Longmont seeks federal funds for Hover-119 intersection improvements

The intersection of Hover Street and Colo. 119 is a staple for commuters, both those who live in Longmont and those who live elsewhere, and the city and Commuting Solutions are seeking federal help to improve its safety. 

The intersection carries the most traffic along the Diagonal/Colo. 119 corridor, according to Commuting Solutions, and is only expect to grow busier in the next 20 years

The Southwest Longmont Traffic Operations Study conducted in 2018 predicts a 25% increase in volume of traffic for Ken Pratt Boulevard (Colo. 119) and a 30% increase for Hover Street by 2040.

To handle the projected increase in traffic at the intersection, the city of Longmont in May submitted a $17 million request to the U.S. Department of Transportation for safety and multi-modal improvements, the most significant of which is a grade separation for westbound traffic. The Colorado Department of Transportation has committed $7 million and the city of Longmont $2 million in local matching fundst toward the project's overall $26 million price tag, according to city Public Information Officer Rigo Leal. 

“Increased queues are expected if no improvements are made to the existing roadways and intersections,” the 2018 traffic study states. “Many left turning lanes are projected to back up into through movement traffic, which will cause additional congestion along each roadway.”

With an increase in traffic, an uptick in crashes is expected as well. Hover Street and Colo. 119 has a “high potential for crash reduction,” according to the city study. 

Longmont Public Works and Natural Resources compiled a crash database using  Longmont Police Department reports and found that from 2014 to 2018, the intersection averaged 59,000 vehicles per day, second in volume to Colo. 119 and Main Street at 70,000. There were 216 crashes at Hover Street and Colo. 119 from 2014 to 2018, second again to Colo. 119 and Main Street with 302. 

In addition to being a well-used commuter route, the city in its application cited the intersection as being key to the movement of freight between areas in rural Weld and Larimer counties to “job centers and critical destinations in central Boulder County.”

In the application, the city stated “the planned improvements have the potential to eliminate 174 crashes and have a net present value of $27.86 million and an economic benefit of $8.7 million in crash reductions alone over the 20-year life cycle of the project.” 

Commuting Solutions, an organization that advocates for infrastructure and transportation improvements, partnerships and education, has been looking closely at the Colo. 119 and Hover Street intersection. 

“This area currently experiences a disproportionate number of crashes based on the average daily traffic, the majority of which are rear-end crashes,” Commuting Solutions states on its website. “In addition, this intersection experiences high levels of congestion and idle time.”

The "intersection has long been known for its precarious, hairpin-like turn movements and poor transit, and pedestrian and bicycle access," according to Commmuting Solutions. "Many commuters from rural counties north and east of the city of Longmont drive through this intersection to access jobs further south and west in the corridor, near the city of Boulder.

“By 2040, almost one-third of the traffic traveling through the intersection will be coming from or heading back to areas outside of Boulder County,” according to Commuting Solutions.

Three major changes have been proposed to reduce travel time and improve safety at the intersection.

“Westbound through traffic will be a grade-separated tunnel under Hover Street, a completely separated bicycle and pedestrian path through the proposed tunnel will allow bicyclists and pedestrians to cross the north leg of Hover Street safely,” and “the bus stop at the existing (Colo.) 119 and Hover Street underpass will be maintained while also facilitating the proposed Bus Rapid Transit route with a bus only queue jump/turn lane, including connected vehicle technology to support transit signal prioritization” Commuting Solutions stated on its site.

A decision on the funding request is expected in September.

Correction: This article originally incorrectly reported that Longmont is seeking $26 million in federal funds for the improvement project. Longmont is seeking $17 million in federal funds.