State Highway 7

State Highway 7 (SH 7) is a key east-west roadway for Broomfield, the location of many of Broomfield’s newest developments or proposed developments. The SH 7 Corridor is envisioned as a comprehensive multimodal corridor with Bus Rapid Transit and bicycle path serving the 29-mile corridor from Brighton to Boulder.

SH 7, is identified in the 2014 RTD Northwest Area Mobility Study and in the 2019 RTD Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study as a candidate corridor for bus rapid transit.

The SH-7/I-25 interchange is envisioned as a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) with center median station Mobility Hub as a state-of-the-art multi-modal facility, and the first of its kind in the country, connecting two median transit stations on I-25 and SH-7 with a fully grade-separated pedestrian/cyclist mezzanine. The project showcases innovation in multimodal transportation. 

Significant corridor planning efforts have gone into understanding the existing and emerging transportation needs on this corridor including:

• 2014 RTD Northwest Area Mobility Study
• 2014 CDOT SH 7 Planning & Environmental Linkage (PEL) Study US 287 to US 85
  • Final Report Documents
• 2018  SH 7 PEL 75th Street to US 287
  • Final Report
• 2018 City of Boulder East Arapahoe Transportation Plan
  • Final Report
• 2018 SH 7 BRT Feasibility Study (2018)
  • Final Report
• 2018 I-25/SH 7 Mobility Hub Concept Design & Visualization         
• 2019 SH 7 Station Area Master Plan 
• 2020-2023 SH 7 Preliminary & Environmental Engineering 

Timeline

• 2005 - Broomfield created a SH 7 vision plan
• 2006 - The “Streetscape 7 Design Framework” was modified based on the direction of Broomfield City Council.
• 2014- RTD completed the North Area Mobility Study (NAMS) which identified candidate arterial BRT routes, including SH 7.
• 2014 - CDOT completed a Planned Environmental Linkage (PEL) Study to look at improving conditions on SH 7 from U.S. 287 in Lafayette to U.S. 85 in Brighton. The study evaluated the existing and future operating conditions of the highway while making recommendations to address future development along the corridor. This study assessed current conditions and recommended a range of improvements. The study identified the potential for multi-modal improvements such as bus rapid transit service, and the capacity to add bicycle and pedestrian facilities and to make trail connections. The study also identified I-25/SH 7 interchange options, possible realignments for the western and eastern sections of the SH 7 corridor, and transportation system management (TSM) and travel demand management (TDM) elements. Additionally, an environmental analysis was conducted to assess the impacts of potential improvements.
• 2015 to 2018 - The City of Boulder developed the East Arapahoe Transportation Plan, a long-range plan that will consider a number of potential transportation improvements within the East Arapahoe corridor (SH 7), including biking and walking enhancements, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and local bus service as well as automobile travel. The purpose of the plan is to:
  • Address existing and future transportation needs, including local and regional travel.
  • Facilitate safe travel and access by people using all modes (i.e., walking, biking, accessing transit, and driving).
  • Support existing & future land use in the corridor.
• 2016 - 2018 SH 7 (75th to US 287) Planning & Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study recommends alternatives to improve safety, mobility, access to transit, bicycle & pedestrian improvements, and operations.
• 2017 to 2018 - Broomfield participated in a stakeholder group including Adams County, City of Thornton and RTD,  facilitated by CDOT to develop a vision that informed design concepts of the Mobility Hub to connect the four corners of the interchange with high-quality pedestrian and bicycle facilities with a center loading transit station that allowed for quick boarding and alighting of passengers with minimal delay to transit, as well as easy turnaround options to allow the station to serve as an end-of-line facility for RTD.
• 2018 - Concept Design for CDOT I-25 Mobility Hub complete with I-25 North Segment 3 preliminary design.
• 2018 - SH 7 Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study complete
• 2018 - Advocated for SH 7 investments: In its preparation of a plan for the investment of potential future transportation revenues (Prop 110). CDOT compiled a list of potential transit-related projects in Spring/Summer of 2018. At this time, the list contained the following projects for SH 7:
  • SH 7 Downtown Boulder to Downtown Brighton - $172m (BRT, commuter bikeways, managed/express lanes, highway and other multimodal improvements to be determined); and
  • SH 7/I-25 Interchange Replacement - Multimodal Hub - $115m (Replace the interchange at I-25 and SH7 with a diverging diamond mobility hub that will enhance potential transit service with center loading stations and pedestrian walkways.)

Prop 110 was not passed by the voters in November 2018, thus SH 7 remains largely unfunded. Broomfield remains vigilant for advocating for the inclusion of SH 7 in any future funding opportunities.

• 2019 - SH 7 Station Area Design complete. The project made recommendations for the design of station areas along the corridor as well as the first and final mile amenities and connections.
• 2019 - Secured a total of $10 million for SH 7 Preliminary & Environmental Engineering (Brighton to Boulder) with $4 million from DRCOG Regional TIP, $4 million from Subregional funds from Adams, Boulder and Broomfield Subregions, $1 million from CDOT and $1 million in local funding from all eight jurisdictions on the corridor. CDOT will lead the project.
• 2020 - 2023 SH 7 Preliminary & Environmental Engineering begins