Latest News & Current Happenings

The Denver Streets Partnership met on October 2, 2020. The following topics were discussed:

• Depave – Jaime Lewis
  • Article presented about unused or damaged pavement being removed
    • This pavement is unnecessary and removal prevents contaminants getting into water system
    • Needs a lot more research done – Jaime will do more research and bring it back to the group
      • Hilarie Portell suggested getting in touch with the Climate Change Initiative people
      • Deya Zavala suggested getting in touch with MetroDNA or SPARCC
    • https://depave.org
  • DOTI Advisory Board – Leslie Twarogowski
    • Ballot initiative to change the charter to have a DOTI advisory board (20-516)
    • Goals:
      • Have consistent interaction between community and DOTI
        • Make this an outlet for the public to speak about their concerns
      • Keeping everyone focused and accountable for the city-wide goals
    • Thoughts from DSP
      • Having transparency is critical
      • Need to make sure this isn’t a board that comes and goes
      • Potential concern – could just add another bureaucratic layer to the process
    • DSP budget meetings with City Council – Jill Locantore
      • Bikes and sidewalks have been included
        • This has become more consistently included
        • Nice to see in a tight budget year
        • Concern for the hiring freeze – will there be enough staff to manage these projects?
      • Less funding for Vision Zero
      • 7 meetings have been conducted so far
    • Climate Change Ballot Initiative – Danny Katz
      • Working on vote yes to 2A messaging
      • Doing outreach in Spanish
      • There will be an online kickoff event – link to be sent to DSP group when they have it
        • Please share
      • Will also email talking points to DSP group to then share through social media, etc.
    • 5280 Trail – Andrew Iltis
      • 300 people are signed up to ride the trail in the next month
      • Wanting to get people out on bikes/walking
        • See the neighborhoods that don’t get enough attention right now
        • Help draw people to these local businesses
      • Goals & Objectives
        • Mark the trail so that anyone can use the whole route easily on their own
        • Re-engage neighbors to focus on outreach, equity, diversity, etc
        • Tactical programming
          • Create a concept program to fund activate zones and create more of a trail feel
        • Strategies
          • Establish sub-area project teams
          • Feasible wayfinding scheme (DOTI)
          • Identify permitting process
            • Likely to be entirely ROW
            • It’s hard to get these bigger things through
          • Establish 5280 tactical programming review process
        • Each neighborhood will hopefully get into polishing up their portion of the trail to attract more foot traffic and business
      • Other Policy Advocacy Updates
        • Community Transportation Networks – Molly McKinley
          • Public meetings are wrapped up
            • May be another opportunity for public engagement in Nov or Dec
          • I-25/Belleview – Piep van Heuven
            • Looking into highway interchange improvements
            • This project is not currently funded
            • A decision point is being reached
            • Technical team has narrowed it down to two options
              • They are recommending the split diamond option with would add an interchange at Union
                • More phase-able
                • Less construction
                • Easier to raise funds
              • Coming up next
                • Oct 7^th – presentation (no community participation)
                  • Register for webinar here
                • Oct 21^st – public feedback
                • On going – public comment box
              • RTD – Jill Locantore and Deya Zavala
                • Severe budget shortfalls
                • Potential to keep service cuts through 2026
                • In Denver – 100,000 people will loose transportation access
                  • These are primarily people of color who will be affected
                • There will be long lasting effects