Partnerships and Planning for Livable and Sustainable Communities and Corridors American Public Transportation Association August 2, 2011

Where do we start? Region-wide - 122 miles of new rail 18 miles of bus transit West Corridor: 12.1 miles from Denver Union Station to Jefferson County – Golden, Colorado/ 4 stations in Denver

New Transit in the City This is not your grandma’s TOD! Value capture CITY: Higher tax revenue RTD: Joint development – transit authority RTD: Increased farebox revenues RTD: lower access costs RTD: increased ridership RESIDENTS: lowers transportation costs RESIDENTS: added property value BUSINESSES: enhanced foot traffic

NEEDS increasing demand for housing near transit in metro Denver (40% of this demand low income HH) NEEDS improved housing stock better access to transit and jobs Projects requesting HUD support: - 3200 Brighton Blvd. - Medici development at Evans Station - Affordable Housing: 45,000 HH today to 155,000 in 2030 = 344% increase “low income” = at or below 80% AMI ($60,720 for a family of four) from CHFA 2010 Rent and Income Limits APTA notes: Going into program, We have a new transit corridor with locations already selected Physical challenges-rail in the gulch, sometimes away from existing households -Post station-location planning efforts difficult in and of themselves With the DLP, hope to address specific needs identified in the West Corridor opportunities for active lifestyles and access to healthy foods

LIVABILITY PRINCIPLES provide more transportation choices. promote equitable, affordable housing. enhance economic competitiveness. support existing communities. coordinate policies and leverage investment. value communities and neighborhoods. LIVABILITY PRINCIPLES

housing jobs transportation Program focus: Popular national phrases turned into local action for our program: -Expand permanent affordable housing and mixed income housing near transit Enhance multimodal connectivity Fully capture value of transit Use west side as a model transportation

Greatest need and most imminent opportunity where activity was already starting to occur-Denver’s West Side

WEST SIDE STUDY AREA

What does Livability mean? Being able to walk/bike to work A traditional neighborhood development (TND): low to moderate density mixed income, age integrated, single family, walk able, sustainable, family friendly, kid friendly like the west Colfax neighborhood is now! Let us take care of our families and our homes with the power of understanding of tolerance Bioremediation- of soil – so planting/food can be grown Artistic Wellness services Strong neighborhoods Integrated single family homes that have gardens and energy efficient homes that are allowed to exist next to transit Rehabilitation money for homeownership Preserve parks and open space and create more of them Pave alleys and development more sidewalks and lighting in neighborhoods A place I can have a garden, buy my groceries, meet a friend for a cup of coffee or ice cream and catch public transit or ride my bike to fun activities Mix of uses – 24 hour activity, a place where owning a car is optional A place where I can afford a house with a yard where I can garden and raise chickens Safe, enjoyable, walk along federal Blvd to new train station with art along the way, wide sidewalks to ride bikes on.

WEST SIDE STUDY AREA HDAF: emphasizes/preserves affordable housing opportunities near transit (could be overinflated land values) TOD Strategic Plan: emphasizing the corridor and its role/responsibility – through land use and transportation planning Decatur-Federal: infuse housing and jobs and take advantage of location efficiency; proper, thoughtful assessment of the land use and transportation WSTES: access to transit, housing, jobs! In an underserved neighborhood – housing and transportation costs map? Westside Food Lab: healthy eating opportunities in the community – food desert! Knox Court: Bike Blvd – accessto transit increased emphasis on multi-modes

Objective #1: Better connections to transit Objective #2: Prioritize infrastructure projects for future investment Enhanced Transit Objective #1: Identify opportunities to improve transit access and service to neighborhoods on Denver’s Westside to better connect both choice riders and transit dependent populations with light rail, local and regional bus service, and other public transit services. Objective #2: Identify infrastructure barriers to transit use and prioritize projects for future investment to improve connections and access for both choice riders and transit-dependent populations.

Bicycle boulevards are a new, innovative type of bicycle facility that optimizes low volume, residential streets for bicycle travel. The Knox Court bicycle boulevard study complements other active transportation projects occurring in the west side. Knox Court from Alameda to Lakewood Gulch would link the bicycle boulevard to the Knox Court LRT station. The completion of these facilities will create a backbone for the active transportation network in the west side

HOUSING

JOBS

TRANSPORTATION

Outcomes &Benchmarks Program Outcome Benchmark # of affordable units preserved or created within one-half mile of transit Enable the preservation and/or development of 3,000 affordable west side units within one-half mile of transit by 2013. Increase in mode share identify opportunities for 5,000 new households to reduce vehicle miles traveled and increase transit/bike/ped trips Reduction in Housing + Transportation costs Enable west Denver residents to decrease their H+T costs as percentage of median household income by 2 % points by 2013 Linear feet of programmed bike/ped complete street improvements Funding for 2 miles of west side bike/ped infrastructure projects on capital improvement program lists by 2013 Street miles improved to accommodate and/or prioritize bicycles Designs in place for 2.5 miles of street to be equipped with new bicycle facilities # households benefiting from access to new bicycle facilities 1,000 households will be able to access new bicycle facilities within 1/2 mile by 2013 Format as simple table

+ + =

program schedule -The majority of out activities will start this year, with the HDAF, capacity building and public outreach already underway and starting soon the Decatur Federal GDP and West Side Transit Enhancement Study.

Deirdre Oss (CPD): deirdre.oss@denvergov.org 720.865.2950 Caryn Wenzara (CPD): caryn.wenzara@denvergov.org 720.865.2940 www.denvergov.org/dlp