Denver to choke Santa Fe down to two lanes in one of city’s most traveled roads

In a city drowning in traffic, even in the midst of a pandemic, the administration of Michael Hancock will further cripple mobilit.

Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) will transform a stretch of Santa Fe Drive between 6^th and Colfax Avenues into a “safer” street that aims to enhance the experience for people who walk the corridor, which is home of the Art District on Santa Fe, a popular destination for residents and visitors. For over two years, DOTI collaborated with the community to create a new street design for Santa Fe Drive within the Art District that will enhance safety for all users and pedestrians, in particular.

People who drive the notably dangerous stretch are apparently not to be considered. Nor are those who reside all local neighborhood streets, which will bear the burden of additional traffic, noise and parking difficulties.
Over the next several weeks, crews will install safety treatments along the corridor from 6^th to Colfax Avenues, which includes:

• Reconfiguring Santa Fe from three travel lanes to two to calm traffic and reduce vehicle speeds; the reconfiguration will center the vehicle travel lanes and add a five-foot buffer between the on-street parking spaces and existing sidewalk to provide people with more space and comfort to walk.

• Using bollards and paint at intersections to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians
• New signage to dedicate left turn lanes at the intersections of 6^th, 7th, 8th, and 11th Avenues to accommodate traffic flow
• Adding two “parklets” adjacent to the sidewalk to provide a place for people to sit and gather
• New bike racks to provide people on bikes/scooters dedicated places to park and reduce conflicts with pedestrians on the sidewalk
• Realigning bus stops for better placement and spacing to make bus travel more efficient
• More seating, planters, and lighting enhancements to improve pedestrian visibility, safety and comfort

While work is underway, there will be lane closures along Santa Fe between 6^th and Colfax Avenues from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Additionally, in late October, local artists Jennifer Chaparro, Alexi High, and Bimmer Torres will paint street murals to further enhance the uniqueness of the Santa Fe corridor along the new placemaking buffer for pedestrians at the intersections of 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th and 12^th Avenues.