. I know of people that have left because of traffic on I-25 has become so bad and we are considering moving also. A connection to the light rail system would be ideal. Castle Rock does not have the jobs to support the people that live here. Whether you like it or not Castle Rock is a bedroom community for Denver and the town needs to realize it. • Are you really ready for the growth of this great city? I wholeheartedly doubt it. Two things that must be done is either widen Plum Creek Blvd. so people don’t line up in the right lane coming down to the I25. Either people cut in front of those that wait honestly or those that wait and wait have to get in the left lane and cut in. Make a right hand turn lane. Are we going to be ready for the traffic? What happens coming down from the Meadows is a disgrace. God forbid there is ever a fire up there. How will people get out? My 3 grandchildren and daughter live in the Meadows and they are scared and so am I. Please stop thinking about more and more growth in too small an area in favor of MONEY!!!! What are the City Planner's credentials? You folks can't see the forest from the trees. Sheldon Buch • We are already experiencing major back ups at certain times of the day. Please put this additional exit out of the Meadows back on the priority list. It is a seriously needed! • What about transportation services • The Town is doing a great job and these are good goals. I would like to see RTD bus service here, as well as a larger college campus. • Pursue public transportation; lower business property tax and business tax; support small business! • Public transit is an issue for us.