Metric signs in Colorado – US Metric Association

Imperial Express SuperChair, Breckenridge

Elevation sign at the top of the Imperial Express SuperChair ski lift at the Breckenridge Ski Resort, Breckenridge, CO, the highest lift in North America (built in 2005). *Photo courtesy of Marc Sayce, February 2010.*

Steamboat Springs

The story of these signs was written up for the January/February 2001 issue of Metric Today:

Nat Hager III brought USMA President Don Hillger’s attention to the fact that the speed-limit signs in Steamboat Springs, CO also show the metric speed limit, so Hillger decided to research the matter. He was told by Lauren Mooney, who is assistant to the current Steamboat Springs city manager, that the dual speed limit signs had been in place for a number of years. He also learned that the metric addition was made to the signs in the early 1990s by the (then) city manager, Harvey M. Rose.

Metric speed limit signs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, similar to the international design with a red circle, and correctly rounded conversions. There are many of these signs on US 40 through Steamboat Springs, CO. *Photos courtesy of Jim Elwell, July 2006.*

These photos show an earlier version of the Steamboat Springs signs. *Photos courtesy of Don Hillger, November 2000.*

Rose, now city manager for Eureka, CA, has been recognized with its highest awards by the International City Management Assn, for attracting more international travelers, conferences, and investors to the community where he was in charge of administration. One of his actions in Steamboat Springs was the addition of metric to the speed limit signs for the benefit of the city’s many foreign visitors. He states, During my time with the City of Steamboat Springs … I lobbied the State’s Transportation Department in Denver for the right to install the [metric] signs on the state highway that ran through the community. For this, we (the city and the state) had to design and agree upon this new signage. I was told at the time that Steamboat Springs was the first and only Colorado city using metric speed limit signs. I am unaware of any other Colorado city using metric speed limit signs.

Whalers Way, Fort Collins

Metric distance on traffic-calming (speed bump) signs on Whalers Way (street) in Fort Collins, CO. These are the only two such signs in the city, one at each end of this stretch of road. *Photos courtesy of Don Hillger, September 2003.*

Last updated: 2015-11-13