The crossing of Colfax Avenue represents one of the biggest barriers to safe and enjoyable pedestrian connectivity between Downtown and the Civic Center district. Several of the primary goals of the Downtown Area Plan focus on the issue of the pedestrian environment in Downtown Denver and improving Downtown’s “grand boulevards” from a pedestrian and urbanism perspective. In fact, I even reviewed the Downtown Area Plan’s main strategies from a pedestrian perspective in this post from 2008.
One (of many) of the Better Denver Bond Projects deals with this issue. Before I continue, let me state that the Colfax/Lincoln intersection is just as problematic (perhaps more so), and a good solution for that intersection has yet to be determined. Nevertheless, let’s turn to Colfax and Broadway and the Better Denver Bond Project that will be addressing this particular intersection.
This project can be described pretty simply: You know the right-turn-only lane that veers off of eastbound Colfax for southbound Broadway that creates a double pedestrian-crossing environment? It’s going away! Here’s a GoogleEarth image with an overlay (by me) that shows the planned improvements (click to embiggen):
The black line represents the new curb line. The reclaimed space will incorporated as part of the Civic Center Park’s “Broadway Terrace” rehabilitation project, also a Better Denver Bond project. This Colfax/Broadway pedestrian improvement will get underway Spring 2011.
It’s not earth-shattering, but it is a +1 for Downtown Denver pedestrians.
One down, a few thousand to go.
Good project. It’s time to reverse the gradual chipping away that did such damage to our cities.
Completely agree. The main issue at hand for pedestrians is having an environment that encourages the pedestrian instead of simply accommodating.
Ken, I’d be interested to hear briefly about what’s distasteful about the Colfax and Lincoln intersection.
For my part, when I walk to Civic Center from Downtown, I make it a point to cross Colfax at 15th so I can walk through the promenade in the park instead of along Broadway. I generally do this even if I have to go out of my way to do so, because it’s so much nicer than the traffic noise along Broadway.
Alex, the problem at Colfax and Lincoln is that cars driving north on Lincoln and turning onto Colfax often don’t yeild to pedestrians. There are a ton of busses at the intersection too which makes is rather unfriendly for peds. Same issues really at Colfax/Broadway. Generally, both intersections are pretty unfriendly to bikes and peds.
Ken, I completely agree with you. The northbound Lincoln traffic turning onto Colfax is still a major issue, especially at night. It has extremely poor lighting and cars have a very hard time seeing pedestrians. I walk through that intersection almost every morning and night. Removing the right-turn-only lane is a good start, but there is still room for improvement. I hope the city continues to improve the crossing with additional lights, signage and improved crossing bars.
I swear to God, anythin else they can do to damage traffic flow in this city? They’ve even taken away the turn lane on Southbound Colorado at 17th. Of course, the city won’t time the lights properly so that you’re not stopping at every single red light. yay for pedestrians but just another headache to commuters in a city that has a crappy intracity transportation system. Wow, what a move forward
Suburbs are great places for smooth traffic flow, with their six-lane roads and double left-turn lanes. Cities, especially downtown areas, need to be engineered for pedestrians. Having had to cross the lane in question hundreds or thousands of times over the past 30+ years, I’m glad this superflous right-turn lane is going away.
I drive eastbound down 17th everyday during peak hours. The recent modification has hardly caused a dent in the traffic flow.
I pass this intersection every weekday too.
Once the cones went away, I have also not noticed a dramatic increase in traffic delay. The intersection is also is much safer for peds and bikes.
I’ll note that I drive SB Colorado and that is where I expected to see the increase.
sweet – they are doing this at Colo and 17th Ave as well
I would love to see the city put both Lincoln and Broadway underground between Colfax and 14th. Can you imagine how much more efficient that would make getting across town without the 4 intersections of:
Colfax/Broadway
Colfax/Lincoln
14th/Broaday
14th/Lincoln.
Traffic would therefore be able to flow unimpeded surrounding and through the area of Civic Park, while those turning on any of the streets would be able to utilize a directional ramp that would take them up to street level on the outside lane.
Just as important, by removing the lanes of traffic disecting Civic Park, it would in affect, double the size of the usable park. And without so much congestion and traffic, the park would become a city jewel; almost like a mini-version of Chicago’s Grant Park.
It certainly would be amazing to see something like an underground Broadway and Lincoln, although I am certain that would be cost prohibitive. However, it would be nice if there were some underground pedestrian crossings, especially at Colfax/Lincoln and Colfax/Broadway. The bus stop on Colfax between the two is a further hindrance to flow.
Friends often compliment the flow of traffic in Denver, and with a few friends that I talk to who work on that in the Webb building, the system works better than many cities.
I can’t wait for my local better bond project, which should be breaking ground in the Spring. Tennyson Street streetscape improvements from 38th Ave to 44th Ave.