If there's one thing I have learned in this job, it's that Denverites have a lot to say about transportation in the city.
Now, there's a chance for travelers to give input on two different projects: one for biking and one for rail.
Share your thoughts on the state of biking in the city.
Earlier this year, the city exceeded its goal of building 125 miles of new bike infrastructure in Denver. Meanwhile, construction on the long-awaited Broadway bike lane is underway, and the rebuilt Larimer Street Bridge opened this week.
But as traffic deaths continue to rise, the city wants Denverites' input on the state of biking and rolling in Denver.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is working on a project updating the most recent map of recommended bike routes in the city from 2015. Denverites can take a survey and comment on the map online through Dec. 15. DOTI's key questions include where gaps exist in Denver's bike network, and where existing bikeways feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
The city is also hosting a virtual kickoff meeting for the project on Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 5-6 p.m. on Zoom.
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is hosting open houses on Northwest Rail service.
It's something residents voted on nearly two decades ago -- a tax increase to bring a rail line connecting Denver and Boulder, with additional stops at Arvada, Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville and Longmont. Nineteen years later, that never happened (we made a whole podcast about it), largely thanks to wrong cost estimates and the 2008 recession.
Now, RTD is soliciting feedback on a less ambitious version of the long-awaited train, which could run six trains per day between Denver and Longmont during rush hour. At a public meeting earlier this year, travelers and advocates were split over the benefits of a costly train versus increased bus service.
RTD is hosting two more open houses:
- Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 5-7 p.m., at the Longmont Civic Center (350 Kimbark St., Longmont)
- Thursday, Nov. 9, from 5-7 p.m. at the Broomfield Community Center (280 Spader Way, Broomfield)
People can also attend a self-guided virtual open house online, between Nov. 8 and Dec. 8.
"While we have faced challenges making the Northwest Rail a reality due to escalating costs and evolving train operation requirements and constraints, RTD is looking forward to showcasing progress on the study since we last engaged the public earlier this year," said RTD Study Manager Patrick Stanley in a statement Thursday.
