Centennial’s Vision Zero Promise Meets a Real-World Test on Smoky Hill Road |
Four people have died near two intersections along a short stretch of Smoky Hill Road since 2024. Centennial has a plan to eliminate traffic deaths. Residents are asking what happens when that promise meets a road where people are still dying. |
By: AmiLynne Carroll | Centennial Pulse "A" grew up in what is now Centennial’s District 4, before Centennial officially became a city. Today, she lives here with her husband and children and has been asking City leaders to take stronger action to improve safety along Smoky Hill Road. Her concern is backed by a troubling recent history. In July 2024, a motorcyclist was killed in a collision near East Smoky Hill Road and South Waco Street. 9NEWS reported on the crash.
Then, on April 29, 2026, another woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash at nearby Smoky Hill Road and South Telluride Street. Denver7 reported on that crash as well. That is four fatalities near these two intersections in less than two years.
And fatalities tell only part of the story. Earlier this year, 9NEWS reported that the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office counted 31 crashes in the Smoky Hill Road area during the previous five years. Read the report here.
Centennial Already Has a Vision Zero CommitmentIn 2025, Centennial adopted a formal Safety Action Plan using a Vision Zero approach. Vision Zero starts with a simple idea: traffic deaths and serious injuries should not be accepted as an inevitable cost of moving people around a community. Centennial’s plan establishes goals of eliminating traffic-related fatalities by 2040 and serious injuries by 2045. It also embraces principles including safer road design, shared responsibility, recognition that people make mistakes and proactive intervention before crashes become fatal. Those principles matter on Smoky Hill Road. The question is no longer whether Centennial has a safety philosophy on paper. The question is how that philosophy translates into changes residents can actually see. Centennial has studied this corridor before. The City completed a Smoky Hill Road Transportation Corridor Study in 2022, examining transportation needs and potential improvements along the roadway. Residents are now reasonably asking what should happen when years of planning are followed by repeated serious and fatal crashes. What Changes Could Make Smoky Hill Safer?Community members have suggested several possibilities, including improved lighting, reduced speeds, speed-feedback signs, pedestrian refuge islands, enhanced pedestrian signals, turn restrictions and additional traffic signals. A community petition calling for safety improvements has also attracted hundreds of signatures. Not every suggested solution will necessarily be the right engineering answer.
Traffic signals, speed-limit changes, medians, turn restrictions and pedestrian improvements must be evaluated based on traffic patterns, sight distance, crash history, pedestrian use and other factors. But residents do not need to be transportation engineers to ask legitimate questions.
What has the City learned from these crashes? What improvements have been evaluated? Which ones are recommended? Which ones have been rejected, and why? What can be done in the short term while larger improvements are studied? And what is the timeline?
The Public Also Needs Current Data
Centennial’s publicly highlighted Safe Streets for All baseline data primarily reflects crashes from 2019 through 2023.
That is exactly why updated public information matters. Residents should be able to see where fatal and serious-injury crashes are occurring now, not several years ago.
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63 Comments
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I like that the article stresses transparency over just quick fixes. It’s hard to trust progress if we can’t see the steps.
How do we make sure the ideas local residents suggest really get considered? City council should respond publicly to each one.
Seen speed traps on Smoky once in the last year. Consistent ticketing could help a bit, at least until infrastructure improves.
Wonder why cameras aren’t used more? A few tickets from red light cams might get people to slow down at last.
Glad the article focused on asking the right questions instead of blaming. Keeps the convo respectful. We need real answers though.
Sometimes it feels like concerns get lost in planning studies. Show us what’s coming next, not just what’s been studied already.
Autumn NgI feel the same way, Autumn. We get a lot of talk and studies, but not much action. Would love for the city to lay out exactly what’s next and when.
Petitions and council meetings help, but don’t forget to call in or send an email too. They always say public feedback pushes things up the list.
Lived here 8 years, lost a friend in that 2025 crash. It’s painful every time I drive by. We need better soon.
Meghan SmithersSo sorry for your loss, Meghan. You’re right, it’s just heartbreaking every time there’s another crash. Feels like we’re overdue for real solutions now.
Thank you for pointing out that recent data is missing from what’s public. Feels like we’re making decisions with blinders on.
John A.Agreed, John. It’s tough to trust the process when we can’t even see what’s happening lately. City needs to update us with real-time numbers.
Thank you for highlighting this, public access to recent crash data is essential for informed decision-making, and the lack of up-to-date information is a real concern for residents.
So important to keep asking for transparency. Don’t let them bury updates until it’s too late for others.
We appreciate your focus on transparency, timely, updated data is crucial for holding decision-makers accountable and making sure real improvements follow serious tragedies.
Can we get flashing pedestrian crossing lights like in other parts of the city? Always feels safer when I see those.
Some folks want medians, some want lights. Maybe try a combo? There’s no one fix, but there’s no excuse for waiting till next decade.
So true, effective solutions often involve a combination of changes, and the urgency to act now rather than later is something residents across Centennial continue to express.
I feel like Vision Zero is just a trendy phrase unless the city shows us progress every year, not just in 2040.
You captured it perfectly, annual progress is vital to show that Vision Zero is more than just a slogan, and the city’s goals should include visible, measurable milestones each year.
Petition is a great start but a community meeting could be better. Meet neighbors, share stories, push together.
Those numbers are shocking. Didn’t realize it was four deaths so recently. Lighting and safer crossings sound like no-brainers.
Those fancy studies are fine but the community should get a real say in changes, not just engineers.
Feels like the city only responds after the tragedies, not before. Why wait for headlines to change something?
I got into a fender bender on Smoky Hill by Telluride last fall. Not major but super stressful. More awareness and signals would help prevent those close calls.
Sorry to hear about your experience, it’s a reminder that even minor crashes are stressful and can often be prevented with better signals, awareness, and data-driven improvements.
Back in the '90s that area was just two lanes. Never thought it would become such a danger zone.
Keep the pressure on. Nothing changes without transparency and us asking questions. Thanks for giving us the info we need to take action.
Kimberly GrayAbsolutely, Kimberly. It’s clear they notice when residents speak up, so we have to keep at it. Appreciate you encouraging everyone to stay involved.
Thank you for your encouragement! Transparency and public involvement are what move the needle, and we hope this piece empowers residents to keep pushing for answers and action.
Honestly, I’m not convinced that adding another light or speed sign fixes everything. We need real analysis, but at least make the current crash info public.
You’re absolutely right that transparent, current crash data is foundational for any effective solution, and making that information public is one of the article’s key recommendations.
More police can only do so much. Need long-term solutions like raised crosswalks or speed bumps honestly.
I drive through that area for work deliveries daily. People do not yield to folks in crosswalks, ever. It’s a mess.
I signed that petition. I hope more neighbors do, too. Power in numbers matters if we actually want safety changes here.
Thanks for sharing which intersection crashes are happening. The maps are always from years ago! Need current numbers.
Adding medians or turn restrictions makes sense but could back up traffic even worse. Not sure there’s an easy fix.
Glad to see the article encouraging participation. Sometimes just showing up to the meeting makes a difference.
Thank you! Meaningful progress so often starts with residents participating and sharing their firsthand observations, both at meetings and in ongoing conversations.
Has anyone actually tried emailing the city council? Wondering if they ever directly respond to regular neighbors.
I get why folks are upset, but I also see the city wants to study first. It’s tricky, fix one thing and traffic gets crazier elsewhere.
Our family almost got hit at that Waco crosswalk last year. Feels like nothing's been done since. Disappointing.
I appreciate the city’s plan but 2040 is SO far off. Families need safer crossings now, not in 15 years.
I drive Smoky Hill twice a day, and I see people racing through yellow lights all the time. Cameras or more enforcement wouldn’t hurt in the meantime.
It shouldn’t take a petition for the city to act. Four deaths in two years is outrageous. Centennial, do better.
Has anyone on council actually walked this stretch? Maybe if they saw what it’s like to cross with kids they’d move faster.
Appreciate the detail here. That corner at Waco has always made me nervous, especially at night with the weird lighting. More lights would help a lot.
Thank you for sharing your experience, lighting is one of the solutions community members have suggested, and it can make a real difference for visibility and safety at those intersections.
I like that Centennial has Vision Zero but honestly, it doesn’t feel like anything has changed. Just words. It’s time for actual fixes before more people die.
So much talk about Vision Zero but my commute’s just as dangerous as it was in 2020. Show us some progress city!
You’re absolutely right, the article urges the City to make Vision Zero goals visible now, with milestones and results that residents like you can actually see along your daily route.
I’ve lived near Smoky Hill for 15 years now. The amount of crashes I’ve seen is just scary. We need something done sooner, not just in a few years.
People drive way too fast down there, especially on weekends. Police should ticket more often until there’s change.
Thank you for your input, speeding is a huge concern raised by many residents, and more frequent enforcement is one of several approaches the community has suggested to improve safety.
I wish Centennial would send out updates on this stuff. Hard to find real-time info about accidents or improvements.
Maybe we should install those flashing crosswalk lights. I’ve seen them work pretty well in other towns.
Those crash numbers are wild. Had no idea it was that frequent. Vision Zero sounds good, but we need results, not just plans.
My daughter crosses at Waco for school. Just waiting for the city to fix this makes me nervous every day.
Your concern is completely understandable, and the article highlights that parents and families have every right to demand safer crossings while the City considers long-term solutions.
I signed the petition last month. More lighting and actual pedestrian signals would make a huge difference, especially at night.
Losing four neighbors in two years is honestly shocking. Lower speed limits could help a lot. Why wait until 2040?
This is so sad. I drive Smoky Hill every day and it always feels risky, especially near Waco. Hope the city does more than just talk about it.
Cynthia P.I feel the same way, Cynthia. Every time I turn onto Smoky Hill I tense up. I hope the city actually puts some changes in soon, not just studies.