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City of Lakewood weekly newsletterMarch 21, 2014
In This Issue
Meetings with residents
Helicopter training
Healthy Patterson
Plant pinwheels
HAWK signal
now operating
 
Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy pushed the button this week to launch the operation of an innovative traffic signal that assists pedestrians with crossing heavily used Union Boulevard.

Watch the event at 
Mayor Murphy used the High-intensity Activated Cross Walk signal, also known as a HAWK signal, which serves the Federal Center Station for the W Line. The signal makes it safer and easier for pedestrians to cross Union to access the station and the businesses, office buildings and restaurants along the boulevard.

With the nearby Federal Center campus for the federal government and St. Anthony Medical Center, the Federal Center Station serves the Union corridor, which is home to about 13,000 jobs.

The signal handles the interaction of pedestrians and motorists more efficiently because it allows safe crossings but stops traffic only long enough to accomplish the crossings. At standard intersections with traditional traffic signals, pedestrian crossings prompt the signal to run through a complete, and longer, cycle before allowing traffic to flow again

Learn more, see an animation of the signal or watch a video about how the signal works at www.Lakewood.org/HawkSignal.


How the HAWK works
To motorists, the signal looks like a triangular arrangement of a traditional stoplight, and the yellow and red lights indicate that motorists need to take the same actions as they would with a traditional traffic signal.

When motorists see a solid yellow light, they need to slow down to stop. When they see a solid red light, they need to stop. When they see a flashing red light, just as with a traditional signal when it encounters operational problems, motorists need to stop and only proceed when it is safe to do so.

The same is true for pedestrians. When they see the "raised hand" known as the "Don't Walk" signal, they should not cross the street. When it's time to cross, pedestrians will receive the "Walk" signal of the "walking person" symbol. As they are crossing the street, pedestrians will see a countdown of the time they have for crossing the street before the signal changes.

Once a pedestrian presses the walk button, a yellow light in the lower portion of the triangle will flash, signaling drivers that a pedestrian wants to cross. The flashing yellow light will then turn a solid yellow to warn motorists to slow down to stop.

Next, the top two lights in the triangle will turn red, requiring motorists to stop. The pedestrian receives the signal to cross the street at this time. As the pedestrian crosses the street, the top two lights will remain red and flash. At this point, the flashing red lights function the same way as a stop sign. The flashing lights indicate that motorists may proceed after stopping as soon as it's safe for both the motorists and pedestrian.
March meetings
 with residents

Ward 3 meeting
Shakti and Pete Roybal, City Council representatives for Ward 3, will discuss the needs of older adults when they meet with residents from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 22 at Phillips United Methodist Church, 1450 S. Pierce St.

Check on any updates or cancellations at www.Lakewood.org/CityCouncil.
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If  you have events or information for future Friday Reports, please e-mail your information to Stacie Oulton at staoul@lakewood.org before noon on Wednesdays or call (303) 987-7050. 

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City Council Update

Monday, March 24: 7 p.m., Regular City Council Meeting

Pending agenda items: Reading proclamations for National Crime Victims' Rights Week and Child Abuse Prevention Month. Council will consider setting the date for a public hearing to purchase property needed for the construction of sidewalks on Quail Street and West 13th Avenue to provide pedestrian connections to the Oak and Wadsworth stations on the W Line. Council also will consider setting the date for a public hearing for buying property from Xcel Energy to build recreational trail connections. (Agenda items reflect the latest available information and are subject to change.)
News & Events

 

Training exercise at Bear Creek Lake Park
The Colorado National Guard will conduct helicopter training for firefighting situations during various times of the day from Tuesday, March 25 through Thursday, March 27 and again on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 at Lakewood's Bear Creek Lake Park, 15600 W. Morrison Road. Please do not be alarmed. This is only a training exercise, which is for routine purposes and not an indication of any current conditions in the park or the surrounding area. For more information, please call the park's Visitor Center at 303-697-6159.

10 weeks to Colfax marathon
Run through the metro area's best landmarks in Colorado's springtime marathon, the Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon. The marathon runs through Mile High Stadium and the great Glens neighborhood and by the historic Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design campus in Lakewood as does the 10 miler. The half marathon traverses the Denver Zoo, and the five-person marathon relay, 10 miler or 5K heads through Denver City Park as well. Choose your race for the May 17-18 weekend of events at www.RunColfax.com.

Top jazz band in Lakewood
A taste of New Orleans hits the stage in Lakewood at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 25 as a member of the Crescent City's first family of jazz and a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Jason Marsalis brings his energetic quartet to the Lakewood Cultural Center. Tickets are available at 303-987-7845, the Box Office or www.Lakewood.org/Tickets.

Joint Lakewood, Morrison meeting
The Lakewood Planning Commission and the Morrison Town Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. on March 27 in the DAT conference room on the first floor of the Civic Center's north building, 480 S. Allison Parkway. The meeting is for the administrative review and comment on the proposed Phase I Final Development Plan for Solterra West Planning Area 7 as required by the Rooney Valley Intergovernmental Agreement. These comments will be forwarded to the Joint Project Review Committee for consideration at a public hearing. For more information, please call the Planning Department at 303-987-7500.

Subdivision approved
Lakewood's planning director has approved a subdivision application to replat property at 1322 Marshall St. into one lot and one tract lot. That review ensured that all lots have adequate street access, utilities, and adequate lot width and size. For more information, contact Principal Planner Paul Rice at 303-987-7725 or pauric@lakewood.org.

In the Schools

 

Patterson runs after health
The Healthy School Committee at Patterson International School in Lakewood has worked hard to make health a priority in the school. The 12-person committee is enthusiastic about the work, and the members have great ideas for taking on new health initiatives. Starting a 100 Mile Club has brought such a sense of excitement and community to the school. As many as 75 students and parents show up before school to get a run in before school starts.

In the Community

 

Plant pinwheel garden for children
Show you care about kids by planting a pinwheel garden this April for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Your business, church, school, front yard or civic organization can "plant" a garden of blue pinwheels to help support child victims of abuse and the Ralston House child advocacy center, which works in collaboration with law enforcement, social services and the district attorney's office to investigate child abuse and help children and families begin to heal. For more information, call Ashley Irlando at the Ralston House at 720-898-6744 or visit www.RalstonHouse.net.

Construction affecting Sixth Avenue
As part of the U.S. 6 Bridges Project, crews have been working nightly to demolish portions of the bridge deck over Interstate 25. The demolition work, originally scheduled to be complete March 20, has been extended through at least Tuesday, March 25. Learn more at www.coloradodot.info/projects/US6Bridges.

Tour fire training center
Reserve your spot today for a Leadership Jefferson County Alumni Association Advanced Program at the West Metro Fire Rescue Training Center at 3535 S. Kipling St., 8-11 a.m. April 10. To learn more and to register, please visit www.westchamber.org/events.

Vote for Foothills shelter
The Foothills Animal Shelter has been selected by Citywide Banks as one of only seven charities that could potentially win $5,000. For more information on how to vote by March 31, visit www.FoothillsAnimalShelter.org/Citywide.

Moms get help to quit smoking
Although 45 percent of women who smoke quit during pregnancy, half of them resume smoking after bringing baby home. At Exempla Lutheran Medical Center, a new program will provide education and intervention to help new moms quit smoking or keep them from starting again, thanks to Amendment 35 tobacco funding. A grant of $190,000 given through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides funds for the program. The Healthy You, Healthy Baby project will focus on low-income mothers in Jefferson County. Learn more at www.ExemplaLutheran.org.