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Project Summary
Safer Streets Northwest is a study aiming to improve travel safety and comfort along some of Fort Collins’ busiest streets.
The goal of this study: To make these streets safer, more convenient and more enjoyable for everyone—whether you’re walking, biking, rolling or driving. Funded by the federalSafe Streets and Roads for All(SS4A) program, this project supports the City of Fort Collins' broader goals around traffic safety, carbon neutrality and active transportation.
The Safer Streets Northwest study builds on the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan, Active Modes Plan and Transportation Capital Improvements, focusing on major streets in northwest Fort Collins and creating a plan for safety upgrades, street redesigns and long-term improvements. This study's outcomes will guide future investments, funding applications and projects.
Why Now?
In 2023 the City made the Vision Zero commitment to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes by 2032. While the City has long prioritized traffic safety through enforcement and design, fatal and serious crashes still happen. This study is a proactive step toward safer streets for all.
Community Engagement
Your voice matters. We're committed to ensuring this study reflects the needs of the Fort Collins community. This study will reflect input from across Fort Collins, with a focus on reaching a diverse mix of residents.
The first two engagement phases took place from June-September 2025 and engaged over 500 community members.
In Phase 1 (June), we gathered input on which streets and segments in Northwest Fort Collins should be prioritized for safety improvements. Combining the input we received with the results of our crash analysis and review of past plans and studies, we identified three high-priority corridors: Shields Street, Taft Hill Road, and Laurel Street.
In Phase 2 (July-September), we collected targeted feedback on the three high-priority corridors.
We heard that the community is concerned about safety and connectivity, citing speeding, turning conflicts, long signal waits, and inadequate infrastructure such as narrow bike lanes and missing sidewalks.
There is a critical need to reduce speeding, provide safer crossings, and build bike lanes that offer greater protection for people riding bicycles/scooters.
The project team is now developing safety improvement recommendations to share with the community in the first quarter of 2026. Stay tuned for opportunities to provide feedback!
Project Summary
Safer Streets Northwest is a study aiming to improve travel safety and comfort along some of Fort Collins’ busiest streets.
The goal of this study: To make these streets safer, more convenient and more enjoyable for everyone—whether you’re walking, biking, rolling or driving. Funded by the federalSafe Streets and Roads for All(SS4A) program, this project supports the City of Fort Collins' broader goals around traffic safety, carbon neutrality and active transportation.
The Safer Streets Northwest study builds on the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan, Active Modes Plan and Transportation Capital Improvements, focusing on major streets in northwest Fort Collins and creating a plan for safety upgrades, street redesigns and long-term improvements. This study's outcomes will guide future investments, funding applications and projects.
Why Now?
In 2023 the City made the Vision Zero commitment to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes by 2032. While the City has long prioritized traffic safety through enforcement and design, fatal and serious crashes still happen. This study is a proactive step toward safer streets for all.
Community Engagement
Your voice matters. We're committed to ensuring this study reflects the needs of the Fort Collins community. This study will reflect input from across Fort Collins, with a focus on reaching a diverse mix of residents.
The first two engagement phases took place from June-September 2025 and engaged over 500 community members.
In Phase 1 (June), we gathered input on which streets and segments in Northwest Fort Collins should be prioritized for safety improvements. Combining the input we received with the results of our crash analysis and review of past plans and studies, we identified three high-priority corridors: Shields Street, Taft Hill Road, and Laurel Street.
In Phase 2 (July-September), we collected targeted feedback on the three high-priority corridors.
We heard that the community is concerned about safety and connectivity, citing speeding, turning conflicts, long signal waits, and inadequate infrastructure such as narrow bike lanes and missing sidewalks.
There is a critical need to reduce speeding, provide safer crossings, and build bike lanes that offer greater protection for people riding bicycles/scooters.
The project team is now developing safety improvement recommendations to share with the community in the first quarter of 2026. Stay tuned for opportunities to provide feedback!
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The new improvements of LaPorte west of N. Taft Hill road are a wonderful and long overdue improvement. HOWERVER LaPorte and Taft remains a troublesome intersection. Because this corner is a corridor corner for bike commuters going to and coming from old town, and because of Poudre HS this corner has a very high use by pedestrians and cyclists. It needs more safety measures!! As a minimum I suggest: 1. Install signage, "No right turn while pedestrians or bikes are present". As an example, on the southeast corner of the intersections, Cyclists who are walking their bikes, and pedestrians are consistently ignored by cars turning onto 2. Related to this is the pedestrian/biker crossing that is on North Taft Hill and enters Ponte Verde to the east. Our grandson uses this crosswalk regularly, and I have witnessed cars completely ignoring the yellow light. I also bike this route to the Poudre trail several times a week, including this morning. At least 50% of the time cars ignore the light. I suggest you use your knowledge of alternatives to enhance the effectivness of the crossing light; ie add overhead red lights like are at Blevins JH, and on Prospect at Heatheridge. PLEASE improve the safety of this crosswalk
Dgquigley1
4 months ago
The new sidewalk/bike lanes along LaPorte are fantastic. Thank you!! The remaining dangerous spot is crossing Taft heading west. If you are at SE corner and push button to cross, cars northbound on Taft turning east onto LaPorte can't see you and whip around the corner without stopping sometimes and often without looking/expecting pedestrians. Can the crosswalk be more prominent or a sign added to help? I worry because Poudre high school kids and the low income housing near there result in significant foot/bike traffic in this intersection. I've used it myself daily this summer walking our 13-year old to Poudre for summer sports practice at 8 am and felt most days like it was a near miss and glad I was there to make sure my daughter was on the defense/thinking about it, etc. I look forward to a response! Thank you, Meegan
MeeganFlenniken
5 months ago
Page last updated: 14 Nov 2025, 08:48 AM
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Project Timeline
June-September 2025
Safer Streets Northwest has finished this stage
Host community conversations about travel needs and preferences
Analyze crash data and conduct field reviews
Fall 2025
Safer Streets Northwest has finished this stage
Identify potential safety and comfort improvements
Assess impacts on traffic flow, maintenance, operations and cost
Fall 2025
Safer Streets Northwest is currently at this stage
Prioritize corridors based on safety, mobility and equity
Collect community feedback on top-priority locations
Winter 2025
this is an upcoming stage for Safer Streets Northwest
Publish a report with recommendations and project priorities
The new improvements of LaPorte west of N. Taft Hill road are a wonderful and long overdue improvement. HOWERVER LaPorte and Taft remains a troublesome intersection. Because this corner is a corridor corner for bike commuters going to and coming from old town, and because of Poudre HS this corner has a very high use by pedestrians and cyclists. It needs more safety measures!!
As a minimum I suggest:
1. Install signage, "No right turn while pedestrians or bikes are present".
As an example, on the southeast corner of the intersections, Cyclists who are walking their bikes, and pedestrians are consistently ignored by cars turning onto
2. Related to this is the pedestrian/biker crossing that is on North Taft Hill and enters Ponte Verde to the east. Our grandson uses this crosswalk regularly, and I have witnessed cars completely ignoring the yellow light. I also bike this route to the Poudre trail several times a week, including this morning. At least 50% of the time cars ignore the light. I suggest you use your knowledge of alternatives to enhance the effectivness of the crossing light; ie add overhead red lights like are at Blevins JH, and on Prospect at Heatheridge. PLEASE improve the safety of this crosswalk
The new sidewalk/bike lanes along LaPorte are fantastic. Thank you!! The remaining dangerous spot is crossing Taft heading west. If you are at SE corner and push button to cross, cars northbound on Taft turning east onto LaPorte can't see you and whip around the corner without stopping sometimes and often without looking/expecting pedestrians. Can the crosswalk be more prominent or a sign added to help? I worry because Poudre high school kids and the low income housing near there result in significant foot/bike traffic in this intersection. I've used it myself daily this summer walking our 13-year old to Poudre for summer sports practice at 8 am and felt most days like it was a near miss and glad I was there to make sure my daughter was on the defense/thinking about it, etc. I look forward to a response! Thank you, Meegan