denver streets partnership (dsp) · the denver streets partnership (dsp)is a coalition of community...

TheDenverStreetsPartnership(DSP) isacoalitionofcommunityorganizationsadvocatingforpeople-friendlystreetsinDenver.

OnPeople-FriendlyStreets,walking,biking,andtransitarethefirstchoiceoftransportationforallpeopleregardlessofage,income,andability.People-friendlystreetsaremorethanjustlayersofconcreteandasphalt.Theyarelivingconduitsthatconnectustojobs,schools,servicesandamenities,andtheyenableeveryonetoparticipateinandbenefitfromDenver’sgrowth.

TheDSPmission istoimproveactivetransportationandtransitinfrastructure,accessibilityandusetosupporthealthy,inclusive,connected,andsustainablecommunities.TheDSPcoordinatesadvocacyandcommunityengagementfocusedontransportationfundingandpolicy;VisionZero;andcompletestreets.

What’stheproblem?

Denverites needtobeabletogetaroundourcitywithoutdriving:Asourcitypopulationcontinuestoboom,wehavelimitedspaceforcarsandthereforemustmakewalking,biking,andtransitmoresafeandconvenientforeveryone.Furthermore,onethirdofthepopulationcan’tordoesn’tdrive,includingallchildrenunderage16,about20%ofolderadults,peoplewithdisabilities,andlowerincomehouseholdsthatcan’taffordacar.Transportationcostsaretypicallythesecondbiggesthouseholdexpense,afterhousing.

Walking,biking,ortakingtransitjustisn’tasafeoptionformanyresidentsbecause:• 40%ofDenver’sstreetshave

missingorsubstandardsidewalks.

• Lessthanone-thirdofplannedbicyclelaneshavebeenbuilt

• Only36%ofresidentshaveaccesstofrequent,all-daytransitservice.

What’stheProblem?(continued)

Realmobilityoptionshavebeenwoefullyunderfunded:Formanyyears,Denver’sfundinglevelsforwalkingandbikinghavelaggedbehindpeercities.Atcurrentfundinglevels,about$5Mperyear,itwouldtakehundredsofyears tobuildsafesidewalksandbikelanesineveryneighborhood.

PoorstreetdesignhascreatedapublichealthcrisisinDenver:Denver’strafficfatalityrateismorethandoubletherateinSeattle,andmorethantripletherateinMinneapolis.Nationwide,trafficcrashesaretheleadingcauseofdeathforpeoplebetweentheagesof5and35.

What’stheSolution?

Buildcompletewalk,bike,andtransitnetworksthroughoutDenver:Inorderforresidentstohavesafeandeasywaystogetaroundwithoutdriving,everyneighborhoodmusthaveacompletesidewalknetwork,bicyclelanesthatareseparatedfromvehiculartraffic,andrapid,frequenttransitlinesthatactuallyconnectpeopletotheirdailydestinations.Justbuildingoutthesidewalkandbicyclenetworksinatimelymannerwillrequireaninvestmentofatleast$40millionperyearoverthenext20years.

StartingwiththeCity’s2019Budget,fundhighpriorityneeds:• Atleast$10MfornewsidewalkswheretheyaremissingontheCity’shighinjury

network,the5%ofstreetswhere50%oftrafficfatalitiesoccur• Atleast$6Mfornewbikelanestoconnectneighborhoodsinthecentercity• Atleast$5MforsafetyimprovementsonFederalBlvd,whichhasatrafficfatality

rate20timestheaverageforurbanstreetsinColorado• Atleast$1Mforquick,low-costimprovementsthatcanenhancesafety

immediatelywhiletheCityfindsadditionalfundingforlonger-termimprovements• FundingtoupdateDenver’sstreetdesignstandards,whichareoutdatedanddo

notreflectcurrentbestpracticesfordesigningstreetsthataresafeforpeoplewalking,biking,andaccessingtransit

Howwillwemeasureprogress?

MayorHancock’sMobilityActionPlan establishesambitiousgoalsfortheyear2030,includingreducingthepercentofpeoplewhodrivealonetoworkfrom73%to50%,andreducingtrafficfatalitiesfrommorethan50peryeartozero.Toachievethesegoals,eachyearDenvermustimplementspecificactionitemsoutlinedintheVisionZeroActionPlanandintheDenverMoves suiteofplans.

In2018,theCitycommittedto:• Build14milesofnewsidewalks• Build20milesofnewbikelanes• Installorupgradepedestriancrossingsat3locations• Redesign2intersectionstoincreasesafety• Implementoperationalimprovementsat10intersections• Implement“SmartCity”technologiesat10intersections• Implementtrafficcalmingon1corridor• Enhancestreetlightingtoimprovesafetyon2corridors

In2018,DenveralsocommittedtofinalizingtheDenverMoves:TransitPlan,tocompletethesuiteofplansthatcurrentlyincludesDenverMoves:Bicycles andDenverMoves:PedestriansandTrails.Theplanwillidentifyprioritycorridorsforrapid,frequenttransitthatservesneighborhoodsthroughouttheCity.

TheDenverStreetsPartnershipwillevaluatewhethertheCityhasfulfilledthesecommitmentsinearly2019.

SteeringCommitteeMembers