Headlines – May 3, 2023

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Amendments Suggested For Polis’ Housing Bill

Democrats in the Colorado House have announced plans to try to amend a land use gutted by the Senate. 

Senate Bill 213 has the governor’s support, but has faced opposition from local governments.

One of the newly proposed amendments restores the contentious proposal for statewide control of zoning.

The state Senate took out that zoning provision last week.

Adoption of those House amendments will mean dueling versions of the bill will require resolution in the final days of the session and will likely put local government representatives, the opponents of the bill, back to square one.

Reduced Speed Limits in Denver

Denver City and County reduced the default neighborhood speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph. Crews began installing the new signs yesterday.

New signs are part of Denver’s Vision Zero plan which aims to eliminate all traffic-related deaths by 2030.

The reduction applies to Denver’s local streets, meaning roads without stripes, typically in residential areas. 

The city hopes the significant changes will alert drivers when they exit highways and arterial roadways and onto neighborhood streets. 

According to Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, crews will install between 2,000-3,500 of the new signs across Denver, which may take upward of a few years to finish. 

Colorado Department of Transportation Addresses Potholes

The Colorado Department of Transportation is ramping up efforts to repair potholes  throughout the state highway system. 

CDOT is advising Colorado residents to be aware of short-term lane closures as repair teams mend potholes caused by the abnormal amounts of snow and ice this winter season.

Throughout the coming weeks, state highway drivers should be prepared for rolling single-lane closures, and potential travel delays due to these closures.

CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew stated that this increase in maintenance activity stems from the change to warmer weather, a necessity for long term repairs.

Drivers can find information on highway conditions on CDOT’s COtrip Planner app.

Possible Denver Parking Restrictions

Denver City Council is considering legislation that would expand parking restrictions on abandoned vehicles and so-called “junker” cars. However, homeless advocates and the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado worry this may unfairly target people living in their vehicles. 

Previous laws regarding parking time limits, large vehicle parking, and abandoned vehicles make enforcement difficult, and the new legislation aims to get around that. 

The new legislation would expand the “junker” car vehicles to include non-motorized trailers and expand what vehicles are deemed unsafe. 

These cars would have to be moved out of the public right of way within 24 hours instead of the previous 72 hours, which could push people into homelessness.

The bill was expected to go up for a final vote this week but has been pushed to next Monday.

Skier Killed In Avalanche

A skier in Summit County has become the eleventh person to die in an avalanche this ski season.

A 31-year old Colorado man, whose name has not been released, was caught in and killed by a backcountry avalanche near Breckenridge on Saturday, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

The avalanche occurred at about 13,000 feet elevation.

The man’s girlfriend reported him missing, prompting an aerial search that identified a snow slide. Rescuers skied to that area and found the man’s body under about twenty inches of snow.

Backcountry skiers and snowboarders are being warned of increased avalanche danger.

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