Welcome to our self-guided online open house for Connecting Aurora.

Scroll through the sections below to learn more. Feel free to read it all, or choose the sections that impact you most.

Throughout, you'll see opportunities to share your thoughts, as indicated by this blue arrow . Each opportunity is a one-question poll about a given topic. You can also add comments at the end of each section.

Additionally, use the tools above to ask a question, share your ideas, and add a pin to the map to highlight things you like, issues, or areas of concern.

Want to tell us more?

Fill out our community survey and be entered into a drawing for a gift card.

This round of input will be accepted through the end of April.

Connecting Aurora is the first-ever citywide multimodal transportation master plan to look holistically at the transportation needs throughout Aurora. It aims to identify ways to better connect our residents, employees,
and visitors to various destinations across the city.

Connecting Aurora will:

• Create a vision for the city’s transportation system (bikes, pedestrian, transit, freight, and vehicular traffic).
• Guide the development, design, and delivery of future multimodal transportation infrastructure projects and programs.
  

• Improve safety and provide more convenient ways to travel for people of Aurora. Study Area - Click to Enlarge

What does multimodal mean?

Multimodal is a transportation term that means all the different ways people move from point A to B. This could be your feet or wheels, bicycle, scooter, skateboard, hoverboard, your car, a bus or train, or box truck. You name it. We want to make sure this plan considers all types of transportation modes and people of all backgrounds and abilities.

What’s a transportation mode?

Transportation mode refers to the way in which passengers and/or goods can be transported.

Why do we need a multimodal transportation master plan?

• A single, encompassing vision and plan for Aurora's multimodal transportation system is needed.
• This plan will build on the progress of the Aurora Places comprehensive plan, which established strategic goals related to transportation improvements.
• A cultural and paradigm shift in transportation is occurring, requiring Aurora to be innovative and forward thinking in how we think about mobility and transportation.
• Implementing performance metrics and tracking systems will help Aurora realize changes and monitor progress.
• This transportation master plan will be the basis for the city’s Capital Improvement Program.
• The city can plan for new technologies and transportation services, both within city operations, and innovations within the private market.
• Growth and diversification of Aurora needs to be supported by an evolving transportation network.
• Safety improvements and connectivity enhancements can be proactively identified and built.

The purpose of Connecting Aurora is to create a complete transportation system for people of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and income levels. The plan will create a vision for Aurora’s transportation system and identify necessary projects, policies, programs and standards for all modes of transportation, including bike, pedestrian, transit, freight and vehicular traffic consistent with this vision and the city's overall development vision expressed in the adopted comprehensive plan Aurora Places.

Schedule and process

The city is developing Connecting Aurora over the next two years and will present a final draft at the end of 2025. Throughout the process, we will work closely with you to ensure we are headed in the right direction and that the outcomes reflect our community's needs.

DISCOVER — Fall 2023 to Spring 2024

The Discover phase is where we learn about our challenges and opportunities. In this phase, we’ll learn about community habits and the loves, wants, and needs of members of the community. As we gather information, we will learn about the people, the city’s infrastructure, and what transportation needs demand our attention.

Key Efforts & Milestones:

• Data Collection and Analysis
• Future Trends Analysis
• Initial Engagement with Stakeholders and the Public

SYNTHESIZE — Spring to Fall 2024

Building on the strong foundation from the Discover phase, we will begin to seek answers for what the future of the city’s multimodal system should be. What is the vision of the Aurora’s transportation system? How well does the transportation infrastructure we see today function for its users? How ready is the infrastructure for the needs of the future?

Key Efforts & Milestones:

• Transportation Vision, Goals, and Objectives
• Scenario Development and Analysis including Travel Demand Modeling
• Second Engagement with Stakeholders and the Public

VISUALIZE — Fall 2024 to Spring 2025

Working with the community, we will analyze how we can help address transportation needs in the near-term, mid-term and long-term. We will develop the solutions through the lens of forward thinking, innovation, best practices, and demographic data. We will identify multimodal networks that provide safer, more comfortable, and convenient transportation options for people of all background, ages, abilities and income levels, while allowing for growth and development and a brighter and sustainable future.

Key Efforts & Milestones:

• Multimodal Network Analysis and Project Development
• Develop New Street, Sidewalk, and Trail Design Standards
• Third Engagement with Stakeholders and the Public

REALIZE — Winter 2025 to Fall 2025

To realize the project objectives and recommended solutions, we will prioritize projects and policies based on impacts on the goals and objectives. We will work with the community to create capital improvement programs and funding strategies.

Key Efforts & Milestones:

• Project Identification and Cost Estimating
• Project Prioritization
• Policy and Program Recommendations
• Final Plan and Citywide Transportation Information System
• Final Engagement with Stakeholders and the Public

Building on previous planning efforts

Many studies conducted over the years in Aurora have targeted specific areas of the city to gather public input and provide guidance for transportation needs, resulting in new or improved ways to get around.

• The existing plans provide a starting point for Connecting Aurora.
• Safer and convenient multimodal options are important to the city and community.
• With significant growth and a long list of projects/needs, Connecting Aurora will need to set priorities for a phased implementation strategy.
• Aurora has an opportunity to be a leader in the region.

Aurora Places presents a vision for the future of Aurora along with long-range goals and activities to address concerns and make aspirations a reality in the city. Guiding plan principles:

1. Strong Economy
2. Diverse and Equitable City
3. Housing For All
4. A Healthy Community
5. A Thriving Environment
6. Easy Mobility and Active Transportation: “An easy-to-use transportation network with multiple choices for travel supports a strong economy, healthy community and flourishing environment.”
7. Authentic Aurora

Aurora demographics and transportation facts

Click to Enlarge

Take a moment to add a pin to the map and provide feedback about specific locations throughout the city.

• What you currently like about transportation in the city and what works well.
• What are some current pain points/challenging transportation elements?
• What improvements or opportunities would you want to see?

Please note that Connecting Aurora will not address changes to the interstates or major highways.

Share your thoughts: Tell us what transportation improvements are most important to you.

• Over 350,000 people and nearly 140,000 jobs in Aurora are located within ½ mile of RTD’s bus network.
  • Over 8,300 people do not have access to a car.
• Approximately 12.7% of the 3+ million population

  within RTD service area lives in Aurora.

• RTD has 24 bus routes, 1 Flatiron Flyer route, 2 light rail lines, 1 commuter rail line, and
  2 SkyRides lines that provide transit services in Aurora.
  • 20% of all RTD routes.
  • 11% of RTD service hours operated in Aurora.
• 1,063 of RTD’s bus stops are in Aurora.
  • 12% of all RTD bus stops.
• 11 of RTD’s rail stops are in Aurora.
  • 14.3% of all RTD rail stops.
• RTD had 35,094 average weekday boardings (September 2023) in Aurora.
  • 17% of RTD ridership.

RTD Transit Routes - Click to EnlargeThis data reflects RTD's current service and data noted here was collected from RTD and the city of Aurora. The map represents routes that are serviced by RTD currently. The city of Aurora does not operate RTD transit service.

RTD and City of Aurora transit responsibilities

Share your thoughts: Tell us what transportation improvements are most important to you.

Share your thoughts: What sidewalk and pedestrian crossing improvements are most important to you?

• Missing sidewalks are more concentrated in northern Aurora.
• Narrow sidewalks (less than four feet wide) are more concentrated in northwestern Aurora.
• Generally, there is good paved local and regional trail connectivity throughout Aurora,
  especially in southern Aurora.
• Most enhanced crossing opportunities are in central Aurora and at trail connections.

Walking and Mobility Use Map - Click to Enlarge

Share your thoughts: What sidewalk and pedestrian crossing improvements are most important to you?

In one word, describe the transportation system you want to see in Aurora.

Share your thoughts: What bikeway improvements are most important to you?

Bike lane

Through striping, bike lanes delineate a separate, dedicated space for people bicycling. Standard bike lanes are typically located at the road edge and do not provide additional vertical or horizontal separation from vehicular travel lanes.

Buffered bike lane

Buffered bike lanes are bike lanes with a striped buffer that provides horizontal space next to the bike lane. The striped buffer can be placed between the bike lane and the vehicular travel lane to provide greater separation between bicyclists and motorists, between the bike lane and parking lane to provide separation between bicyclists and opening doors, or both.

Separated bike lane

Separated bike lanes are bike lanes that feature some form of vertical separation from motor vehicles. Separated bike lanes can be located at street level, at curb or sidewalk level, or at an intermediate level between the level of the street and curb. Vertical separators can take a variety of forms, including curbs, medians, flexible posts, planters, and parked vehicles.

Paved trails and shared-use paths

Both paved trails and shared-use paths are off-street facilities that facilitate two-way travel for people walking, rolling, and bicycling. Paved trails are located in their own dedicated right-of-way, whereas shared-use paths are located within public right of way but separate from the street. Curbs and landscaped buffers separate shared-use paths from motor vehicle traffic.

Bike routes and shared lanes

Bike routes and shared lanes utilize signage and pavement markings (i.e., sharrows or shared lane markings) to indicate that bicyclists and motorists are intended to share the same space. They are typically designated along local streets with low vehicular volumes and speeds.

Bike boulevards

Bike boulevards, also known as neighborhood bikeways, are low-stress corridors with slow speeds and low vehicle volumes. They feature traffic calming elements and enhanced crossing treatments to reduce through vehicle traffic and manage vehicle speeds. Aurora’s bicycle network does not yet include any bike boulevards.

Bike Network Map - Click to Enlarge

Share your thoughts: What bikeway improvements are most important to you?

Emerging transportation technologies

What is a safe system approach?

The U.S. Department of Transportation adopts a Safe System Approach as the guiding paradigm to address roadway safety. The transportation community has embraced the Safe System Approach as an effective way to address and manage the risks that are part of our enormous and complex transportation system. It works by building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to both prevent crashes from happening in the first place and minimize the harm caused to those involved when crashes do occur. It is a holistic and comprehensive approach that provides a guiding framework to make places safer for people.

This is a shift from a conventional safety approach because it focuses on both human mistakes AND human vulnerability and designs a system with many redundancies in place to protect everyone.

Crash Heat Map - Click to Enlarge

Share your thoughts: How safe do you feel while traveling around Aurora?

Share your thoughts: Rate your driving experience in Aurora.

What is Level of Service (LOS)?

Level of service (LOS) measures a driver’s experience on the road and at intersections, based on the speed and number of cars using the road. The LOS of a road is designated by a letter grade of A (free flow) to F (near gridlock).

A designation of A, B, or C represents free-flowing conditions. F is stop-and-go traffic. These scores are based on the highest congestion level on that roadway, even if it only occurs a few minutes a day.

A: Free flow. Low volumes and no delays.

B: Stable flow. Speeds restricted by travel conditions, minor delays.

C: Stable flow. Speeds and maneuverability closely controlled because of higher volumes.

D: Stable flow. Speeds considerably affected by change in operation conditions; high-density traffic restricts maneuverability, volume near capacity.

E: Unstable flow. Low speeds; considerable delays, volume at or slightly over capacity.

F: Forced flow. Very low speed, volumes exceed capacity, long delays with stop-and-go traffic.

Vehicle Traffic Map - Click to Enlarge

Share your thoughts: Rate your driving experience in Aurora.

Aurora Places, the city’s adopted comprehensive plan, identified 10 distinct place types in Aurora today and to be developed in the future. The place types capture the general character, various land uses, and street networks that help define each place. The street network and surrounding land use work together to help create spaces people want to live, work, and visit. Aurora’s existing layout creates some challenges to achieving multimodal connectivity and expansion of future identified places.

Place Types Map - Click to Enlarge

Urban districts

Urban districts represent Aurora’s existing and future activity centers that feature entertainment districts, civic institutions, retail and shopping, and multifamily housing. These places have high intensity uses and development that can support a highly walkable and bikeable environment.

Features:

• Continuous grid
• Short urban blocks
• Easy navigation/connection for pedestrians and cyclists
• Lacks direct, comfortable connections to surrounding neighborhoods

Innovation districts

Innovation districts are places that generate new ideas and inspire creativity. Land uses are composed of light industrial, business parks, and medical and educational institutions that are designed like campus environments. There are gathering spaces to foster connection and a connected grid for easy navigation.

Features:

• Connected grid
• Walkable network
• Campus layout
• Auto-oriented designs with large parking lots

Industrial hubs

Industrial hubs support commercial and industrial uses that are critical to Aurora’s economy. These are high-employment centers and often generate significant commercial truck traffic. These hubs are located near highways and interstates for easy access.

Features:

• Easy access to highway network
• Streets can accommodate large trucks
• Streets lack direct, comfortable pedestrian and bicycle connections

Original Aurora

Original Aurora is the city’s first neighborhood that blends historic residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and an arts district. The area features a traditional street grid that strengthens connections between key destinations.

Features:

• Established traditional grid
• Walkable/bikeable network
• Short east–west blocks
• Narrow sidewalks and lack of bicycling infrastructure

Established neighborhoods

Established neighborhoods are places with predominantly low-density residential uses of single-family detached and attached homes. There are pockets of other uses such as schools, parks, and religious institutions. These neighborhoods were designed in a curvilinear pattern creating barriers to walking and biking to supporting land uses.

Features:

• Curvilinear street pattern
• Cul-de-sacs
• Wide and fast arterials with backyards facing the street creating fence canyons.
• Indirect connections for pedestrians and bicyclists

Emerging neighborhoods

Emerging neighborhoods are recently built subdivisions that feature complete neighborhood elements such as diverse housing options, parks and open space, and pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. They are designed with a more traditional grid pattern and are organized around a central gathering place.

Features:

• Traditional grid pattern
• Supports multimodal connectivity
• Easy access to commercial corridors
• Wide and fast arterials
• Still lacking comfortable bicycling connections

Commercial hubs

Commercial hubs are located on the perimeter of established and emerging neighborhoods, providing easy access to services, shopping, and entertainment. These places should include gathering spaces to encourage social interaction and serve as key connectors for transit users, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Features:

• Connectivity to major commercial corridors from residential areas
• Convenient access to businesses
• Large parking lots create a disconnect between places
• Interior roadways are largely auto-oriented, sometimes lacking sidewalks