Steer Davies Gleave’s Denver office to conduct two major multi-modal studies

Steer Davies Gleave's Denver office has been commissioned to conduct two major multi-modal study projects in Colorado, examining potential rail connections in Denver, and developing a bicycle and pedestrian plan for the Pikes Peak Area.

RTD Central Rail Extension Mobility Study

Steer Davies Gleave will be working with Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) on a study to examine potential rail connections between downtown Denver and the new East Rail Line which is scheduled to open in 2016.

The study is being undertaken with the cooperation of the City and County of Denver, the Downtown Denver Partnership and the Five Points Business District. It will examine the operational and design issues associated with extending RTD’s current light rail line from its present terminus at 30th and Downing Streets in the Five Points Neighborhood to the new 38th/Blake station on the East Rail line. It will also examine the potential for converting the current light rail infrastructure to a streetcar, and new potential routes for either streetcar or light rail into and through downtown Denver.

The study is due to start in September and will take approximately one year to complete. It will provide guidance to the region on the future of RTD’s FasTracks alignment (FasTracks is the largest voter-approved transit expansion program in the nation, covering transportation in the Denver metro area).

Colorado Springs Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan

The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG), working with the cities of Colorado Springs and Woodland Park and El Paso County, has commissioned Steer Davies Gleave to develop a Regional Nonmotorized Transportation System Plan. The Plan will include the development of a fully integrated and attractive cycle and walking network that will make a positive difference to nonmotorized travel in the region and within each of the partner communities.

Steer Davies Gleave will conduct a comprehensive public outreach program aided by the use of interactive on-line tools and also a full audit and analysis of the current bicycle and pedestrian network. Innovative thinking to develop solutions to current gaps in the network is vital for this project, as well as adopting a holistic approach that brings together both complementary programs and initiatives as well as bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure interventions.

A key to success of the project will be meeting the unique needs of each of the four partner jurisdictions and identifying common elements that can benefit all of them.