Fort Collins, Colorado

The Project

In the heart of downtown Fort Collins, a five-point intersection was dramatically reworked to improve sightlines for road users and address long-standing concerns of right-of-way confusion. Vehicular travel lanes were narrowed, pedestrian crossing distances shortened by 57%, and sightlines improved. The curb extensions, totaling over 16,000 square feet, were defined by traffic striping, plastic delineator posts and ADA compliant infrastructure, and then painted under the direction of artist Jess Bean and the help of over 80 community members over a four-day period.

To select the design, public input was provided online and during two community outreach events. The final design includes non-native magnolias representing settlers moving into indigenous spaces, black-tipped feathers to honor the legacy of Arapaho Chief Friday, who worked closely with the “Indian Agent” for whom Sherwood Street is named, and ribbons of blue to represent the Cache La Poudre River running from the canyon through the city.

• Average traffic speeds decreased by 22% (at the approach without stop control) and by 8% (at the stop-controlled approach)
• 80% of people reported improved driver behavior at the intersection (e.g., slower turns, yielding to more pedestrians)
• 81% of people would like to see similar treatments at other intersections in the city

Use the slider to see the transformation

Best Practice Highlight: Increasing Accessibility

With curb extensions in excess of 25 feet from the sidewalk ramp, the design included ADA features such as truncated domes at the edge of the curb extension and directional guidance indicators leading from the sidewalk ramp to truncated domes. This provides tactile and visual guidance for those with visual impairment. Yellow truncated domes and directional guidance indicators were selected for contrast and visibility. FC Moves facilitated communication between city engineers and the artist to align ADA features with the asphalt art design.

Press

Fort Collins Begins Asphalt Art Project In Hopes Of Making Intersection Safer (Denver 7, August 16, 2024)

Fort Collins Selects Jess Bean for 2024 Asphalt Art Project (NoCo Style, April 12, 2024)

Fort Collins to receive $25,000 for asphalt art installation at intersection (Denver 7, December 4, 2023)

A confusing 3-way Fort Collins intersection is getting a makeover, using art (Coloradoan, December 4, 2023)

City’s Asphalt Art Program Receives International Grant From Bloomberg Foundation (North Forty News, November 24, 2023)