In May of 2016, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office applied for and received a grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation. The purpose of this grant is to enhance traffic safety in Unincorporated El Paso County through the identification and monitoring of locations in the County which consistently have the most traffic crashes occur at them. 

These locations are:

The area of Powers at Palmer Park Boulevard with 63 total traffic crashes in 2014 - 2015.
The area of South Academy Boulevard and Highway 85 with 60 total traffic crashes in 2014 - 2015.
The area of Highway 24 at 31st Street with 54 total traffic crashes in 2014 - 2015.
The area of South Academy Boulevard at the PPCC entrance with 27 total traffic crashes in 2014 - 2015.
The area of Highway 24 at Milepost 296 (Waldo Canyon) with 26 total traffic crashes in 2014 - 2015.
The area of Highway 24 at Milepost 294 (Cascade) with 22 total traffic crashes in 2014 - 2015.

Together, these six areas have accounted for over 250 traffic crashes in the past two years, or an average of more than two crashes a week. This causes a significant impact to the community the Sheriff’s Office serves.

This grant provides for a number of uses, to include a new speed monitoring trailer and speed detecting equipment. The grant also provides for deputies to work traffic enforcement specifically in those areas to help reduce traffic crashes.

By utilizing the grant, in the month of September, members of the Sheriff’s Office will be conducting high visibility traffic enforcement in these areas.  The ultimate goal of this effort is to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities, which affect the entire community.  Only in partnership with the community can the Sheriff’s Office achieve the goal of safer roads for us all.