Colorado Springs officials respond Monday to skepticism about possible future traffic, safety changes along North Nevada Avenue

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Neighbors in the historic Old North End neighborhood are expressing concern about proposed changes along Nevada Avenue, just north of the Colorado College campus, that they say would negatively impact larger homes and yards on both sides of the busy street.

According to neighbors, a recently-completed draft by the city's public works department as part of the ConnectCOS long-range planning document would change Nevada Ave. through the neighborhood from a "minor arterial" roadway to a "principal arterial."

Neighbors fear that the change would likely increase the number of traffic lanes from four to six, resulting in faster speeds and heavier traffic congestion -- at a time when residents are already concerned about existing traffic and safety issues.

Additionally, neighbors say that such a change would eliminate on-street parking, residential driveways, traffic crossings at minor streets, stops signs, and provide fewer pedestrian crosswalks.

Such a change, neighbors say, would threaten their neighborhood by making Nevada Ave. more like busier corridors such as Academy Boulevard, Austin Bluffs Parkway, Union Avenue and Woodmen Road.

Neighbors also say that the proposal is scheduled to be considered by the city's planning commission in two weeks, and that city officials didn't provide advance notice about the draft to the neighborhood or to the Nevada Street Safety Committee.

Tim Roberts, a transportation planning manager for the city, responded to the concerns.

"First, we're not widening Nevada through the Old North End," he said. "With the trees lining the median , there isn't enough room to add lanes. Changing its designation from minor to arterial doesn't change how the street is used, but it does make grant funding available for improvements. We've been communicating with the residents and will continue to, but all of these things that they're worried about are not going to happen."

In fact, Roberts said that the city is studying upgrades along two different stretches of Nevada; the largely residential area through the Old North End, and the commercial area between Fillmore Street and Garden of the Gods Road.

"Fillmore to Garden of the Gods is substandard right now," he explained. "There's no curb and gutter, there's no drainage infrastructure. So we need to bring that part of the roadway up to standard, to allow for development."

Roberts added that the only change considered through the Old North End is roundabouts or other structures designed to reduce traffic speeds.

That brings mixed feelings from Joseph and Stephanie Ivanov, who have lived along the avenue for several years.

"I actually like roundabouts," Stephanie said. "I think they really make people stop and focus on where they're going, because they have to follow that circle or get into a wreck."

The city says that any changes are several years away, and Joseph suggested steps that are less expensive, more effective and can be initiated quickly.

"They should do what they did along Cascade Avenue behind us," he said. "I would argue that just painting and safety-sizing is the cheapest, most effective and safest way. You can do that very soon, it's not deep in the city's pockets."

The Ivanovs say that they no longer allow their children to play in their front yard.

"We've seen fatal crashes, we've seen pedestrians barely avoid getting hit, we've seen cars crash into people's yards and homes," Joseph said. "Nothing has been done to improve safety along Nevada and something needs to be done now."

Roberts said a vote on the matter by the city's planning commission was expected in two weeks but has now been moved to January.

Public comment on North Nevada Avenue is open through Dec. 6.