Project Activity « Federal Boulevard Partnership

Project Activity

Dollars for Federal Boulevard Reconstruction?

Friday, October 28th, 2011

At an October 26 public meeting about engineering design improvements planned for Federal Boulevard between W. 5th Avenue and Howard Place (14th Avenue), Denver Public Works announced plans to apply for grant funds from the Department of Transportation TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) program. If awarded, the funds provide the dollars to construct significant improvements as presented in draft form at the public meeting. It is believed the total project cost is approximately $20 million.

Improvements presented at the meeting include widening Federal allowing the construction of a third northbound lane, adding 16′ raised center medians, reconfiguration of certain key intersections, new curb and gutter, drainage improvements and wider sidewalks. The project requires the purchase of additional right-of-way along most of the east side of Federal, which depending on the property may involve the purchase several feet of property or the entire property.

Probably the biggest design concerned involved the lack of pedestrian separation from the roadway, as well as the lack of landscaping along both the east and west sides of Federal..

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One Year of Federal Route 31 as a Crosstown Bus

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

Hand painted tiles by children of Cheltenham Elementary for a windscreen at the Colfax/Federal transfer station.

In late August 2010, a major change was implemented by the Regional Transportation District (RTD) changing the Federal Bus Route 31 to a crosstown route. This was a change the Partnership began advocating for a year before. After living with the change for over a year, the Partnership is questioning whether the new configuration works for the north Federal corridor and Northwest Denver residents.

As a crosstown route, the Federal 31 bus now traverses Federal north and south, without a downtown destination. If a Route 31 passenger desires to go downtown, there are two options including a transfer to a bus that crosses the 31 route (examples include 9, 16, 28, 32, 38, 44 and can also include use of the Colfax/Federal transfer station) or originating the trip by catching one of the downtown buses.

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Streetscape Designs Vetted in Public Meeting

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

At a well attended meeting July 13, streetscape designs were presented and vetted with the public. The meeting was the culmination of nine months of effort by a committed team of design professionals and community members united in the effort in effecting a vision for the future of the Boulevard. Early in the project, the team determined West 25th Avenue east from Federal should be included in a design district due to it’s density of historic commercial storefront structures. Over the course of countless committee meetings, two public meetings including a half day design workshop, 10 design concepts were defined.

Along with presenting and discussing the design concepts, the meeting also shared results of the “name the district” survey and sought input from those in attendance about the designs. The presentation provided at the meeting can be read and downloaded in three sections, Part One, Part Two and Part Three.

Several public comments to the presented designs include:

Establishing a “gateway” to West 25th from Federal was warmly embraced.
Slowing traffic, introducing traffic calming elements and improving pedestrian safety and experience was strongly supported. (more…)

Help Name the Streetscape Design District

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

Ex. design concept, Federal cross-section in 2300 hundred block, curtesy Jeff Shea of Shea Designs

You can assist the Federal Streetscape project by helping to name the streetscape design district! The past two months the Federal Streetscape Design Committee has met to formalize streetscape concepts and designs, which will be presented to the public Wednesday, July 13th, 6:30 PM (6:00 PM Open House) at the Adam Mystery Playhouse. The twelve design concepts were derived from a public input meeting and design workshop held earlier in the year.

One important priority identified during the design workshop is to better “brand” the area for identification, streetscape design and marketing purposes. Taking that need to heart, the Design Committee decided to “put it to the public”, by sponsoring a survey to gauge preferred names for the streetscape area. You can take the survey by selecting this link. The survey allows you to make two name choices. Naming preferences will be announced at the July 13 meeting and also be provided here at the Partnership Web site. (more…)