Severance Walk Audit

Facilitated by the Northern Colorado Bike & Ped Collaborative

On August 10th, 2022, the  Northern Colorado Bike & Ped Collaborative  conducted a walk audit of the Town of Severance.

Participants from the August 10th, 2022 walk audit assess the Great Western Trail Crossing of Weld County Road 74 in Severance.

What is a Walk Audit?

As succinctly put by the non-profit  America Walks , a walk audit is "an assessment of the pedestrian safety, accessibility, and comfort of a particular area."

Walk audits can range from being informal solo undertakings to being an organized group activity featuring a checklist for participants to document current walking conditions, identify current barriers to safety and comfort, as well as document positive features of the built environment.

The partners who facilitated this walk audit wanted to ensure that the perspective of people of all ages and abilities were taken into account.


Key Themes

Reviewing and synthesizing the 33 reports submitted in the NFRMPO Bike & Pedestrian Safety Reporter and notes compiled by participants revealed a few overarching themes relating to the pedestrian experience Severance:


Key Corridors and Intersections

1. 1st Street

 The pedestrian experience along 1st Street can be considered unpleasant in general but is especially so at the following intersections:

2. Central Avenue

The pedestrian experience on Central Avenue is not Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible. Participants expressed concerns about the curb cuts and the curb design, which can be difficult for individuals in mobility devices or individuals with vision impairments.


Recommendations and Takeaways

Walk audit participants recommended the following list of changes to improve the pedestrian experience in Severance:

  • The Town of Severance should implement more wayfinding signs to help guide pedestrians
  • The installation of high-visibility crosswalks at important intersections could increase pedestrian safety by guiding pedestrians and alterting drivers to a crossing location
  • Building additional sidewalks along key corridors would enhance pedestrian options and would make these corridors safer
  • Planting more trees along corridors to provide shade would create a more pleasant pedestrian experience
  • Ensuring that sidewalks are clear of foliage would ensure that everyone will be able to use those passageways
  • Ensuring crosswalks, tactile surfaces, and other pedestrian infrastructure are in good condition and predictable to make it safer for individuals with visual impairments to cross at intersections

Walk Audit Tools and Resources

Organizations located in Larimer or Weld Counties interested in facilitating a walk audit are welcome to reach out to planning@nfrmpo.org for technical assistance.


Participants from the August 10th, 2022 walk audit assess the Great Western Trail Crossing of Weld County Road 74 in Severance.