About 45 percent of the 3,000 households in unincorporated Jefferson County that received the survey responded to it. NRC, which conducted the survey for $24,700 for the county, usually sees a 25 percent to 40 percent response rate. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent.

The survey was mailed in January and closed in February. The county conducted its last citizen survey in 2004.

The survey questionnaire was limited to five pages and asked a variety of standardized questions, as well as open-ended and close-ended questions. Questions measured perceptions of the quality of life, and county services and customer service in Jefferson County. The county plans to use the report for short-term and long-term strategic planning and communications.

"This survey is tremendously helpful to the commissioners in making decisions about our county," said Commissioner Kathy Hartman, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. "We will work hard to maintain the quality of life our citizens have affirmed they enjoy, while working to improve in areas such as citizen involvement. With citizen involvement, we can build an even better county."

To view the notable results, full report or to take the online survey, see the full release.

Motherhood Programs

• Nurse Family Partnership Partners for Healthy Families offers free prenatal and early childhood nurse home visitations program for first time mothers who meet financial guidelines. Please call 303-239-7074.
• Prenatal Plus Program assures healthy birth outcomes by addressing the lifestyle, behavioral and non-medical aspects likely to effect a woman's pregnancy and overall well being. Women are seen throughout the pregnancy and for up to two months after birth. Please call 303-232-6301.
• Prenatal, Postpartum, Newborn Home Visit Program provides a home visit by a Public Health Nurse to women who have recently given birth. Home visits seek to promote healthy mother/infant interaction, prevent illness and/or injury, promote breastfeeding and assure access to community resources and follow up medical care. Please call 303-239-7003.
• WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutrition education, counseling and supplemental food program provides nutrition education and food vouchers to women and children ages five and under who meet financial guidelines. Please call 303-239-7143 in Lakewood or 303-275-7510 in Arvada.

Sixth Avenue Bridge Roll-Out a Success
Crews building the FasTracks West Corridor Light Rail Line re-opened West 6th Avenue 30 hours ahead of schedule, after placing the
"signature bridge" over 6th Avenue this weekend. The work was completed earlier than expected,
allowing crews to re-open the highway just after midnight on Saturday. The westbound lanes opened at 11:30 p.m. followed by the eastbound lanes one hour later at 12:30 a.m. The roll-out of the main span of a double-track light rail bridge across 6th Avenue just east of Simms/Union could have taken up to 30 hours, but favorable conditions decreased that time to just 14 hours. Completing operations early and getting 6th Avenue open substantially decreased the impact this closure had on traveling motorists.

• Crews have closed the bike path just south of the complex.
• Excavation for the large retaining wall north of the bike path has begun and outbound traffic is being detoured to Jefferson County Parkway.
• Crews have closed the furthest south parking lots and the temporary parking lot on the north side is available for overflow parking.
• Construction will continue for several months and will include retaining wall construction, a new parking structure, underground utility relocations and the Jeffco Govt. Center light rail station.
• Wall construction along the east and west sides of Ulysses has begun, requiring the continued closure of Ulysses from 6th Avenue north to Mt. Vernon Road.
• A full closure of 6th Avenue at Indiana is scheduled in late spring to set the steel girders that will cover the gap over 6th Avenue and Indiana. Prior notification of this closure will be posted for traveling motorists and email notification will be sent to local residents and businesses.

• The ramp will move to the west, under the light rail bridge over Colfax.
• Crews will move into 6th Avenue to set the median caisson for the CDOT sign bridge in early May. This activity will require approximately 10 days of lane closures on eastbound 6th Avenue. Again, prior notification will be provided before these lane closures go into effect.