Golden’s 19th Street around the Colorado School of Mines campus will be updated over the next two summers, as the university plans to improve pedestrian crossings before its new student housing facilities open.
The west-campus intersection of 19th Street and Moly Road will be updated this summer, before Mines Park opens in August.
The Village at Mines Park will have five apartment buildings and 19 completely renovated apartment buildings, totaling 1,058 beds, according to the Mines website.
To accommodate these students, Mines officials said they’re working with city staff to install a raised, unsignaled crosswalk across 19th Street.
Jason T. Slowinski, associate vice president of infrastructure & operations, said the goal behind updating the intersection is to effectively funnel students and other pedestrians to the designated crosswalk rather than people choosing to cross in unsafe areas.
Improvements to the intersection should start this month, Slowinski said at a recent community meeting. Most of the work should be complete before The Village at Mines Park opens in August.
Then, next summer, Slowinski said Mines is planning to improve 19th Street in front of the new sophomore dorm, midway between Elm and Illinois Streets.
According to the Mines website, the dorm is set to open in August 2026. It will be dedicated to housing second-year students, with more than 800 beds.
To accommodate the large number of students who will need to cross 19th Street regularly, Slowinski said the university plans to build a raised, signaled pedestrian crossing directly in front of the dorm.
This crossing will connect to a pedestrian walkway through campus, which will perfectly align with Maple Plaza in front of Lockridge Arena and Maple Street farther north. Mines was scheduled to start working on the pedestrian walkway through campus, between 18th and 19th streets, this summer.
As for the raised, signaled crosswalk across 19th Street, Slowinski said it’s still being designed but he and his colleagues hope to start work next summer. The project would include building the crosswalk itself, as well as updating the medians and the streetscape along 19th Street.
He clarified how the signal won’t be an automatic flashing beacon that allows pedestrians to cross whenever it’s pressed. Instead, it will work in conjunction with the light at Illinois Street for maximum efficiency, and give pedestrians a “walk” or “don’t walk” signal based on the timing.
Bill Fisher, who sits on the Golden City Council, pointed out how Mines will add hundreds of residents to the 19th Street corridor between Mines Park and the new sophomore dorm. He asked what enhancements Mines will provide to accommodate additional vehicle traffic “on this already congested road.”
Slowinski said he disagreed with the premise of the question, saying there should be “less commuters” now that Mines is adding on-campus housing.
He said several commuter parking lots on the south side of 19 Street would be converted to parking for students who live on campus. Additionally, he clarified that Mines Park residents won’t be allowed to drive to campus, as they can walk or take the Ore Cart shuttle.
Overall, he said, the university wants to decrease the number of student vehicles along 19th Street, not add to it.
Other projects, updates
During the online community meeting, Slowinski also updated the attendees on other construction projects that Mines will continue working on this summer, including Phase II of the West End Zone improvements at Marv Kay Stadium.
The new concessions, ADA improvements and other items should be finished by the time for the football team’s Sept. 13 home opener.
Separate from its construction projects, Mines will be updating its parking management on campus over the summer. Slowinski said this will include renaming its parking lots, improving signage and simplifying its parking permitting system.
Additionally, the university is also uploading the Ore Cart shuttle’s schedule to the Transit app, allowing users to check the shuttle’s schedule and connect to RTD public transit options.
With the spring semester and graduations over, Slowinski said the Orediggers will return Aug. 16 for fall convocation, with classes starting Aug. 25.The next online community will be July 24.
For information on how to attend, visit mines.edu/operations/community-news.