CinemAbility: The Art of Inclusion, the groundbreaking documentary about the history of disability inclusion in media starring Marlee Matlin, Jamie Foxx, Geena Davis, Danny Woodburn, Jane Seymour, and Daryl Mitchell, among others, is making its television debut this Monday, September 23rd at 8pm ET as part of TCM’s “Disability in the Movies” Showcase. The award-winning film will be paired with several other movies that are investigated within the documentary such as the Tod Browning curiosity Freaks and the James Whale classic Bride of Frankenstein, with an encore presentation of the documentary paired with different films the following week.
Ben Mankiewicz will be the host of the show, which will also include special guest Jenni Gold, the director of CinemAbility, who is the only female Director’s Guild Member of the DGA who uses a wheelchair. Jenni spent over ten years producing the film, which is currently rated 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and has been called “Eye Opening!” by the LA Times, and “Essential” in Variety.
We hope that you will tune in this Monday to see the film, and support diversity and inclusion in media. For more information about the film, visit www.goldpictures.com.
https://drmac-co.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Cine-Poster-MASTERJane-JENNI-copy-e1569288755143.png24712471Coleen Samuelshttps://drmac-co.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DRMAC20logo1.jpgColeen Samuels2019-09-24 01:26:462019-09-24 01:32:53Award-Winning disability doc “CinemAbility: The Art of Inclusion” makes its’ TV debut!
The Colorado Department of Transportation says it’s close to purchasing a 61-acre plot of land just south of downtown that leaders say would be “transformative” for the city.
Union Pacific’s historic Burnham Yard, sandwiched between Interstate 25 and the Lincoln Park neighborhood, has sat empty since it closed in 2016. CDOT chief engineer Josh Laipply said a deal for most of the 70-acre yard isn’t yet done, but it’s close.
“We are competing for the property with others. However, the Union Pacific and their representation has said, ‘We’re going to work solely with you right now because we like what you’re offering,’ ” Laipply said in an interview Tuesday. “We’re hoping that purchase and sale could happen sometime in the November, December time-frame, and then hopefully close on the property sometime in January.”
In a statement, Union Pacific spokeswoman Kristen South confirmed the railroad has received a handful of offers for the yard.
“We are currently in the process of reviewing those proposals,” she said.
If the deal does go through, the parcel would open up opportunities for infrastructure improvements that could affect the entire state. CDOT is in the early stages of studying improvements to Interstate 25 from downtown to Sante Fe Drive. That road carries a quarter-million cars per day, and is constrained in stretches by the South Platte River on the west and a freight rail line on the east.
But that freight line could be moved to right-of-way in Burnham Yard, which would eliminate some at-grade crossings and give CDOT more space to improve Interstate 25. Laipply said two new managed lanes are a possibility, similar to those on U.S. 36 that carry buses, high-occupancy cars and those who pay a toll. But he emphasized that no decisions have been made yet.
Courtesy of CDOTThe Colorado Department of Transportation wants to buy this 61-acre lot just south of downtown Denver.
“We don’t have funds to really do anything, but we should start looking at it to try to figure out what the options are,” he said. “What we really like about this property is it really allows more options to be on the table.”
CDOT is looking at a number of other alternatives for I-25, including moving some lanes to the west of the South Platte River, realigning the freeway entirely, and even a double-decker design.
“We haven’t looked at that in any detail yet,” Graugberger said. “Everything is still so very preliminary. But over the years, everyone’s thought that if Burnham Yard every became available, it would provide additional access for passenger rail system coming up from the south, like the Front Range Passenger Rail concept.”
Another potential winner is the Regional Transportation District. The transit agency’s has a bottleneck on its light rail system where five lines converge near 10th and Osage, on the east side of Burnham Yard. Laipply said there might be enough space to allow RTD to add another set of tracks there.
That would allow RTD to run more trains, said spokeswoman Laurie Huff.
“RTD would like the ability to increase capacity in the vicinity from two to three or four tracks, if possible,” she said via email. “If we intend to add capacity, we need to build on to the existing system. Increasing capacity could improve on-time performance and service for our current riders.”
Laipply declined to say how much money CDOT has offered for the property. That number will be made public in the coming months, he said.
There’s also potential for more residential development near RTD’s 10th and Osage light rail station. As of now, that only exists to the east of the station. CDOT will put out an RFP to developers soon and will work “hand in glove” with the city of Denver, Laipply said.
“From a transit oriented development, from a pedestrian and walkability perspective, I think it’s kind of a nexus where the three of us can come together and really do something special,” Laipply said.
Laura Swartz, spokeswoman for the city’s community planning and development department, said any new development over five acres would require a public input process. The development process overall could take years, she said.
https://drmac-co.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/190817-BURNHAM-YARD-LINCOLN-PARK-TRAINS-TRANSPORTATION-KEVINJBEATY-05-e1569288091729.jpg13671367Coleen Samuelshttps://drmac-co.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DRMAC20logo1.jpgColeen Samuels2019-09-24 01:22:262019-09-24 01:22:26CDOT Is Close To Buying An Old Train Yard Near Downtown Denver That Would Open Up Big Transportation Possibilities
https://drmac-co.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/regional.png433799Coleen Samuelshttps://drmac-co.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DRMAC20logo1.jpgColeen Samuels2019-09-24 01:14:092019-09-24 01:14:09Regional Vision Zero – Safer Streets for Metro Denver
enver will continue investing in its goals around transportation and the climate crisis under the mayor’s 2020 budget proposal, which he revealed this morning at a press conference. But the $1.49 billion operating budget, which is a 2 percent increase over this year’s spending, also braces the city for an economic slowdown.
“We are taking assertive steps now to begin the belt tightening,” said Mayor Michael Hancock. “Because we are indeed seeing our revenues moderate and soften.”
In response to the slowing flow of cash into the city’s coffers, the mayor asked each department to make cuts without reducing services. The departments responded by making administrative changes or avoiding some new hiring. But the slower budget growth does not mean the city is cutting back on investments already planned, said the mayor.Fast growth injected new money into the city’s budget in recent years, according to Brendan Hanlon, the city’s Chief Financial Officer. And tax revenue is continuing to grow, especially from the retail and tourism industries, he says. But sales have slowed for cars, marijunana and products used in manufacturing and construction.
“This budget proposal advances the people’s priorities,” he said, citing a range of city goals, including those around the climate crisis and improving mobility options.
Transportation & Mobility
$118 million was proposed for building out Denver’s multimodal transportation system. That will grow by another $48 million when the Elevate Denver Bond issues another round of funds later this year. Kiki Turner, a spokesperson in the city’s Department of Finance, says the money would fund a range of projects, including:
$11.4 million for bike lanes
Bikeways will be built, working toward the city’s goal of adding 125 miles in five years
$6.8 million for pedestrian crossings and sidewalks
Pedestrian crossings will be improved citywide
Five miles of sidewalk gaps will be filled in, especially on public property near high frequency transit stations and along high-injury network streets
$4 million for pedestrian and bike safety improvements
$1.5 million for pedestrian detection technology at ten intersections on Federal Boulevard, which will improve traffic signal timing when it detects people on foot
$1.2 million for Vision Zero capital improvements
$950,000 for Safe Routes to School infrastructure and education
$250,000 for a Safety Mobility Campaign
Hiring two Vision Zero staff
$3 million for 18th & 19th Streets Downtown
High-comfort bike lanes will be built on 18th from Glenarm to Wynkoop and on 19th from Wynkoop to Stout
Transit improvements will speed up bus travel times and increase reliability on the Free MetroRide
Pedestrian safety improvements will include crossing treatments and signal upgrades
Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency
The mayor proposed $40 million to create a new climate office that will address the crisis with measures including:
$2 million to expand composting and recycling
$2.9 million to purchase electric vehicles and improve charging infrastructure
$1.3 million to offer green building incentives
General Operating Fund vs. Total Operating Budget
The mayor’s budget proposal grows to $2.2 billion when all proposed city expenditures are included.
$1.49 billion: General Operating Fund, up 2 percent (this funds the city’s operations)
$2.2 billion: Total Operating Budget, up 1.7 percent (this includes the airport and construction projects)
The city council will consider the mayor’s budget in hearings taking place all of next week. Deliberations will follow until the budget is passed during the second week of November. The 613-page budget proposal can be downloaded from the city’s website.
People who use RTD, rideshares like Lyft or Uber and even bikeshares and scooters will be able to plan and pay for a trip using one app called Transit.
RTD announced riders could begin purchasing tickets within that app on Monday. It’s the third app where riders can purchase an RTD ticket. The company already has its own app, and in May, users could begin purchasing tickets through Uber, too.
“RTD’s riders are already using Transit every day to plan their trips and track our buses and trains,” said RTD CEO and General Manager Dave Genova in a news release. “Offering them the ability to buy our tickets through Transit provides additional convenience, making it more intuitive for people to complete their trips as easily as possible.”
The Transit app allows users to plan and pay for public transportation on a single platform from cities all over the world. St. Catharines Transit Commission in Ontario, Canada began allowing users to use purchase tickets through Transit earlier this year. The app also gives riders real-time predictions on public transit.
The first 1,000 RTD users who purchase a Local or Regional 3-Hour Pass in the app on Tuesday between 6 and 10 a.m. will receive a free ticket in their wallet by 3 p.m.
https://drmac-co.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/170323-I25-KEVINJBEATY-21-1-e1568685477547.jpg11941194Coleen Samuelshttps://drmac-co.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DRMAC20logo1.jpgColeen Samuels2019-09-17 01:58:072019-09-17 01:58:07Getting Around The Metro Area Using RTD, Rideshare And Scooters Just Got A Little More Convenient
