SDG leading study on transit improvements on Denver’s East Colfax corridor

Steer Davies Gleave has been selected to develop new mobility solutions for the East Colfax corridor near downtown Denver. The Colfax Corridor Connections project is an Alternatives Analysis and Environmental Assessment that will examine mobility solutions along a ten-mile corridor which is expected to have a 20-30 per cent increase in transportation/mobility demand in the next 15 years. 

Colfax is the major east-west arterial linking downtown Denver with the eastern and western suburbs, and the East Colfax corridor includes the area's highest bus ridership routes. The area is a vibrant mix of urban commercial and residential neighborhoods and is often severely congested during both peak and off-peak hours.

The project is aimed at expanding capacity in the heavily-traveled corridor without expanding roadway lanes or right-of-way. The potential solutions to be examined range from bus system enhancement to Bus Rapid Transit and on to fixed guideway rail solutions such as streetcars and light rail.

Terry Ruiter, a Principal Planner with Denver Public Works, Policy, Planning, and Sustainability, said: “The Colfax corridor – which is ten miles long and about ten blocks wide – is incredibly diverse; it contributes to the vibrancy of the city and is something that we are keen to preserve. It consists of a mix of unique urban commercial and residential neighborhoods where people from different walks of life work, study, live and play. This diversity creates one of the big challenges for the project, but we are optimistic that the outcome will enhance the city’s vibrancy.”

The project is anticipated to take 18 months (through the end of 2013) to complete.