Buchtel Complete Street and Evans Intersection Improvements Project Virtual Meeting

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Welcome

Welcome to the Buchtel Complete Street and Evans Intersection Improvements Project
as part of the University Neighborhoods Safer Streets Program

Virtual, Self-Guided Public Meeting Open to the public between February 9, 2022 – March 2, 2022

Hello!

We’re developing transportation safety and mobility projects to improve streets and the quality of life for residents, visitors, and businesses to ensure everyone is safe no matter how you get around.

If you participated in the fall 2021 virtual public meeting, welcome back! If you’re new, welcome aboard! We’re excited to share the progress we’ve made and to check in with you to ensure we’re on the right track.

As you navigate through the online meeting, you're invited to provide input on the refined designs for the project area.

How To Navigate

This is a self-guided meeting which allows you to participate at your leisure.

The following pages provide information about the project and opportunities to share your feedback. The Project Overview and Proposed Refinements pages have feedback activities. If you don’t have time to go through all the pages, you can quickly share feedback using the Vote button at the top of the page.

  • Scroll down to view the items on each section of the meeting. Click on the arrows at the bottom of your screen to advance forward to the next section or to return to a previous section.
  • You may also use the navigation bar on the left side of the screen to revisit any part of the meeting.
  • You can view links or enlarge images by clicking directly on the respective item.

Tell us About You

First, Tell us About You!

Project History

Citywide Planning

  • Denver Moves Plans, Complete Streets Guidelines and Blueprint Denver (2012 – 2019)
  • Identified Buchtel as priority bicycle corridor and other corridors as mixed-use arterials or main streets

Area Planning

  • Multi-Station Plan and Mobility Study & Next Steps Study (2017)
  • Established concepts to improve safety along Buchtel and at major intersections

Elevate Denver Bond Package

  • Voter approved funding for transportation improvements citywide (2017)
  • Provides $8.4 million toward the improvements identified in the Multi-Station Plan

Denver has heard from community members during past studies, including Denver Moves and the 2017 University/Colorado Multi-Station Plan and Mobility Study, that you want better connections to the University Station and Colorado Station Areas, and that we should prioritize improving safety.

The Buchtel & Colorado Boulevard Intersection Improvements were approved by Denver voters as part of the Elevate Denver Bond. This safety and mobility project will follow the recommendations from these earlier studies to improve streets and the quality of life for residents, visitors, and businesses to ensure everyone is safe no matter how you get around.

Initial Studies

Multi-Station Plan & Mobility Study: University and Colorado Light Rail Stations

STUDY PURPOSE

The purpose of the Multi-Station Plan & Mobility Study was to identify a cohesive strategy and key implementable actions to increase local connectivity, access and mobility to the University and Colorado light rail stations, resulting in more vibrant people-friendly stations integral to the surrounding communities.

The Study ran from June 2016 through May 2017 and was funded through an Urban Center/Station Area Master Planning grant through DRCOG. The study was led by Transportation Solutions, in partnership with the City and County of Denver. The University of Denver, Regional Transportation District (RTD), Lincoln Property Company, Mile High Development, City and County of Denver Councilman Kashmann and Councilwoman Black and numerous local residents were instrumental to pulling together this plan.

Next Steps Study

The initial Multi-Station Plan & Mobility Study was then taken a step further with the Next Steps Study which advanced concept ideas for key transportation projects, which serve as the basis for this project.

Projects were selected to be included in the Next Steps Study based on community input, feasibility, timing, and potential funding sources. The Next Steps Study provides an additional level of concept design analysis and builds further public support before projects move to final design and implementation.

LEARN MORE

Study Goals

  1. Transform these stations from “backdoors” to central mobility hubs that
  2. Design a supporting transportation network that enables mobility options and changes in travel behavior.
  3. Catalyze land use, inspire innovation and encourage place-making.

Project Overview

Elevate Bond Projects

Building upon previous planning efforts, the City’s Project Team will use community and stakeholder input to refine designs to provide the following project improvements:

Click the buttons below for more info

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On a street like Buchtel, cyclists need protection from the higher volume and higher speed auto traffic. Options include flexible bollards or posts, rubber or concrete curbs, or complete separation from traffic by putting cyclists on an adjacent path.

Photo of cyclist using the Historic Buchtel Boulevard Trail
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Crossing Buchtel can prove challenging with the higher levels of traffic and speeds. Providing safer crossings through the installation of crosswalks and indications for motorists to stop can improve safety.

Photo of a pedestrian crossing improvement, woman crossing street with bicyclist using bike lane and cars driving forward yielding to pedestrian
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Improving wayfinding along Buchtel and at the light rail stations on either end of the corridor can make Buchtel a more pleasant and easily navigated street.

Photo of wayfinding signage example showing bike path D20 and D11 connecting paths along Buchtel Boulevard as a more pleasant and easily navigated street.
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Improvements at major intersections are focused on making pedestrian and bicycle travel more safe, comfortable, and convenient while also exploring ways to make auto travel safer and more efficient.

Photo of intersection improvement
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Pedestrian facilities will be improved where possible, including new detached sidewalks consistent with Denver's Complete Streets Guidelines. Transit upgrades, particularly at bus stops may also be included.

Photo of pedestrian and bicycle facilities to make crossing an intersection safer

Program Overview

University Neighborhoods Safer Streets Program

The Buchtel Complete Street and Evans Intersection Improvements project is part of a larger transportation planning and design effort under the University Neighborhoods Safer Streets Program.

Completing connections: The overall University Neighborhoods Safer Streets Program is looking at the big picture of transportation in this area, including projects funded by voter approved bonds, scheduled maintenance like street paving and new construction. The program helps understand how this project connects to others, such as new sidewalk installations where they are missing, new bike facilities that can be installed when streets are repaved, and other bond funded projects that Denverites approved at the ballot.

In addition to the Elevate Bond Project elements that are discussed in this self-guided online public meeting, several other mobility projects are occurring within the area to make University Neighborhoods streets safer to cross the street, walk to shops, jobs, schools, bicycle to work, transit stops and move actively with assistive devices (i.e. wheelchairs and scooters). The following project updates are included, as well as links to planning efforts that are currently underway aimed at capturing a broader vision and project recommendations for the area.

Buchtel Complete Street & Evans Intersection Improvements

Major intersection improvements:

  • University/Buchtel
  • University/Evans
  • Colorado/Buchtel
  • Colorado/Evans

Major intersection improvements:

  • Protected Bike Lanes (University to Colorado)
  • Wider Sidewalks (Columbine to Saint Paul)
  • Reconstructed Monroe Intersection
  • Enhanced pedestrian and bicycle crossings

Sidewalk Projects

University Park Neighborhood Gaps:

  • Milwaukee
  • Saint Paul
  • Adams
  • Cook
  • Madison
  • University Park Neighborhood Gaps: Completed 2021

Bike Projects

Plans

  • Near Southeast Area Plan (Goldsmith, Indian Creek, University Hills North, Virginia Village, and Washington Virginia Vale neighborhoods, including Colorado Station Area): Virtual community workshops March 1 and March 10, sign up at the project website.
  • Denver Moves Everyone 2050 (Citywide): Community engagement throughout 2022, get involved at denvermoveseveryone.com.

Signal Project

  • Evans Avenue & Ash Street New Signal

Project Area Map

The following map highlights the suite of projects included in the University Neighborhoods Safer Streets Program. The Buchtel Complete Street and Evans Intersection project will fill an important gap in the city's active transportation infrastructure.

Image of University Neighborhoods Safer Streets Program map highlighting a suite of project such as Buchtel Protected Bike Lanes project, Franklin Street Neighborhood Bikeway, Traffic signal at Evans and Ash, Birch Neighborhood Bikeway, and Buchtel Complete Street and Evans Intersection Improvements

Project Components and Goals

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Multimodal Transportation and Urban Design Integration
The project aims to deliver holistic solutions that integrate a robust public realm, green infrastructure, and safe and comfortable transportation facilities.

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Sustainable Infrastructure through Envision Certification
The City is committed to working collaboratively to address the social, environmental, and economic aspects of this project. Envision is a program used to identify sustainable approaches for improvement throughout the entire life-cycle of a project. The City will conduct a self-assessment according to the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s Envision sustainability framework and rating system.

As cities continue to grow and development moves forward, the need for sustainable, resilient, and equitable infrastructure becomes paramount.

ENVISION Learn More

Timeline and Next Steps

Timeline graphic from left to right starts with 2017 Planning Phase and Public Engagement, then it shows 2017 Bond approved, then fast forward to 2021 we’re in project scoping and development, between 2021 and 2022 is the design phase and public engagement, then comes late 2022 project implementation plan. Lastly, Construction is to be determined.

Community Input

Community Input Key Takeaways

Photo of various community members meeting virtually for a virtual public meeting, and Photo of a whiteboard storyboard session during an online public meeting to collect public input and feedback

We have heard general support for the following:

people
  • Improving safety at the major intersections
  • Providing safer pedestrian crossings and traffic calming elements on Buchtel
  • Improving the existing bike lanes on Buchtel
  • Providing improvements that can be implemented on a shorter timeframe

Public Meeting Comments and Feedback

November 2021

Key issues mentioned:

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  • Signal timing at major intersections
  • Channelized right turn lanes are perceived poorly
  • Event traffic and pedestrian safety
  • Monroe and St. Paul intersections

Safety concerns mentioned:

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  • Speeding vehicles
  • Poor driver behavior
  • The project area is not pedestrian and bicycle friendly

What We’ve Heard

Community Input Sustainability Priorities

In the fall of 2021, we asked you to identify your top sustanability priorities for this project.

Respondents ranked their quality-of-life values below in order of importance (top three include):

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  1. Safety: safe crossings at intersections, safe bike lanes, decreased vandalism and crime, preventing crashes within the project boundary
  2. Mobility: transportation of any mode, cars, buses, trains, bikes, walking that provides access and contributes to the efficient movement of people, goods and services
  3. Health: options for safely walking, driving, biking, or accessing the nearby roads and bus systems as well as good water quality, clean air, and access to health services and recreation

Online Public Questionnaire Results

November 2021

Respondents ranked environment values in order of importance (top three include):

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  1. Air quality
  2. Water quality
  3. Contamination (soil, surface, water, groundwater)

Your answers help the team better understand your priorities for the project and address them to the extent possible. Your feedback is a part of the Envision process, and the City is committed to understanding your goals and needs related to the project.

Project Progress

Project Progress & Concept Refinements

We’ve used community and stakeholder sentiment to identify bicycle facility improvements, safer intersections, safer crossing treatments, and improved signage, and lane markings for the Buchtel Complete Street and Evans Intersection Improvement project locations. Refined designs have been drafted for the community and stakeholders to provide input. We’ll use feedback from this virtual meeting and the upcoming pop-up events to improve the concepts.

Illustration of an example of a Complete Street in Denver with street trees, bicyclist mobility, transit lanes, safe and comfortable crossings, accessible route, green infrastructure, and pedestrian lighting Cross section only applies to Buchtel between Columbine and St. Paul

Potential Refinements: Buchtel Complete Street

An illustration of a proposed refinement for the Buchtel Complete Street project

Click to expand and enlarge image.

Buchtel Complete Street (University Blvd to Colorado Blvd)

Streets for everyone

  • Maintain existing pavement width and bike lane configuration
  • Add protection in the buffer area (curbs and/or posts) between bike lane and auto lane
  • Add 6-foot sidewalk from St. Paul to Columbine on south side
    • Detached sidewalk is preferred. Design to accommodate property and other constraints.

New crosswalks with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) will be used to supplement warning signs at mid-block crosswalks at Columbine, Fillmore, Cook, Monroe (every two blocks). The RRFBs alert motorists that pedestrians are using the crosswalk. Studies have shown that RRFBs significantly increase driver yielding behavior.

photo example of a rectangular rapid flashing beacon to alert motorists that pedestrians are using the crosswalk.
Image credit: City of Freemont, CA (https://fremont.gov/sb1)

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What is a complete Street?

Complete Streets are streets for everyone. They are designed and operated to prioritize safety, comfort, and access to destinations for all people who use the street. Complete Streets make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, jobs, and schools, bicycle to work, and move actively with assistive devices. They allow buses to run on time and make it safe for people to walk or move actively to and from train stations.

This makes the street network better and safer for people walking, biking, driving, riding transit, and moving actively — making your neighborhood connectivity a better place to live.

  • Cycle Tracks are too expensive; bike lane protection can be accomplished with lower costs and fewer impacts.
  • Protecting mature trees is a priority
  • Vehicle speeds are too fast

Please note, the proposed refinement is a work in progress. In addition to collecting your feedback, we are continuing our engineering analysis of the proposed improvements.

Potential Refinements: Buchtel & University Intersection

Illustration showing potential refinements for University & Buchtel Intersection improvements which include, reconstructing southbound right turn lane to slow traffic and provide better visibility for pedestrians and bicyclists, construct a raised pedestrian crossing of the right turn lane, new bicycle signal, Add raised or painted median, Curb extension to shorten pedestrian crossing distance and reduce turning vehicle speeds

Click to expand and enlarge image.

Buchtel and University Intersection

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  • Channelized right turns are too fast
  • Crossing after events at night is dangerous
  • Heavy pedestrian traffic before and after events

Please note, the proposed refinement is a work in progress. In addition to collecting your feedback, we are continuing our engineering analysis of the proposed improvements.

Potential Refinements: Buchtel & Colorado Intersection

Illustration showing potential refinements for Colorado & Buchtel Intersection improvements which include, New Painted Median with Pedestrian Refuge Island, Curb extension to shorten pedestrian crossing distance, Bike lanes extended east of Colorad Boulevard toward  Colorado Light Rail Station, New bicycle signal, and Remove one eastbound thru lane to accommodate safer bike lane

Click to expand and enlarge image.

Buchtel and Colorado Intersection

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  • Difficult to cross Colorado due to the width and signal cycle is short
  • Providing safer pedestrian and bicycle access to Colorado Station is high priority
  • Signal timing should be revised to provide more time for turning movements.

Please note, the proposed refinement is a work in progress. In addition to collecting your feedback, we are continuing our engineering analysis of the proposed improvements.

Potential Refinements: Colorado & Evans Intersection

Click to expand and enlarge image.

Evans and Colorado Intersection

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  • Lack of public/ stakeholder support for new channelized right turns
  • Channelized right turns would result in major property impacts

What is a channelized right turn?
Turning roadways at intersections that provide for free-flow or nearly free-flow right-turn movements. Channelization can be provided in a variety of forms including painted pavement areas and curbed islands.

Please note, the proposed refinement is a work in progress. In addition to collecting your feedback, we are continuing our engineering analysis of the proposed improvements.

Potential Refinements: University & Evans Intersection

Illustration showing potential refinements for Evans & University Intersection improvements which include, shift lanes to add southbound right turn lane, Curb extension to shorten pedestrian crossing distance, Remove parking to make space for right turn lane, Reconstruct bus stop along new curb line and add shelter, and Curb extension to shorten pedestrian crossing distance

Click to expand and enlarge image.

Evans and University Intersection

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  • Pedestrian and turning vehicle conflicts are the main concern

Please note, the proposed refinement is a work in progress. In addition to collecting your feedback, we are continuing our engineering analysis of the proposed improvements.

Are we on the right track?

What is most important to you?

Stay Involved!

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Subscribe to Councilwoman Kendra Black's Newsletter

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Subscribe to Councilman Paul Kashmann's Newsletter

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Event 1: Winter Bike to Work Day on Feb. 11, 2022 - coffee station at Race Street & Evans Ave (near DU Community Commons area/Bike Path) from 6:30 am - 9 am.

Event 2: Pop-Up at Junction Food & Drink (2000 S Colorado Blvd Building IV, Denver, CO 80222) from 12 pm - 1 pm

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