Denver unveils strategic transportation plan
Mayor John Hickenlooper joined Deputy Mayor/Public Works Manager Guillermo "Bill" Vidal in announcing the completion of Denver’s Strategic Transportation Plan (STP), a comprehensive document that addresses the current and future transportation needs of the Mile High City. The STP provides a proactive approach to addressing Denver’s imminent transportation needs with solutions that are consistent with our City’s goal to be multimodal in our approach to solving our transportation challenges.
"The Denver STP is the natural extension of previous City plans, including the Denver Comprehensive Plan, Blueprint Denver and Greenprint Denver," said Manager Vidal. "The STP provides solid recommendations critical to realizing a sustainable transportation system in Denver."
In a bold departure from traditional transportation planning, the Denver STP looks at transportation from the unique perspective of moving people or "person trips," travel by a person from one location to another by any means, rather than the usual focus of only measuring vehicle travel to identify demands on our infrastructure. A fundamental premise of the STP is that Denver must continue its growing trend towards relying on many modes of transportation, including walking, biking and using public transit in order to meet the transportation demands of the future.
With a national focus on energy independence and mitigating the risks of climate change, the Denver STP provides a timely vision. The STP still addresses the essential maintenance, operational and efficiency needs of the current transportation infrastructure, while simultaneously encouraging changes in daily travel choices. The plan explains how those changes can make a big difference in the long-term success of our transportation system and minimize the growth of Denver’s current road footprint.
"Between rising gas prices, long-term environmental considerations, and the desire to support economic growth in a manner that does not compromise our quality of life, there is no better time to introduce this innovative plan for meeting Denver’s ongoing transportation needs," said Mayor Hickenlooper.
The plan features 12 travel sheds, or study areas, within the city that have transportation characteristics and facilities that serve similar origin-destination patterns for travel. Each travel shed is analyzed in terms of maintenance of infrastructure; bicycle and pedestrian system gaps, transit support strategies, transit and roadway improvements and major improvements and studies. Recommendations are made in terms of behavioral, physical and operational improvements, along with an implementation timeframe for the year 2015 and beyond. Many of the improvements benchmarked for 2015 are underway thanks to the Better Denver infrastructure package passed by voters in 2007. The entire plan can be viewed online at www.KeepDenverMoving.com.
The project team for the STP was led by Vidal and Denver Public Works staff and included engineering and transportation consultants, an advisory committee of stakeholders appointed by Mayor Hickenlooper; a technical committee of representatives from the public, technical staff and regional agencies; and a key staff committee with members from various City agencies participating. Public engagement included town hall meetings and open focus groups, as well a comprehensive website that provided information and sought feedback.