In order to create the 2040 transportation master plan, Douglas County staff analyzed trends in household and job growth in the county.

Maps displaying this data tell the possible story of the next 20 years, including which areas will likely expand and which will probably remain stagnant.

In many ways, the job and household growth maps are very similar. In both maps, the west and southwest sections of the county are expected to have “low growth,” which means an increase in employees and households of less than 500, according to the map.

Much of the central and southeast parts of the county expect little to no change in job and household growth.

The areas that are projected to have increases of more than 500 in homes and jobs, labeled as “high growth,” are in the Castle Rock, Larkspur, Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree areas. In some of these municipalities and areas, there are sections of high growth surrounded by areas of little to no growth and vice-versa.

Some differences between the projected growth of jobs and households can be seen as well. While the amount of homes near Franktown is expected to experience high growth, jobs are not. The same is true for the northeast corner of the county.

Over 500 new jobs are expected between Sedalia and Castle Pines but the same growth is not expected for homes.

Pedestrian and bike paths

The transportation plan also details bicycle lane and pedestrian walkway improvements for the next 20 years.

For the 2021 to 2030 plan, there are eight planned projects, including trail construction by U.S. 85 between Castle Rock Parkway and Sedalia and along the Parker area's Mainstreet between Chambers Road and Jordan Road.

It also outlines improvements to the bicycle lane on Havana Street between RidgeGate Parkway and Lincoln Avenue.

Two other trails planned are on U.S. 85 between C-470 and Highlands Ranch Parkway and parallel with the railroad between the Castle Rock area's Plum Creek Parkway and the Columbine Open Space and Trail.

There are 10 additional bicycle/pedestrian projects planned to be completed by 2040, including five new trails.

One trail will be built to connect the Town of Castle Rock and Castlewood Canyon State Park.

Two more trails are planned to be built along U.S. 85 with one running between Highlands Ranch Parkway and Sedalia and another going from Sedalia to the Castle Rock area's Meadows Parkway.

Other trails will be constructed on Daniels Park Road between U.S. 85 and Castle Pines Parkway and another connecting the Castle Rock area's Plum Creek Trail and the Sterling Ranch Trail in the subdivision of that name.