Project Overview
Broadway between I-25 and Highlands Ranch Parkway is a vibrant corridor where people live, work, eat, and shop. This 11-mile stretch provides local and regional connections through the City and County of Denver, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, and the cities of Englewood, Littleton, and Centennial. The City of Littleton is partnering with these agencies to study the transportation and land use conditions along this section of Broadway.
Vision
Broadway will celebrate and connect the unique identities of our communities, foster economic vibrancy, provide safe and comfortable spaces, and support regional mobility options for all.
Goals
Safety
Attaining a future with zero transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries.Connectivity
Completing a cohesive and well-connected corridor for all modes and users.Mobility
Offering reliable and predictable transportation options.Placemaking
Creating spaces where people want to spend time.Economic Development
Fostering investment that positively impacts the community.Sustainability
Maintaining and enhancing ecological, human, and economic health.
Project Area Map
Study Phases
The study team is in the final phase of the Broadway Corridor Study. At this stage, an alternative has been recommended and a conceptual design has been created that meets the vision for Broadway and the goals of partner jurisdictions.
This meeting presents the level two alternatives screening and the draft concept designs showing the improvements for each of the six character areas along the Broadway corridor.
1. Corridor Conditions Assessment
The study team will collect data and study corridor conditions, especially its role for people living and working along the corridor.2. Corridor Visioning
The study team will generate a cohesive vision for the corridor and establish the goals and objectives for changes along it.3. Improvement Plan
The study team will generate ideas to achieve the visions and goals for the corridor through physical infrastructure enhancements, policy changes, or other strategies to catalyze improvements.4. Conceptual Design and/or Early Actions
The study team will further develop the best ideas and create conceptual designs for them, or even begin implementation if funding is available. (Current Study Phase)
Study Milestones
Fall/Winter 2022
- Study Kick-off
- Vision and Goals
Winter 2023
- Existing Conditions
- Stakeholder and Resident Listening Session
- Character Area Workshop
- Travel Demand Modeling
Engagement #1
Spring 2023
- Level 1 evaluation
- Concept Identification
- Concept Prioritization
- Node and Place Type
- Land Use and Development
- Alternatives Development
- Level 1 evaluation
Engagement #2
Summer 2023
- Level 2 Analysis
- Alternative Scoring
- RTD Modeling
- Node Identification
Fall 2023
- Preferred Alternative
- Conceptual Design
- Target Speeds
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
Engagement #3
Winter 2023/2024
- Final Report Development
Review Level 1 Results
The first step was to evaluate the different types of transportation improvements or enhancements to help achieve the adopted vision, goals, and objectives of the project.
Concepts were categorized by auto, transit, bike, and pedestrian improvements. Various improvement ideas were identified and evaluated by the study goals. Several concepts were eliminated due to lack of feasibility, safety concerns, or incongruence with project goals. Urban design elements such as seating type, art, landscaping, and future development were also evaluated outside the Level 1 analysis as these concepts can be applied to any of the alternatives.
Transportation Improvements
| Improvement Status | Transit | Bicycle | Pedestrian | Auto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintained |
|
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| Eliminated |
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Not applicable |
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Level 1 Engagement Summary
The concepts were presented to the public in June and people were asked to provide input on the eliminated elements. Overall, the public agreed with the concepts that were eliminated and elements being brought forward. Input was not given on bicycle concepts as none of the improvement ideas were eliminated.
Based on the input from the community and stakeholders, four corridor alternatives and three residential alternatives were created that incorporate the different preferred features.
Review our June 2023 Public Engagement Summary to learn more about the input we received from the community.
Review our Level 2 Screening
To evaluate the alternatives, criteria was developed to assess the adopted goals and objectives of the project. The evaluation consisted both qualitative and quantitative analysis to determine how well each alternative achieved the stated goals and objectives. Below is a summary of the evaluation findings by goal.
Alternative Goal Evaluation Summary
Almost all the alternatives (excluding Alternative 3) would greatly enhance safety for all users on the corridor through design interventions and traffic reductions. All the alternatives provide protected and enhanced bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and better transit service. This will make these modes more attractive and encourage people to use these modes instead of their car. Ultimately, safety would be improved by reducing the number of cars on Broadway, designing the street to reduce speeds, and providing better separation between cars and those using other modes of transportation.
Most alternatives would enhance the public realm along Broadway. According to prior public engagement, most respondents want Broadway to become a place where they can comfortably spend time with friends and family and hang out in their free time. The alternatives with the greatest impact are those that expand the sidewalk amenity zone to feature more gathering spaces, artwork, trees, and landscaping that create a comfortable and inviting place.
Each alternative promises significant improvements in corridor connectivity. The alternatives feature wider sidewalks and bicycle facilities that create new and enhanced regional connections. Alternatives that include dedicated bus lanes would increase transit efficiency and reliability.
The alternatives that are most likely to drive investment and densify land use are those that enhance transit and increase pedestrian activity. Developers and companies are more likely to invest in areas that would increase the quality of life for their employees, tenants, and customers.
Each alternative would have mobility benefits. While car-carrying capacity would be reduced in each alternative, likely worsening auto travel times during peak hours, mobility for transit, biking, and walking or using mobility devices greatly improves, increasing the efficiency and reliability of the entire system. Alternatives 1, 2, and 3 provide the highest level of comfort for people biking, walking, or using mobility devices.
Alternatives that greatly expand transit access and mobility would have a greater impact on the environment, compared to alternatives that maintain the status quo. Moreover, these alternatives would provide a greater benefit to disadvantaged communities that reside along the corridor because they increase access to more affordable travel options.
Alternative 1
Alternative 1 scores highly across all goals and objectives for the study. It provides for improved transit operations and safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian connections, which would help the region meet long-term goals for sustainability and economic development. South of Belleview Avenue, travel demand modeling revealed that even with dedicated bus lanes and frequent service, transit ridership is not projected to be high enough to warrant dedicated transit lanes.
Benefits
- Corridor-wide investment in safety infrastructure
- Significant decrease in vehicle traffic on Broadway
- Greatest shift to alternative travel modes (transit, bike, walking)
- Significant investment in transit service and reliability (5-minute service)
- Greatest potential to attract private investment
- Potential for emission reductions and air quality improvements
Tradeoffs
- Increased traffic on parallel routes such as Santa Fe Drive and University Boulevard
- Congestion during peak periods based on existing daily volumes
- Increased spacing between bus stations which may result in longer walking distances to destinations
Alternative 2
Similar to Alternative 1, Alternative 2 scored highly across all project goals. The primary difference is that dedicated bus lanes would end around Belleview Avenue while 5-minute service continues to Highlands Ranch Parkway in mixed traffic. The benefit of this approach is it meets the current priorities for all communities along Broadway. A potential drawback is that transit service may be less reliable with buses and vehicles sharing a lane. Importantly, this alternative would not preclude conversion of a travel lane south of Belleview to dedicated transit use in the future.
Benefits
- Major enhancements to user safety
- Significant decrease in vehicle traffic north of Belleview
- Significant investment in transit service and reliability north of Belleview (5-minute service)
- Increased comfort for pedestrians and bicyclists
- Will attract private investment and development at mobility hubs
- Alignment with vision and goals for all communities along Broadway
Tradeoffs
- Less reliable transit service south of Belleview
- Increased traffic on parallel routes such as Santa Fe Drive
- Increased traffic south of Belleview due to regional growth
- Congestion during peak periods based on existing daily volumes
- Increased spacing between bus stations which may result in longer walking distances to destinations
Alternative 3
Alternative 3 scored the lowest for all goals compared to the other alternatives primarily due to the configuration. This alternative maintains two mixed travel lanes in both directions for the entire length of the corridor at the expense of transit operations; it does still prioritize the pedestrian and bicyclist experience.
Benefits
- Major improvements to pedestrian and bicyclist comfort and safety
- Some enhancements to user safety
- Significant investment in transit service (5-minute service)
- Less congestion during peak periods
Tradeoffs
- Less reliable transit due to mixed traffic lanes
- Increased traffic on Broadway due to regional growth
- Will attract less private investment compared to other alternatives
Alternative 4
Similar to Alternative 2, this alternative meets many of the goals and objectives of the communities along the corridor very well. However, the exclusion of a dedicated bicycle facility on Broadway means that this alternative does not score as highly as a multimodal corridor.
Benefits
- Enhancements to user safety
- Significant decrease in vehicle traffic north of Belleview
- Significant investment in transit service and reliability north of Belleview (5-minute service)
- Will attract private investment and development at mobility hubs
Tradeoffs
- Less reliable transit south of Belleview
- Lack of dedicated bike facilities on Broadway – Sherman Bikeway from Denver through Englewood and transitions to shared use path south of Belleview
- Increased traffic on parallel routes such as Santa Fe Drive
- Increased traffic south of Belleview due to regional growth
- Significant congestion during peak periods based on existing daily volumes
- Increased spacing between bus stations which may result in longer walking distances to destinations
Residential
The residential alternatives blend concepts from the primary alternatives to address the needs at the residential blocks along Broadway.
Benefits
- Greatest potential to reduce transportation conflicts
- Slow traffic in front of homes
- Provides comfortable space for bicyclists and pedestrians
- Creates physical buffer between homes and the high-volume corridor
- Retains on-street parking
Tradeoffs
- Limits turn movements
- Access concerns for emergency vehicles
- No space for dealership truck deliveries to park on-street
Benefits
- Creates wider buffer from high-volume corridor
- Retains on-street parking
- Increased comfort for pedestrians and bicyclists
Tradeoffs
- Does not address safety and conflict concerns
- Restricts turn movements
- No space for dealership truck deliveries to park on-street
Benefits
- Reduces volume on Broadway
- Significant investment in transit frequency and reliability
- Creates a wider buffer from the corridor
- Reduces conflicts with vehicle traffic
Tradeoffs
- Removes on-street parking
- Restricts turn movements
- No space for dealership truck deliveries to park on-street
Recommendation
Alternative 2 is the recommended alternative. It best achieves the goals and objectives of participating jurisdictions and community members.
Benefits
- Major enhancements to user safety
- Significant decrease in vehicle traffic north of Belleview
- Significant investment in transit service and reliability north of Belleview (5-minute service)
- Increased comfort for pedestrians and bicyclists
- Will attract private investment and development at mobility hubs
- Alignment with vision and goals for all communities along Broadway
Tradeoffs
- Less reliable transit service south of Belleview
- Increased traffic on parallel routes such as Santa Fe Drive
- Increased traffic south of Belleview due to regional growth
- Congestion during peak periods based on existing daily volumes
- Increased spacing between bus stations which may result in longer walking distances to destinations.
Denver & Englewood
Alternative 2 supports the goal of making Broadway a high-capacity transit corridor, improving the pedestrian experience, and creating a more direct and comfortable bike network.
Littleton & Centennial
Broadway through Littleton and Centennial serves as an important vehicle corridor providing access to residences and businesses. Alternative 2 maintains the existing vehicle capacity, while still enhancing the transit experience through increased service and improved amenities. Additionally, enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities along the corridor would improve connectivity to the greater network and support mode shift for shorter trips. The recommended improvements would also likely lead to greater investment on this section of Broadway, producing development projects that better align with Littleton’s updated comprehensive plan. This alternative would not preclude conversion of a travel lane south of Belleview to dedicated transit use in the future.
Residential Areas
Current plans and zoning for Littleton and Centennial retain single-family homes on Broadway for the foreseeable future. The frontage road concept is recommended since it addresses the safety and noise concerns voiced by residents, while creating a more comfortable environment for all Broadway users. If large-scale redevelopment occurs, consideration should be given to requiring a developer to match the adjacent cross-sections.
Conceptual Design
Below are the conceptual designs broken out by each of the five character areas along the corridor. Click and drag to move along each area and zoom in if you want to get a closer look.
Character Area 1: Broadway Station (South of I-25) to Amherst Avenue
Character Area 2: Vassar Avenue to Kenyon Avenue
Character Area 3: Hampden Avenue to Centennial Avenue
Character Area 4: Chenango Avenue to Caley Avenue
Character Area 5: Orchard Avenue to County Line Road
Next Steps
Thank you for your continued participation in the Broadway Corridor Study!
The City of Littleton and its partners will analyze the feedback collected from this meeting to incorporate into the final recommended improvements for each character area. The final study will be presented in Spring of 2024.
Study Milestones
Fall 2023
- Preferred Alternative
- Conceptual Design
- Target Speeds
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
Engagement #3
Winter 2023/2024
- Final Report Development and Adoption
Stay Involved
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Attend an Event
Attend one of our pop-up events to talk to the project team:
- December 15, 8-9:30 a.m., Kaladi Coffee Roasters, 2823 S Broadway, Englewood, CO
- December 16 Littleton YMCA, 9-10:30 a.m., 11 West Dry Creek Court, Littleton, CO 80120
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