The Fraser Board of Trustees discussed recent expenditures, action items and future projects at a Jan. 21 meeting. Here’s what to know:

Lower speed limits coming to Fraser

According to Fraser Mayor Brian Cerkvenik, findings from a Colorado Department of Transportation speed study recommended the lowering of the speed limit throughout downtown Fraser.

The new speed limit will be lowered from 35 to 30 mph throughout downtown Fraser, with a 40 mph step-down speed at approximately mile post 226 eastbound, just before County Road 8, on the north end of U.S. Highway 40 headed south.

The speed limit will be lowered to 30 mph all the way through the south end of Highway 40, at mile point 230 westbound, just before Roam Way.

For the stretch of road from Murdoch’s to Grand Park Community Recreation Center, the speed limit will be lowered from 55 mph to 45 mph. Speed limits will not exceed 45 mph from Fraser to Winter Park.

The speed limit changes will be implemented “as soon as it is warm enough to put signs out,” Cerkvenik said, and CDOT also recommended several other sign and striping changes to bring roads up to state standards. 

Treasurer report shows sales tax revenue is down

The town of Fraser’s sales tax revenue for November 2025 was $18,890 or 3.93 percent lower than in 2024, according to Finance Director Laurie Waters. However, the slight decrease was better than expected considering the lack of open terrain stalling business at Winter Park Resort, the main driver of sales tax revenue, she said.

“Considering what’s going on, I was not too horrified at a 3.9 decrease,” she said at the meeting.

The December sales tax report will not be released until Feb. 6, and Waters said she has her “fingers crossed that we’re going to come out okay.”

“I am hearing not such good news out of the ski area,” she continued. “This is an unprecedented winter. Never been through one like this,” she said, noting that the resort currently only has about 25% of its terrain open, and casting a glum outlook for the rest of winter.

“I don’t think we are going to be able to regain everything that has been lost in skier numbers,” Waters said.

Short term rentals made up 13% of November 2025 sales tax revenue, which was up 17.7% from 2024, she said. Remote sellers were brought in $3,465 more revenue than in 2024, or a 13.05% increase, making up 6% of the town’s sales tax revenue.

Prospective restoration of Fraser River “Safeway bend”

A Colorado Parks and Wildlife study of the portion of the Fraser River known as the “Safeway bend” pointed to possible solutions for stabilizing the riverbank while preserving a major fish habitat.

Parks and Wildlife Aquatic Biologist John Ewert said the preservation work could involve transplanting mature willows and recontouring the gradient of the riverbank to redirect water flow.

Trustees ultimately passed a “light touch” approach to the restoration project, with future reviews from the engineering company Merrick to monitor results. 

The approach focuses on rebuilding the eroded section of the bank by refilling certain sections with latticed wood, cobble and topsoil, then transplanting mature willows to secure the bank and prevent further erosion.

Additionally, the point bar, or deposited sediment on the inside bend of the river, would be shaved down. Through this process, water can spread out over the point bar at high flows, directing it away from the outside bank near Safeway.

Ewert said the intention is to limit disturbance duration and area, so that the fish habitat along the bend rebounds quickly and its long‑term condition improves.

Connectivity traffic study to improve circulation

Trustees approved a connectivity study focused on improving circulation east of U.S. Highway 40 in downtown Fraser.

The study is examining potential new neighborhood connections, including a possible one-way public route through the Sun/Song River Drive area and a two-way connection between Wapiti and South Wapiti linking Ptarmigan Drive to County Road 804.

The goal is to reduce congestion, improve emergency access and create redundancy in the local street network, while also considering drainage, snow storage and neighborhood impacts. The town has hired engineering consultant Kimley-Horn to conduct the analysis. No decisions to build new roads have been made.

Big Valley hired for public works facility

The Town has hired Big Valley Construction as the general contractor for its new Public Works Facility, authorizing the firm to assist with pre-construction planning and design collaboration.

Big Valley will work with the architect and engineers to refine costs, evaluate design options and develop a guaranteed maximum price, which the town will use to pursue financing before construction is approved.