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.
More than 20 members of the community representing agencies such as the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO), the City of Fort Collins, Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, Envision, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Cycling Without Age, and citizens participated in the 2-hour assessment.
Participants split into two groups to assess walkability and accessibility in-and-around Downtown Severance and along the Great Western Trail. Each group walked the entirety of the route. One group started the audit on the Great Western Trail while the other group began in Downtown Severance.
The route is displayed here.
In addition to taking notes with pen and paper, each group documented the pedestrian experience utilizing the NFRMPO Bike & Pedestrian Safety Reporter Tool . In total, 33 unique reports were made using this tool during the audit.
These reports are displayed here. Feel free to click on individual reports to explore participant's comments. For those who want to take a deeper dive, the end of this story map walks through all the media and comments submitted to the Bike & Ped Safety Reporter Tool during this walk audit.
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:
1. The Great Western Trail Crossing
There is no marked crosswalks or any indication that there is a trail crossing. There is no stop sign on Weld County Road 74. Participants felt that this crossing was unsafe.
2. Sidewalk Accessibility
Sidewalks across the town are not wheelchair accessible. Many sidewalks are too narrow, in poor condition, have trees growing over them, or are at an angle that makes it difficult to navigate for individuals using mobility devices, including wheelchairs or strollers.
3. Great Western Trail Accessibility
The Great Western Trail is not accessible, and can pose issues for individuals in mobility devices, kids, or older adults. Pedestrian bridges that connect the trail to access points in Severance have a steep grade.
4. Lack of Shade
There was very little shade throughout the route, especially on the Great Western Trail. This creates an unpleasant pedestrian environment on hot, sunny days.
5. Lack of Wayfinding Signs
There are limited wayfinding signs throughout the town, which makes it difficult for pedestrians or cyclists to know where to go. There are connector trails that do not appear to be a public trail, so wayfinding signs would be beneficial.
6. Roads with no Sidewalks
There are various roads throughout the town that do not have a sidewalk. This is dangerous for pedestrians who need to use these routes.
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:
3rd Avenue & 1st Street
Google Streetview of 3rd Avenue & 1st Street facing north.
1st Street and 4th Avenue
Google Streetview of 1st Street and 4th Avenue facing south.
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.
Central Avenue and Broadview Drive
Google Streetview of Central Avenue and Broadview Drive facing northwest.
Central Avenue and Mallard Drive
Google Streetview of Central Avenue and Mallard Drive facing northwest.
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.
