Quebec Street Multimodal Improvement Project Open House Summary September 27, 2017

Transcription

1 Quebec Street Multimdal Imprvement Prject Open Huse Summary September 27, 2017 The kick-ff Public Open Huse fr the Quebec Street Multimdal Imprvement Prject was held n Wednesday, September 27th frm 5:30 pm t 7:30 pm at the Hpe Center at 3475 Hlly Street, Denver. There were apprximately 80 members f the public in attendance at the bilingual pen huse meeting, which included multiple prject statins. Spanish interpretatin was available. This frmat prvided guests the pprtunity t view prject materials and speak directly with specific subject experts relevant t the fllwing prject tpics: Prject Overview Prject Histry Existing Cnditins Envirnmental Prcess Next Steps Neighbring Prjects Syracuse Bicycle Facility Study Clfax BRT Nrtheast Area Neighbrhd Plans Leading up t the first Open Huse, the prject team actively met with the stakehlders in the prject area t help educate and infrm the surrunding cmmunity abut the verall prcess and schedule. The fllwing utreach has been cnducted t-date: Initial Stakehlder One-On-One Meetings Met with apprximately 15 rganizatins Drp-in Prperty Owner Meetings Met with apprximately 60 prperty wners lcated directly n the prject crridr Kick-ff Cmmunity Wrking Grup Meeting (September 14, 2017) Apprximately 25 key cmmunity leaders make up this grup Prmted the kick-ff Open Huse (Sept. 27th)

2 8,000 pstcards mailed Flyers placed at ver 155 key lcatins in the prject area Scial media blasts Newspaper print ads in the Greater Park Hill News and the Frnt Prch Open Huse attendees were infrmed that all prject materials presented (renderings and infrmatin bards) wuld be available t review at the prject website at Bilingual (Spanish and English) cmment frms were prvided in paper and digital frmats at the meeting. Frms included pprtunities fr attendees t ffer specific feedback based n a series f questins related t the prject s Purpse and Need, the prpsed actin, and general feedback. Cmments were als cllected thrugh and the prject website thrugh Octber 4 th. A ttal f 33 cmment frms and s were submitted and/r cmpleted during this timeframe. Results frm thse cmments can be fund at the end f this summary. The pen huse frmat (substantive and prcedural infrmatin presented at a variety f statins with bards and/r maps) was cnducted t allw ample pprtunity fr the prject team t have meaningful, in-depth cnversatins with the public. The fllwing is an verview f the main themes that emerged frm thse cnversatins. Prject schedule and timeline Attendees wanted t clearly understand the prject schedule and timeline. Sme were disappinted cnstructin wuld nt take place until if an alternative is recmmended. Sme felt the imprvements are lng verdue and recmmended a shrter schedule. Several attendees felt these imprvements shuld have been dne befre Stapletn and Lwry were built ut. Desired need fr imprved sidewalk and cnnectivity Multiple attendees expressed the need fr cntinuus, equitable, and imprved sidewalks t increase crridr cnnectivity. Several attendees expressed a desire t nt nly imprve sidewalks alng the crridr, but als n neighbring streets. Sme attendees made additinal requests fr ADA cmpliant sidewalks fr the aging and/r disabled cmmunity needing access t transit. Attendees als expressed an interest t infrastructure imprvements fr schl-aged children (e.g., crsswalks) given the number f schls alng the crridr and in the prject area. Sme recmmended detached and wider sidewalks.

3 Cnsideratin f BRT n Quebec Street Attendees seemed generally excited abut Clfax BRT and expressed a similar interest in mving mre peple and fewer cars n Quebec Street with a BRT t cmplement the Clfax prject. Sme suggested a full-time dedicated bus lane and sme asked abut an ptin fr peak-perid dedicated lanes. Sme wuld like transit priritized t align with The City s Visin Zer and mbility gals. Imprved bus amenities Sme attendees felt that bus amenities alng the crridr can be imprved including shelters, access and pull-uts. Specifically, sme wuld like t see better bus stp shelters near the Denver Schl f Arts and Jhnsn and Wales University Cncerns regarding speeds and verflw/cut-thrugh traffic nt side streets Multiple attendees shared frustratins regarding mtrists seeking alternate rutes t avid Quebec Street, utilizing side streets as an alternative. Side street usage and high speeds make many peple feel unsafe due t the increased traffic vlumes. While imprving the residential side traffic is a desire, sme attendees expressed the need t preserve the neighbrhd lk, feel and character. Increased cngestin and slwer travel times alng the crridr As traffic density is up significantly n Quebec Street, attendees want t understand hw this study will wrk t alleviate cngestin. With this added cngestin sme feel the timing f the lights and intersectins needs t be imprved upn. Prperty impacts Numerus attendees want t understand ptential prperty impacts and timing. Attendees wh live directly ff Quebec Street were cncerned that additinal lanes will infringe n their hmes, lawns and driveway access. Multiple cnversatins tk place abut landscaping features that may r may nt be remved depending n a prpsed alternative. Others wanted t discuss prperty acquisitin standards and hw the Unifrm Relcatin Act has wrked n past prjects. A substantial number f attendees reviewed the Right Of Way rll plt maps t understand ptential prperty impacts and gain insight int their existing prperty lines. Safety imprvements Attendees want the prject area t feel safer and friendlier fr pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and vehicle traffic. Sme attendees stated that safety and mbility imprvements are paramunt fr imprved nrth-suth cnnectivity. Several residents frm the area expressed strng supprt fr safe transit, gd pedestrian access, and safe walking alng the crridr t imprve verall safety. Multiple attendees shared that high-speeds and traffic vlume cntributes t accidents in this area making it unsafe and undesirable.

4 Cmment Frm Respnses multiple chice: (Please nte nt all respndents answered every questin) Q1: What is yur preferred methd f receiving future prject infrmatin? Other 3% N respnse 6% Mail 18% 73% Other: Send inserts in mail t neighbrhd

5 Q2: Hw did yu hear abut this Open Huse? N respnse 6% Pstcard 27% Other 33% 34% Other: Friend sent me an article Streetsblg Denver Internet Facebk Walk Denver Pstcard

6 Q3: D yu agree with the purpse and need fr the prject? N 18% N Respnse 3% Yes 79% Q5: D yu like the current lk and functinality f Quebec Street between East 13 th and East 26 th Avenues? N Respnse 9% Yes 12% N 79%

7 Q6: If yu answered n, what are yur basic cncerns? Vehicular Cnnectivity 18% Drainage 5% Pedestrian Access/Sidewalks 25% Amenities 8% Transity Cnnectivity 23% Bicycle Cnnectivity 21% Cmment frm respnses pen-ended Cmments appear as they were written with n edits t grammar, spelling, r cntext. Q4: D yu have any additinal thughts regarding purpse and need fr this prject? Thank yu fr ding smething RTD bus pullut (ut f traffic) wuld be helpful at the busier intersectins including at Mntview and Quebec and Clfax and Quebec. Sidewalks wuld help bus riders immensely. At sme places n Quebec a pedestrian is dangerusly clse t traffic. Imprved bus stp shelters especially near the schls (DSA and Jhnsn and Wales) wuld really help students wh ride transit. Smetimes they are really expsed in cld, windy, rainy, snwy weather. Treat prperty wners well during the prcess. Cnsider the ptin f buying hme wners' prperty. Please lk at the pssibility f having dedicated bus lanes n Québec, either full time r peak traffic times. A bus in traffic can't mve peple any faster than a car in traffic can. Peple thrughput > traffic thrughput Unintended but pssible purpse is divisin f neighbrhds east and west which wuld be a shame. Definitely need t mve mre peple and fewer cars. Mre sidewalks, safer bike lanes that cnnect neighbrhds t dwntwn, and mre efficient and frequent bus service. Lve the idea f the Clfax BRT! Need t put in sidewalks in surrunding neighbrhd s we can get t public transprtatin

8 Yu ffer us a DONE DEAL + dress it up as thught we have any real input in the prcess. Then take prperty away frm lng time hmewners + add mre cars, pllutin, nise, traffic. This is nt an imprvement, this is taking a street t carry a lad that many streets in the neighbrhd shuld shulder. This is a city that des nt plan neighbrhd + street systems prperly. Bus f Clfax. We have cnsistently attended meetings + viced ur cncern n limiting car lanes t 1 lane lack directin f Clfax. I live at 16 th + Newprt. We anticipate a majr increase in traffic n Newprt due t the backlg a Mnac. 1. CONTINUOUS SIDEWALKS ON MONTVIEW FROM QUEBEC TO CITY PARK 2. PLEASE SPEED UP THE TIMELINE IS TOO FAR OUT. 3. BUS TURNOUTS TO ALLOW TRAFFIC TO STILL FLOW. 4. BUS STOP SHELTERS PLEASE 5. CONTINUOUS SIDEWALKS FROM LOWRY TO STAPLETON ON QUEBEC Transit, bikes, and pedestrians must be priritized. Prject needs t align t city's Visin Zer and mbility gals. Needs t have bus nly lane and accmmdate east-west bike crssings at bikeways like 12th and 16 th The purpse and need are partially crrect, but fatally flawed. The purpse f rads is t transprt peple and gds quickly, safely, and equitably. The mde by which peple and gds are transprted is irrelivant. Therefre, if sme mdes are slwer, less safe, r less equitable, they shuld be placed at a lwer pririty. Extend t e 29th ave, imprve pedestrian crssing ver Quebec, pedestrian bridge, expand sidewalk width in NE park hill We cannt be tricked int thinking just adding lanes fr cars will have a material impact n increasing mbility ver the lng-term. It is s bvius that is alternatives t cars are nt priritized, peple will be frced t stay in their cars. Yu cannt crss Quebec n a bike lane except fr 1 place - Mntview. That is shameful. T increase safety and efficiency f travel fr nn-sov users, t increase rad capacity withut inducing SOV demand. The need fr safety and mbility is high. The stretch shuld be widened t cnnect the nrth and suth legs and capacity. Strngly supprt the need fr transit and especially fr gd pedestrian access and safe walking alng the crridr. The need fr walls if prperty is impacted t curb nise. Excessive traffic impact husing structure. This prcess has been nging fr mre than 15 years t n avail. N visin fr lng term gal with traffic. Friends will mre than likely be diverted t Clfax (mayr's imprvement idea). These mdal shwing imprvements demnstrated ut Jhnsn and Wale several years ag. I'm glad it's finally being addressed. Thank yu. This prject is nt needed. By widening Quebec will link mre traffic nt less. The need t expand will create a Clrad Blvd situatin. The mdal needs t create Quebec as a alternative t Syracuse and create less traffic. Withut Quebec either the end f the streets will create mre f a prblem. This prject appears t be primarily fcused n increasing single ccupancy vehicle diving lanes, rad widening which encurages mre peple t drive and at faster speeds. I agree with making side walk, bus statin and hpefully bike lane imprvements. If an additinal lane is added in either r bth directins I believe it shuld be a 2+ passengers carpl and bus nly lane. It needs t be fcused n mving as many peple as easily as pssible thrugh the area due t its lcatin between multiple emplyment centers, and that requires a fcus n transit. The purpse shuld put mre pririty in mbility in terms f mving peple. If an alternative mves mre peple but the same amunt f vehicles, this shuld be

9 preferred Ave an alternative that imprves all mdes equally but nly by a little bit. T make Quebec better, we have t mve peple, but still allw fr a nice street in frnt f s many hme and an histric schl huse. In terms f need, smething abut urban design shuld be in here, this street is a key cllectr that ges right in frnt f hmes and an histric schl. This prject shuld imprve the experience f adjacent land user is terms f nise, pllutin, and design, nt make it wrse. The rest f yur questins get at this pint, s I believe yu already nw yu need t add the lk and feel t the need f the prject. The need shuld als hnr histric assets. Q7: D yu like the current lk and functinality f Quebec Street between East 13 th and East 26 th Avenues? Please prvide additinal cmments: Sidewalks wuld cnnect pedestrians t cmmercial areas and Fred Thmas Park. Make the area friendly tward pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and vehicle traffic. Sidewalks fr disabled citizens are imprtant. Québec is ne f the majr east side N/S arteries that cnnects t freeway and majr cmmerce. Street as it stands is unusable during peak hurs. With recent cnstructin f A-line and central park statin, upcming Clfax BRT, Québec will need t becme a useful artery t cnnect majr mass transit. I'm cncerned that the fcus n vehicle cngestin will change the character f ur neighbrhd in a detrimental way. Our neighbrs walk with their dgs and children arund ur neighbrhd. If Quebec becmes centered n mving cars it will becme a barrier, even if better sidewalks are available (which is desirable). Quebec near Almeida and 1st Avenue has a very different character t Quebec near us. Even with pedestrian amenities it's a barrier between east and west. It's lud and uncmfrtable as a pedestrian. On a pster bard at this meeting I read that the average cmmute time in traffic increases frm 3 minutes t 8 minutes, which is a pretty small increase verall. If this prject tries t mve vehicles at 3 t 4 minutes at all times during the day then I believe ur neighbrhd will suffer. Mve peple, nt cars. Wuld like t see a BRT similar t what is being implemented n Clfax. Lking frward t the additin f bike lanes n Syracuse. Lack f sidewalks alng Québec is a disgrace. We are affected by the cars that cut ver t Mnac t avid the Quebec cngestin. Mnac is steadily becming mre and mre cngested t, particularly during rush hur! Lwry is a prly planned neighbrhd that needs the imprvements. Quebec shuld nt becme anther Clrad Bulevard. And nce Quebec is widened ther streets like 13 th, 14 th, 17 th will have t be impacted. Mntview was designed t take a lad ff f traffic in Denver style this ut at the museum r the west and Anschutz n the east. Stupid right! Quebec is wrng. Use alternative streets + retrain drivers. N sidewalks. N way t crss n bike. Cngestin. Buses stuck in traffic. N bus shelters. There is a lack f sidewalks and safe cycling facilities. Hwever, mre imprtantly, the lanes are far t wide, encuraging mtrists t drive at high speeds and increase risk t pedestrians, cyclists, and each ther. The current street design Nrth f the extent f this prjects parameters, 26th thrugh Smith Rad, is nt a desirable ptin fr walkability. Nr des it prvide safe access t the nearby A Line statin in Stapletn fr residents that live in Nrtheast Park Hill. It has a much wider street sectin which allws fr cars t

10 mve at high speeds. This type f street design dismisses and neglects the peple wh wuld prefer t walk r bike frm amenity depleted Nrtheast Park Hill t amenity rich Stapletn. The perceived lack f safety frces peple int their vehicles and perpetuates the issue f traffic cngestin. eliminate the bttleneck I can't emphasize enugh hw unfriendly the crridr is t pedestrians. Lwry was develped 20 years ag. The plan des nt include the Lwry area n Quebec 6th-12 th Cngestin, Nise, Pllutin There are n bicycle utilities n Quebec. Pedestrian, bike and transit infrastructure is a heathy and sustainable investment, hwever adding traffic lanes fr cars is cstly and cunter prductive. Fr pedestrians, the nn-existent sidewalks are dangerus, especially fr peple with physical disabilities. I'm surprised it's ADA cmpliant. I wrk in the DTC and my wife wrks in Stapletn. We are a ne car husehld with different schedules and ftentimes I will take the bus up t her wrk s we can cmmute hme tgether. Hwever, cars backup the area frequently. This results in the 73 bus running minutes behind schedule as the bus is unable t circumvent the cngestin. Additinally, my wife has t d schl utreach. Several schls in the area lack pedestrian sidewalks, which makes walking t schl dangerus fr the children. There needs t be prtected wide sidewalks fr all travelers t get arund the area easily. Q8: Aesthetically, what d yu envisin fr the Quebec Crridr between East 13 th and East 26 th Avenues? Turn signals (green arrws) frm 17th Avenue (Eastbund) n t nrthbund Quebec, please!!!! Smething similar t what is further nrth and suth f that crridr Smth transitins frm blck t blck; pleasing greenery alng sidewalks. Public transit that wrks, and helps t reduce car use n Québec. Useable sidewalks fr access t bus stps, clear lane markings fr thrughway. Plantings between the street and pedestrians. Ttal hardscape is uncmfrtable. I believe imprving sidewalks and bus shelters is very psitive. I have cncerns that the experience f being a pedestrian may nt be very friendly. I agree that it certainly isn't nw but I dn't want the future imprvements t create a situatin that might have the appearance but nt substance f pedestrian cmfrt. Turning lanes are imprtant. The lack f a turn lane at the intersectin f 17th and Quebec as ne heads west n 17th causes issues. I disagree with the suggestin f preventing left turns at that intersectin (nt given at this meeting but has been n neighbrhd chatbards). Turning lanes als need turn signals hwever. Otherwise it's nt pssible fr cars t actually turn. Traffic lights shuld include turn signals. Sidewalks, cmfrtable bus stps, much mre frequent bus service. Sidewalk ability will be s imprtant here! In additin, we wuld lve t see aesthetic imprvements like trees t beautify this utilitarian street We are als quite cncerned at the lack f bus benches/shelters/facilities fr thse taking the bus here current bust stp areas are ugly and very unsafe! Sidewalks wuld be a gd idea fr Quebec. Better timed lights and better street maintenance wuld make a huge difference. Als, educating the public that there are ther streets that they culd use. Greenways, space fr walking, cnnectivity

11 Narrwer car lanes, sidewalks, prtected bike lanes, and maybe dedicated transit lanes 2 lanes bth ways fr cars; 1 lane bth ways fr transit. Imprved sidewalks and ther access fr peds. Mre trees and plants, a wide, attractive sidewalk 5' - 8' sidewalks (with neckdwn pedestrian crssings at intersectins) designed fr ADA accessibility t mass transit, buffered by a 3' - 5' tree lawn lined with trees and native grasses and flwers, included purpsefully designed n-street parking, a dedicated bus lane, a single 9' wide vehicle lane, a prtected 5' landscaped median with pedestrian landings. Then mirrr these items acrss the centerline f the street. Wide sidewalks and/r easy areas fr bikes. Bus lanes. Smart signaling technlgies t reduce wait times fr cars at intersectins. Mre safe areas t crss Quebec if yu are nt in a car. A cmplete street with adequate pedestrian/bike amenities that allw fr safe travel. detached sidewalks, bus and bike lanes Wide sidewalks being separated frm the street by a tree lawn with many trees being planted and cared fr. Inviting bus stps where peple can safely wait fr the bus. Much imprved bus service alng the crridr as it links Stapletn with Clfax Ave and Lwry and then beynd t Alameda Ave, anther busy thrughfare. Whatever is pleasing t the peple wh lve t live n this street. Better rad, sidewalks. D nt intensify traffic A treelined cmmunity causway, pleasant and safe t walk, bike and gather n, with safe, calmed car traffic mving slwly thrugh. The street needs t be widened t accmmdate bth bus and aut traffic. A bike lane wuld be gd, and wide, accessible sidewalks. Tree lined, but with easier access t crss frm east t west withut playing Frgger. Bus/Bike lane t allw fr ease f travel by, and encurage, ther transit mdes. A rad where traffic and pedestrians/bike riders wrk tgether. Relieve cngestin! n mre than 2 travel lanes, n turn lanes, maybe a dedicated transit lane. Space fr trees and sidewalks. Q9: Please share any additinal cmments r cncerns belw: Thanks fr inviting me t this prcess. Please emphasize public transit ptins and bus weighting fr thrughput f peple. With the upcming neighbrhd and transit imprvements, persnal vehicle is ging t becme and pr ptin t priritize. Lng term success f the neighbrhd and prject will be mass transit. My cncerns have t d with the Clfax rapid transit system. By having nly ne lane fr cars, this will push traffic nt parallel streets which is very wrrisme fr the neighbrhd. 17th, Mntview, and 23rd will be flded with traffic. That will be a huge prblem fr ur neighbrhds! I have a cncern abut nise. If Quebec becmes an artery that fcuses n mving vehicles then it will becme a barrier. I hpe imprvements really des include the pedestrian and transit friendliness that's being discussed. We need t mve away frm a car-based transprtatin system t ne that mves peple via walking, bicycling and use f mass transit. We want t make sure there is bicycle access frm Lwry s Bulevard One neighbrhd area up thrugh the Clfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Wuld hpe

12 t see safe and secure bicycle strage facilities *r* ability t bring bicycles n BRT. Needs t be expedited. Pedestrian access + sidewalks are desperately needed thrughut the neighbrhd s can get t public transprtatin and businesses At the very least Quebec as a ne way + Syracuse the ther directin. But expanding Quebec makes the prblem bigger. Cl. Blvd has accidents that cause the whle thing t stp same fr Quebec. A larger parking lt is what yu ll be creating. G back t the drawing bard this is a terrible plan! I am speaking fr many peple in my neighbrhd wh dn t want t shw up at meetings like these because they feel have n vice fr this dne deal. We need t build tmrrw's Quebec fr future generatins nt just a wider versin f tday's Quebec. A nrth/suth cntinuus dedicated bike lane is needed n r parrallel t Quebec. We really need a pedestrian bridge r underpass at e29th r e26th aves and Quebec Please cnsider the peple living in the adjacent cmmunities first; their ability t safely walk arund their neighbrhd, take a bus, ride a bike, etc. Then cnsider the cnvenience and privilege f mving vehicles thrugh their Wuld like t see this cmpleted sner then later I'm pleased that the city is pen t new ideas n hw t best "remake" this imprtant crridr. I am hpeful this crridr will be addressed thrugh a 21st century lense, nt a lense frm the past. This is a wnderful pprtunity t wrk tward Visin Zer gals by addressing the needs f pedestrians, bikes, and transit first and help the city t truly becme a city f the future. We cannt widen ur way t less cngestin. It wuld have been nice fr Frest City r Lwry Develpers t cme up with hmes fr sme f the peple wh went t mve ff Quebec. These 2 develpments are the main cause f a lt f additinal cngestin n this street. I feel bad fr these residents. This prject will nly create mre traffic, it will nt slve the issue. I believe and will be vcal abut the evidence that adding primarily single ccupancy vehicle lanes is a cstly liability and is nt an apprpriate use f taxpayer dllars. As Stapletn and the nrth, suth crridr cntinue t grw in imprtance, it is imprtant t be able t cmmute safely and efficiently. I agree with the mayr that a mre mass transit, less aut fcus is a smart apprach. As Quebec is a majr cnnectr fr the Stapletn neighbrhd ging suth, it wuld make sense t widen it t 4 lanes. Turn lanes wuld be detrimental t the cmmunity and nt safe fr the pedestrians especially the preschlers at 13th and Quebec. In additin, a large number f bth cllege and high schl students walk and bike acrss Quebec at Mntview.