Elati Street Corridor Study

As part of Littleton’s Safer Streets Program, Elati Street was identified as a priority for safety improvements to enhance the City’s multimodal transportation network. It is primarily residential with many homes on either side of the corridor, multiple schools along the corridor and nearby, as well as multiple trails connecting parks and other nearby destinations.  It has been identified in the City's Transportation Master Plan as a Neighborhood Connector and a pedestrian and bike priority street (p. 125-127).

Corridor map

The Elati Street Corridor Study will include four phases:

1. Identify Corridor Issues, Needs, and Goals

   An existing conditions assessment paired with public input will provide an understanding of how the corridor functions today, clear needs and issues to address, and what is desired for the future.

2. Create and Evaluate Alternatives

   Multiple alternatives will be developed and evaluated against feasibility, level of potential improvement, and how well they address the needs.

3. Develop Quick Implementation Concepts

   Early implementation opportunities will be identified and moved into design and concept development to facilitate meaningful changes in the near term that can also be built on for long-term changes in the corridor.

4. Final Plan
   A final plan will be developed with an implementation plan identifying next steps and funding opportunities.

The Existing Conditions Factbook documents current transportation, safety, and infrastructure conditions along Elati Street. The entire Fact Book can be accessed at the link below, but here are some highlights of the findings:

• Sidewalks – Vary in width from 2.5 to 5.5 feet. Many segments fall below current ADA standards; sidewalks are often attached directly to the curb or missing entirely north of Caley Avenue.
• Bicycle Facilities – Range from protected or buffered lanes to shared-lane markings or no facility. Facility types change between segments, reducing continuity and teh safety of the bike facilities.
• Traffic Volumes and Speeds – Average daily traffic ranges from approximately 250 to 2,300 vehicles depending on the segment. Speed studies show 85th percentile speeds above posted limits in every segment.
• Crash Data – Between December 2019 and December 2024, 24 crashes were reported along the corridor, including one fatal crash involving a bicyclist. Intersections at Caley Avenue, Euclid Avenue, and Littleton Boulevard experienced three or more crashes each.
• School Zones – Designated school zones with school flashers are present near Runyon Elementary and Euclid Middle School. Planned circulation changes at both schools (2025 bond projects) will affect access patterns.
• Parking – On-street parking is generally permitted throughout the corridor, with restrictions near schools and select blocks. Parking occupancy is highest near residential segments and trail crossings, but overall the amount of available parking is greater than the demand.
• Transit Access – No RTD routes run directly on Elati Street. RTD Route 66 (Littleton Boulevard) and Route 0 (Broadway) are within walking distance. Littleton’s Omnibus service is also available in the corridor area.

View the Existing Conditions Factbook (draft)(PDF, 21MB)

Case for Action

The Case for Action summarizes the primary needs and opportunities identified along Elati Street through data analysis and community input. Five key focus areas have been established to guide evaluation of alternatives and design concepts:

1. Safety – Address crash history, sidewalk gaps, narrow sidewalks, and inconsistent bicycle facilities.
2. Vehicle Speeds and Traffic Calming – 85th percentile speeds along the corridor range from 27 to 33 mph in areas posted at 25 mph.
3. Active Transportation Infrastructure – Sidewalks are often less than 5 feet wide or missing; bicycle facilities are inconsistent, ranging from protected lanes to shared lanes to no facility at all.
4. Neighborhood Context – Community input highlighted interest in balancing safety and access improvements with maintaining residential character.
5. Health and Connectivity – The corridor connects to multiple schools, parks, and trails, and data show a higher proportion of short trips (under 4 miles) in the study area compared to citywide averages.

View the Case for Action (draft)(PDF, 3MB)

In June 2025, the project team held a virtual public meeting and survey to learn more about how Elati Street is used and what issues the public would like to see addressed. The following provides a detailed summary of the results from that online meeting and survey.

View the Elati Street public engagement phase one summary document(PDF, 567KB)

In September and October 2025, the project team held a virtual public meeting and survey to gather feedback on potential options that might meet the needs of residents who live on and use the corridor. At a high level, here is what we heard:

• Traffic calming was the most popular vehicular roadway improvement, followed by improved intersection visibility.
• Wider, continuous sidewalks and safer bike facilities were among the most popular multimodal improvements.
• Of the three potential design options for the corridor, the Shared Use Path Corridor option was the most popular overall.
• Temporary materials—such as the tall yellow and white flexposts used on Elati & Arapahoe—were not popular among the public.

As the project enters the final phase, this information will be used to guide design decisions and help us better prioritize short-term improvements on the corridor.

View the Elati Street public engagement phase two summary document(PDF, 530KB)

Draft Alternatives Memo Elati Street.pdf(PDF, 9MB)

The Alternatives Analysis evaluated three corridor-wide design concepts for Elati Street. Each alternative was developed using existing conditions data, crash and speed analysis, public engagement findings, and right-of-way constraints identified throughout the study process.

The three alternatives evaluated included:

• Option 1 – Shared Path Corridor: A shared-use path for walking and biking separated from traffic by a landscaped buffer.
• Option 2 – Bicycle-Focused Corridor: A protected two-way cycle track with separated pedestrian facilities.
• Option 3 – Pedestrian-Focused Corridor: Wider sidewalks and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure without a protected bicycle facility.

Each alternative included a common set of traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements, such as raised crossings, curb extensions, narrower travel lanes, and enhanced intersection visibility.

The project team evaluated each option using the Modal Priority & Alternatives Evaluation Tool, community input, and corridor feasibility considerations. Option 1: Shared Path Corridor received the highest combined evaluation score and the strongest overall community support across survey respondents.

The preferred alternative was identified based on:

• Corridor safety needs
• Community priorities and feedback
• Right-of-way feasibility
• Multimodal connectivity
• Consistency with adopted City transportation goals

As the project advances, the preferred alternative will continue to be refined based on corridor segment conditions, stakeholder coordination, and future implementation opportunities.