The South Aurora Regional Improvement Authority (SARIA) is a cooperative of metro districts and was created to finance and build regional transportation improvements in southeast Aurora in collaboration with the city of Aurora.
The metro districts have pledged their Aurora Regional Improvement mill levy funds (a tax they collect on the assessed value of properties) to plan, design, build and finance transportation improvements in the region. Arapahoe County and the E-470 Public Highway Authority are partnering on some of the projects.
The Aurora City Council approved the establishment of the authority in 2017. Identification and prioritization of projects for the initial master plan proceeded through 2018, and the initial funding was allocated in late 2018.
The initial funding is being used for the following projects:
- Design and construction of Harvest Road improvements from Belleview to Orchard (complete)
- Design of Gartrell Road improvements from Dry Creek Road to Aurora Parkway, including bridge widening and ramp improvements (in progress)
- Design of the Aurora Parkway bridge over E-470
- Ongoing preliminary design and preliminary utility relocations to widen and improve Gun Club Road from Quincy Avenue south to Aurora Parkway
- Design and construction of an additional westbound lane on Quincy Avenue from Plains Parkway to E-470
- Contributions to the design and current construction of the Quincy Avenue and E-470 ramp reconfiguration (complete)
Thanks to everyone who attended the Southeast Aurora Road Projects Open House in 2019. For those unable to attend, the materials presented may be downloaded below.
Open House Display Boards
Harvest Road Construction Video