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Transforming Mobility in Downtown Denver Moving Downtown Denver Transforming Mobility in Downtown Denver Moving Downtown Denver Downtown Denver is a distinct and diverse urban center that provides employment, entertainment, retail, and educational opportunities for over 130,000 employees, 22,000 residents, 45,000 visitors, and 58,000 students, daily. Recent economic and population growth has transformed the center city. In the past five years, Downtown Denver’s population has increased 30%, and has more than tripled since the year 2000. Employment growth has also been strong, up 12% since 2012. Much of this employment and population growth has been driven by highly-educated, Introduction urban-minded millennials. This demographic cohort is less likely to own a car and seeks ways to move around a city on foot, bike or via transit. Population and employment growth, coupled with transformative private and public-sector Through our place-based economic development strategy to build developments and demographic changes, have increased the demand for mobility options in the center city. a strong center city where people want to live, work and visit, and To address increased demand, recent and ongoing planning efforts have fostered Denver’s new visions for bicycling where companies want to locate, Downtown Denver is thriving. and outdoor space downtown – including citywide plans to create a local transit strategy and to link land use and Denver’s population continues to grow, but our future depends on the ability to attract business and investment, maintain an inviting transportation together. These plans have laid the foundation for a multi-modal street system and prioritize moving and active urban environment, and responsibly manage resources people, rather than automobiles. and infrastructure. Denver, like the rest of the nation, is still heavily dependent on the personal automobile to get around; changes in technology, demographics, economics, and attitudes are creating new opportunities and transforming mobility. Using the 2007 Downtown Area Plan as our guide, the Downtown Denver Partnership is committed to building out a visionary mobility network for all users, connecting center city neighborhoods, and Downtown Denver’s growth ensuring seamless regional connections. Our goal is to increase the number of commuters choosing to bike, walk, and take transit over the past five years: while reducing the number of people driving alone. The Downtown Denver Partnership aims to reduce the share of commuters driving population alone to work to under 35% by 2021, adding to the efficiency 30% growth of our mobility network and delivering the quality of life that our downtown employees, residents, and visitors desire. employment 12% growth retail sales 50% growth hotel occupancy 05% growth 1 Downtown Denver Mode Share Downtown Denver Employee Commuting Habits Transit Drive Alone Bike Walk Carpool Telework Motorbike Lyft/Taxi/Uber Vanpool Short Distance Geographic An extensive network of mobility options adds to Downtown Denver’s strength and attractiveness as the economic Commuters All Downtown City of United 39.3% 39.0% 8.3% 5.4% 4.0% 2.2% 0.9% 0.9% 0.1% hub of the region. To this end, the Downtown Denver Partnership surveys a sample of downtown employees each Commutes 5 miles or less Commuters Comparison Denver Denver States fall to examine the trends and habits of commuters. By understanding these key insights, the Partnership can better Bicycled (includes B-cycle) 20% 8% Bike 8% 2% 1% prioritize and advocate for policy decisions that foster convenient, attractive, affordable, and safe mobility options. Drove alone 29% 39% Drive alone 39% 70% 76% Used transit 24% 5.2% 39% Use transit 39%5.2% 7% 5% Walked 16% 5% Walk 5% 5% 3% Commute2017 Downtown Mode Denver Share Mode Change Share 2012 2017 Change Bicycled 4.3% 8.3% Age and gender are key factors that influence travel behavior. Bicycle commuting is greatest among males and Drove alone 38.7% 39.0% people under the age of 30. Additionally, transit use for commuters is highest among people age 50 and over. These Used transit 44.6%5.2% 39.3% factors indicate a need to make improvements to both bicycle infrastructure and the transit network to improve Walked 3.8% 5.4% safety, connectivity and frequency of service in order to better meet the needs of our growing commuter population. Carpooled 5.6% 4.0% Commuters who travel All Transit Drive Alone Bike Walk Carpool Telework Motorbike Lyft/Taxi/Uber Vanpool Short Distance Commute 5 miles or less Commuters 39.3% 39.0% 8.3% 5.4% 4.0% 2.2% 0.9% 0.9% 0.1% Bicycled (includingMEN B-cycle) 20% WOMEN8% Drove alone 29% 39% Biked Drove Transit Walked Biked Drove Transit Walked Used transit 24% 5.2% 39% WalkedUnder 30 20% 28% 35% 11% Under 16%30 8% 28% 45%5% 11% 30-49 14% 36% 37% 6% 30-49 6% 44% 36% 4% Over 50 6% 41% 41% 5% Over 50 2% 44% 46% 2% Commute Mode Share Change 2012 2017 Change Bicycled 4.3% 8.3% Drove alone 38.7% 39.0% Commuter Survey Trends Used transit 44.6%5.2% 39.3% 1. The greatest increase in commuter mode share over the past 5 years is among bicycle use. In the same Walked 3.8% 5.4% period, the City of Denver has added almost 6 miles of bicycle facilities in downtown. Carpooled 5.6% 4.0% 2. Transit ridership into downtown has remained relatively constant, despite the FasTracks’ build out of regional transit infrastructure. 3. Employer subsidized transportation benefits have a significant influence on employee commuting decisions. 4. Driving has remained constant as congestion and parking prices have increased. 2 3 2 0T Walking H S T N Walkable neighborhoods enhance PARK AVE public safety, improve health, foster social interactions and civic engagement, and increase economic activity. DENVER 25 UNION STATION Denver’s emergence as a truly livable city requires not only the build out of a complete pedestrian network in our core, CHAMPA ST but the assurance of safe pedestrian 16TH ST MALL crossings and inviting streetscapes. Areas that 20THput pedestrians AVE of all ages and Who’s walking to work? abilities first, offer wide sidewalks, well- designed crossings buffered from vehicles, Downtown Denver has an pedestrian-scale lighting, tree cover, average Walk Score* of 91, seating, and signage. When combined in an compared to Denver’s city- CIVIC CENTER intentional manner, these elements create wide walk score of 61. In 13 STATION an overall sense of place that is dynamic of 15 major U.S. markets, an and desirable. Many of these low-cost, low- increase of 10 points in Walk W COLFAX AVE tech elements can be implemented in the Score was associated with an miles short-term providing immediate benefits. 5.4% 61% 220 1.1 increase of 5 to 8 percent in While Downtown Denver has implemented of Downtown of commuters avg. calories the average commercial values. streetscape improvements over the past commuters who walk are burned each one-way B R *A proxy for walkability that rates proximity E SPEER BLVD O decade, efforts have been focused in walk under 35 workday commute Lincoln A amenities on a scale of one to 100. D Park W sections of downtown such as 14th Street, A Y California Street, and Wynkoop Street. Downtown must be regarded in its entirety LEGEND with additional investments Goal: Make every street safe, comfortable, and attractive for pedestrians. on major streets such • Continue to invest in walkable corridors in and around downtown with public realm Enhanced Streetscape as 15th, 18th, and 19th enhancements such as improved lighting and benches that add to comfort and accessibility. Pedestrian Paths Streets, Broadway, and the Ped Bridges • Develop a comprehensive wayfinding system throughout Downtown Denver. named streets. Focus Areas Enhanced Crosswalks • Target key crossings along high traffic streets such as Speer Boulevard, Broadway, Auraria Parkway, and Colfax and Park Avenue to remove barriers, improve safety, and reduce speeds. 4 5 2017 STATE OF Biking Better bike lanes attract talent, 2 boost local commerce, and relieve 0T H S T pressure on roads. N PARK AVE As city centers around the nation fill with people, city leaders are beginning DENVER UNION STATION to understand that building high-quality, connected bicycle networks is not only a 25 healthy and efficient way to move people Source: Jack Todd, Bicycle Colorado – but also creates new opportunities in the 16TH ST MALL urban economy. CHAMPA ST Who’s biking to work? Bicycle commuting in Downtown Denver has doubled in the past six years, with 20TH AVE A study of Denver’s enhanced a staggering 25% increase from 6.6% in bikeways by Denver Public 2016 to 8.3% in 2017. This recent jump in Works revealed the number ridership has proven there is latent demand of people riding on Lawrence for cycling in Denver. National research CIVIC Street (between 13th and CENTER STATION shows that new riders are attracted to 14th Street) increased by protected bicycle facilities that prioritize 8.3% 13% 93% 4.1 miles 135%; Arapahoe Street saw safety and comfort. a 128% increase (between W COLFAX AVE of downtown of males increase in the average 19th and 20th) after While Denver has made recognizable commuters commute by bike commuting one-way installation of the protected additions to its bicycle network, the system bike to work bike since 2012 commute bikeways in 2015. is incomplete. A successful system is a E SPEER BLVD Lincoln complete system that appeals to current Park B cyclists and attracts new ones - inviting R O A D them to ride on modern, low-stress bikeways W Goal: Provide clear bicycle network connections into and through downtown A Y where bikes and vehicles while incorporating services and facilities that address the whole trip.
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