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ES-1 Transportation Master Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 1987, the City of Brighton completed the Brighton Transportation Study to identify a street network plan to serve existing and proposed development within and adjacent to the City. Since 1987, the City has experienced rapid growth in population and is currently evaluating a number of large development proposals. To complement a recently adopted comprehensive plan, the City of Brighton initiated this transportation master plan update in late 2000. The purpose of this transportation master plan update is to develop a multi-modal transportation plan that reflects current city transportation requirements and anticipates future growth needs. Designed as a guide for city staff, developers and local citizens, the transportation master plan is designed to develop an updated major street network plan and integrate transportation plans developed by the City for other modes into a single document. The major task of this transportation master plan update was to develop an updated major thoroughfare plan for the City and the immediate surrounding area. The study area for developing an updated Major Thoroughfare Plan for the Brighton area is bounded by the following facilities: • Yosemite (on the west) • I-76 (on the east), including industrial developments immediately east of I-76 • Weld County Road 4 (on the north) • 120th (on the south) At the heart of the effort was the development of a computerized traffic model of 2020 peak hour traffic conditions in the City based on the latest Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) traffic model and land uses, supplemented with updated 2020 land use forecasts from the City of Brighton Planning Department as well as the Adams County Transportation Plan. The forecasted 2020 traffic volumes are based on anticipated growth and development of future planning areas as well as the potential transportation impact of development in adjacent cities and unincorporated area. Traffic forecasts from this model were used to develop the recommended proposed street network that defined this plan’s Major Thoroughfare Plan. Working closely with City of Brighton planning staff, the DRCOG land uses for the model area were updated to reflect current development proposals and other anticipated developments. Some of the larger development plans that have been incorporated into the 2020 land use plan are: • Mountain View Estates I & II • The Preserve • Chapel Hill • Carma • Brighton East Farms • Todd Creek ---PAGE BREAK--- ES-2 Transportation Master Plan • Pheasant Ridge • Platte River Ranch • Sugar Creek • Parkside • The Village • Bromley Park • Hishinuma • Palizzi • Case Farm • Indigo Trails • Diedrichs Farm • Davis • Prairie Center • Silver Peaks - Lochbuie The initial or “base case” roadway network that was analyzed was the current transportation plan from the 1999 Comprehensive Plan. The initial test network also included all of the ultimate US 85 access recommendations contained in the US 85 Access Control Plan, I-76 to WCR 80. Based on the deficiencies noted in the “base case” analysis, an iterative analysis of required transportation network improvements needed to serve 2020 travel demands was performed. The resulting recommended Major Thoroughfare Plan and the forecast 2020 traffic demand on the proposed roadway network are shown on Figure 4-4 in the body of this report. The aggregate construction cost to implement the recommended Major Thoroughfare Plan is $418 million (year 2000 dollars, excludes collector streets). From the Major Thoroughfare Plan, a number of projects were selected as near-term priority projects. The list includes interchanges on US 85 that were classified as “Medium Priority” or “High Priority” in the US 85 Access Control Plan. Roadway projects selected for inclusion in the near-term priority plan included: • Roadways that are currently nearing capacity or are over capacity, or those expected to do so over the next 10 years. • Roadways needed to serve the fast-growing eastern portion of the City. • Roadways needed to serve E-470 once it is open. Existing plans for other transportation modes, including mass transit and bicycles/pedestrians, were assembled and integrated into this document.