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RTD Wadsworth-Sheridan Parking Structure meeting held March 01, 2012
The public affairs team of the West Rail Line held a public meeting regarding the Wadsworth Blvd and Sheridan Street Park-n-Ride garages on Thursday evening, March 01, 2012 at the FasTracks West Rail Line office, 10445 West 6th Ave, Lakewood Colorado, 80215. The meeting started promptly at 6:00pm.
Notables in attendance were Andy Kerr, Colorado State Representative, HD26; Angie Malpiede, RTD Board Member, District C; Lakewood City Councilor members, Ward 1, Ramey Johnson and Ward 2 Councilor, Scott Koop & and his wife Debbie, the former Lakewood Ward 2 councilor. There was a very good representation from the Two Creeks Neighborhood Association which included, Randy and Maddie Nichols, Kathi Hasjford and Sara Farrar-Nagy. Also in attendance was Dave Ruchman, former RTD Board Member, District M, who hails from the Applewood Neighborhood area, and, last, but definitely not least, was Nattie Moore - the 90 year old civil activist from the Lakewood Gulch Area.
Representing the City of Lakewood were, Paul Rice, head wrangler from the City's planning department to make sure all construction plans are up to snuff, and Anne Heine, Lakewood City Engineer to answer all those questions that make your eyes glaze over. Special Note: RTD Board Member, Matt Cohen, District M, was absent but gave notice beforehand that he would be attending a state-wide function focused on his young son, Asher.
Up first was Brenda Tierney, RTD public outreach for the West Rail line and she briefly updated the 50 or so gathered public about the entire West Rail line construction progress. Highlights: Bridges/structures, 99% complete; stations/parking, 78%; Track, 94%; Walls & Utilities, 99%; Systems Construction, 90% and overall construction progress, 90%.
Up next was Nanci Kerr, the public outreach member of the Swinerton Construction Company who will be building both parking garages. Ms. Tierney, who introduced Ms. Kerr, told the group that Ms. Kerr would be the equivalent of Ms. Kathy Berumen, Denver Transit Construction Group, who was the public information officer for the construction of the physical line, only now, Ms. Kerr will be the new contact for the parking garages.
Ms. Kerr began with the Wadsworth Station first, and gave a quick overview of the project: The garage will be 4 stories and 1024 parking spaces. She told the group what construction activity to expect: storm sewer and lane improvements; excavation of the foundation; concrete super structure and landscaping improvements. And the most important expectations-construction will begin in Mid-March, 2012, and of course, the both structures will be open in May of 2013.
After showing the group architectural renderings of the building she briefed those present on what to expect for the off-site construction: 14th Ave and Vance Streets storm improvements; Wadsworth Blvd widening; Wadsworth and 14th Ave signal relocation.
It was at this point that a few in the crowd had a few questions about the sewer drainage along the new garage, but Anne Heine, the City of Lakewood's chief engineer quickly quelled any concerns with her professional and articulate responses.
Ms. Kerr concluded the briefing on the Wadsworth garage by informing the neighbors that the strictest "code of conduct" would be followed concerning where the construction workers could park their cars and then ended with a flow chart slide showing the construction vehicles paths that would be taken to and from the construction site.
Moving right along to the 10Ave & Sheridan site, Ms. Kerr began with the overview: 5 story structure; site design still underway; construction start estimated to be, mid-June 2012, and the opening in May of 2013. Ms. Kerr continued the slide show with the architectural renderings from all angles which then shifted to automobile, pedestrian, and bicycle flow charts.
It is at this point in the meeting that two of the most contentious points really got the local crowd fired up to express their concerns: North-side winter snow and ice accumulations, and pedestrian and bicycle cross-over confluence conflicts.
Of the two, I would consider the north-side winter shadow syndrome the most serious. From November to February of each year, it is these areas that makes snow and ice linger and linger for weeks at a time and I can't impress upon builders and developers to proceed with the utmost caution to take heed.
The locals who spoke are not speaking out because they want to poke their finger in developers eyes and impress you with their importance, it's because they know from personal experience of over 20 or more years living in this area that this is a serious concern that must be addressed. The locals bring up these passionate points, because, yes, they plan on using these very facilities that, once you build them, you will pack up your back bags and leave - leaving them with your -- baggage -- to clean up and live with for the rest of their lives.
The second contentious item was the pedestrian-bicycle traffic flow problem on the north side of the garage that traverses east and then north under the Sheridan Street Bridge to the future Sheridan Street Light Rail Station. [Please consult page 31 of the link to the RTD pdf presentation below] There is a "critical mass" confluence point where these various pedestrian and bicycles (and wheel chairs) have to pass each other to get to their destination.
I'm not a pedestrian engineer, so I don't have definitive answers for the two concerns above, but even logic dictates a covered or protected pedestrian path from the snow, and clearly painted bicycle and pedestrian paths with signage on the physical concrete and on posts telling everyone "Be considerate, and go slow."
That's about the whole meeting in a nutshell. Please click on the RTD Fastrack pdf link below for better reference. There, you will find some great architectural renderings of both garages and flow charts aplenty for those who enjoy geeky infrastructure renderings.
And remember, Mid-March is only 12 days away. Have a good spring that's around the corner and stay tuned here for updates along THE WEST CORRIDOR. | 
