The transportation engineering and planning team guides the transportation design, planning and implementation of projects and programs to ensure that current and future investments support Westminster's Strategic Plan and other citywide and regional goals for a safer and more connected and accessible transportation network.
The team of engineers and planners specializes in the delivery of projects and innovative initiatives, strategies and policies to improve transportation options including:
- Engages in shaping regional and state transportation policy and programs
- Implements bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements and programs
- Ensures new developments support ease of mobility
- Supports citywide programs that improve the quality of life for residents and visitors
- Conducts near- and long-term transportation studies
- Completes traffic counts, speed studies and safety evaluations
- Plans and designs the city's traffic signals, roadway signs, pavement markings
- Manages city parking lots and garages
For information about roadway standards and specifications for the design and construction of public and private improvements, please visit the Engineering Division’s Standards and Specifications page.
Transportation & Mobility Plan
In mid-2019, the city will begin the development of Westminster's first Transportation & Mobility Plan - a community-driven plan to address near- and long-term multimodal transportation and mobility needs of residents, commuters and visitors. The plan will include goals, objectives, and recommendations for strategic actions and investments to provide safer and more efficient, connected, and accessible transportation options in Westminster. Visit the Transportation & Mobility webpage for more information.
Comprehensive Roadway Plan
Westminster's Comprehensive Roadway Plan was updated and adopted by Westminster City Council in 2008. The Roadway Plan evaluated traffic conditions, identified improvements to mitigate deficiencies, identified and prioritized long-range roadway transportation improvements, and explores opportunities to enhance linkages between the city’s vehicular transportation system and that of the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
Westminster's Transportation & Mobility Plan, anticipated completion in late 2020, will replace the Comprehensive Roadway Plan. Key components of the Comprehensive Roadway Plan will be integrated and updated in the TMP.
Mobility Action Plan
Westminster’s Mobility Action Plan (MAP), completed in 2017, identified and studied challenges to multimodal travel (e.g., walking, biking, taking the bus or light rail) in the city. Based on extensive public involvement and data analysis, MAP is a comprehensive plan, addressing over 80 sidewalk, bikeway, and transit infrastructure needs, programs, and policies.
Through MAP efforts, the city envisions to deliver walking, bicycling, transit, driving, and carpooling options that support active living for people of all ages and abilities, provide for safer transportation, and improve the economic and health of the city and its citizens. Recommendations in the Plan help connect the public and take advantage of great community assets, including Downtown Westminster, the Westminster Station area, RTD’s Flatiron Flyer BRT, our numerous parks, trails, shopping destinations and more. The Plan also showcases five near-term demonstration projects.
Westminster's Transportation & Mobility Plan, anticipated completion in late 2020, will replace the MAP. Key components of the MAP will be integrated and updated in the TMP.
Street Lights
As part of the city’s effort to become an environmentally responsible, the city is upgrading arterial and collector street lights throughout Westminster from the older high pressure sodium and mercury vapor lights to more efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights. LED street lights consume less power and last longer than the sodium lights, so they cost less to operate and need to be replaced less often. New developments are required to install LED street lights and will need to follow the standards and specification listed below.
The city continues to use Xcel Energy along our roadways. Outages or repairs of street lights within city limits can be reported directly to Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-4999 or submit an online request to Xcel Energy.
Traffic Signals
Traffic signals are an important component of the city’s transportation network. They control the flow of all modes of transportation including vehicles, buses, pedestrians, and bicycles at intersections throughout the city. Transportation engineers and technicians are responsible for the design, operation and maintenance all traffic signal equipment on Westminster streets. The city follows the Manual of uniform Control Devices (MUTCD) to determine whether a particular location justifies a traffic signal. For more information about traffic signal warrants, please read CDOT’s Traffic Signal Brochure.
Traffic Counts
Traffic counts have many uses during project development and studies including to help inform how to set timing of traffic signals, determine the number of lanes needed at an intersection or along a street, identify intersection improvement needs, calculate crash rates, and to gauge the growth (or decline) in traffic over time.
In 2017, the city conducted road segment count in all major arterials in Westminster. Road segment counts tells us the level of activity on a road for an entire day, or even several days. Automatic Traffic Recorders (ATRs) are used to log every vehicle that passes in each direction, from which we calculate daily traffic volumes for the street. Use the links below to see learn more about traffic counts.