Courtesy Sarah Wieck, Town of Fraser
Following the completion of the pedestrian safety improvement project on US Highway 40 in Fraser, the town plans to install additional features to boost safety and downtown walkability.
On Wednesday, the town board approved a resolution to purchase solar-powered crosswalk lights for the new medians installed earlier this summer, an estimated $76,000 expense.
“Over the last year, there’s been a significant improvement to safety along US 40 out there but … since then we’ve heard from the public and also the board, so to be responsive to that, we’ve gotten some prices for lighting improvements,” Public Works Director Russell Pennington said.
He added that the costs for purchasing the lights and installation were already in the town’s budget and going solar helps keep costs down because the town can avoid installing electricity in the medians.
The lights will go up at all three crosswalks in downtown Fraser, at Park, Fraser and Byers Avenues.
Pennington said the timing for installation will be based on the weather, but the town is aiming for an April or May installation. The project also depends on approval from the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The public works department will also be putting up more reflectors on the curved sections of the road and reflecting tape on the poles in the medians.
Trustee Andy Miller was happy to hear the town is taking steps to address the concerns voiced by residents.
“It would be nice to have them lit this winter, but that’s a pretty tough challenge in the middle of wintertime with traffic and weather,” Miller said.
In other business:
• Fraser’s town board approved its 2020 budget by a vote of 5-2. Trustees Ryan Barwick and Parnell Quinn voted against the budget.
• In conjunction with the 2020 budget, the board also approved the town’s financial policies, which outline how much the town should have in reserves.
• The town board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Headwaters Trails Alliance for a trails economic impact study. The town committed $5,000 to the study, which will determine how outdoor recreation impacts the county economically.