Downtown Denver Summer 2012 Pedestrian Count Report

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1 Downtown Denver Summer 2012 Pedestrian Report Funded by the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. Research Department Research Department th Street, Suite 200, Denver, CO

2 INTRODUCTION Since 1994, the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District (BID) has funded two pedestrian counts in Downtown Denver each year. The BID conducts a comprehensive count in the summer and a partial count in the winter. This report summarizes data collected during the summer of Pedestrian counts allow Downtown Denver stakeholders to: Measure pedestrian traffi c for prospective Downtown Denver retailers, developers and businesses. Determine the impact of new development. Predict or measure success of a Downtown Denver event. Help determine priority areas for streetscape and amenity projects. Locate areas where increased police presence and cleaning services may be needed. METHODOLOGY Timeframe The 2012 summer pedestrian counts took place from June 19 th to August 16 th. Process The BID hired individuals to count pedestrians as they passed a specifi c spot located in the middle of the block on one side of the street. ers used automatic, handheld tally counters to count pedestrians on both weekdays and weekends during the middle of the day (11:30am-1:30pm) and the evening (5:00pm-7:00pm). BID staff entered and analyzed data collected by counters. From these two hour counts, BID staff used a tool developed by the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project to estimate daily, weekly, monthly and annual pedestrian counts. For more information on this extrapolation process, please see appendix B. Weather Weather can have an impact on both pedestrian activity and the ability to conduct pedestrian counts. Occasionally, the BID needs to reschedule counts due to severe weather and counters record weather conditions as they count pedestrians. Weather conditions during the summer 2012 pedestrian counts were favorable, with average temperatures and minimal precipitation. The average mean temperature for the 20 days the counts took place was 75. The high temperature recorded during the count time period was 89, a little higher than the historical average of 83. The low temperature recorded during the count time period was 60, also higher than the historical average of 54. During the 20 days counting occurred, only 0.37 inches of precipitation fell in Denver, with only two of these days having more than a trace of precipitation. External Infl uences and Limitations In addition to weather, a variety of other outside factors can infl uence pedestrian counts, including special events, conferences and/or construction. Pedestrian counters record any obvious outside infl uences throughout their shifts that may impact pedestrian activity and the BID takes these notes into account during data analysis. However, it is not possible to control for all external infl uences and thus year-to-year variation in counts is expected. Additionally, counts are subject to potential human and equipment errors. The BID carefully manages the pedestrian count process in order to minimize potential errors and is confi dent in the count s results. 1

site selection: Pedestrian counts occur at core sites, zone sites and timely sites. The BID counts pedestrian activity at 12 core sites at least once a year on both weekends and weekdays.

3 site selection: Pedestrian counts occur at core sites, zone sites and timely sites. The BID counts pedestrian activity at 12 core sites at least once a year on both weekends and weekdays. Core sites are included in every summer count and are given priority consideration for off-season counts. The Pedestrian Program selected the following core sites based on historical counts and the vision set forth by the 2007 Downtown Area Plan: 16th between Tremont and Glenarm 16th between Glenarm and Welton 16th between Welton and California 16th between California and Stout 16th between Lawrence and Larimer 16th between Blake and Wazee 14th between California and Stout 14th between Arapahoe and Lawrence Wazee between 16th and 17th Larimer between 14th and 15th Arapahoe between 16th and 17th California between 15th and 16th In addition to these core sites, pedestrian counts take place in a certain zone that covers a quarter of the blocks in the BID. With the goal of measuring pedestrian activity on every block in the BID, the Pedestrian Program developed a rotating zone program in The 120 blocks within the BID s boundaries belong to one of four zones, with pedestrian counts occurring in one zone every four years. The map on this page shows the four zones within the BID. In the summer of 2012, pedestrian counts occurred throughout Zone B. Zone B includes the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Convention Center Complex and many of Downtown Denver s major hotels. In addition to core and zone sites, the BID counts pedestrians at various timely sites based on special requests, proposed investment or development, sporting or other events, or unique conditions. Pedestrian Four Year Zone Plan 2

4 WEEKDAY MID-DAY ACTIVITY The following map shows the total number of pedestrians counted on weekdays between the hours of 11:30am and 1:30pm. As the color-coded ovals show, the BID recorded high pedestrian activity along the 16th Street Mall, especially between Stout and Tremont. 3

5 WEEKDAY EVENING ACTIVITY While the BID recorded high pedestrian activity between 5:00pm and 7:00pm along the 16th Street Mall, activity was lower than during the middle of the day. However, there was more pedestrian activity around the Theater District, Larimer Square, and various blocks adjacent to the 16th Street Mall during the evening. 4

6 16 16 TH TH ST ST MALL 19TH ST 21ST ST 22ND ST WEEKEND MID-DAY ACTIVITY During the weekend between 11:30am and 1:30pm, pedestrian activity was highest on the 16th Street Mall and near the Colorado Convention Center. WEWATTA ST WEWATTA ST Pedestrian Weekend, Mid-day TH ST DENVER PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX 14TH ST TH ST MARKET STREET STATION DENVER UNION STATION WYNKOOP ST WAZEE ST BLAKE ST 17TH ST 18TH ST MARKET ST LARIMER ST LAWRENCE ST SKYLINE PARK ARAPAHOE ST CURTIS ST 20TH ST COORS FIELD CHAMPA ST STOUT ST SPEER BLVD CHERRY CREEK TRAIL GALAPAGO ST FOX ST W 13TH AVE ELATI ST DELAWARE ST COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER 2702 COURT PL 5466 CLEVELAND PL CALIFORNIA ST WELTON ST GLENARM PL 3726 TREMONT PL BROADWAY RTD LIGHT RAIL CALI GLENARM W TREMONT 5 CIVIC RTD CIVIC CENTER E

7 16 16 TH ST TH ST MALL MALL 19TH ST 21ST ST 22ND ST WEEKEND EVENING ACTIVITY The BID recorded higher pedestrian activity on weekend evenings than during the day at all but one of the count sites. Between the hours of 5:00pm and 7:00pm, the highest pedestrian activity was along the 16th Street Mall. WEWATTA ST WEWATTA ST Pedestrian Weekday, Evening TH ST DENVER PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX 14TH ST TH ST MARKET STREET STATION DENVER UNION STATION WYNKOOP ST WAZEE ST BLAKE ST 17TH ST 18TH ST MARKET ST LARIMER ST LAWRENCE ST SKYLINE PARK ARAPAHOE ST CURTIS ST 20TH ST COORS FIELD CHAMPA ST STOUT ST SPEER BLVD CHERRY CREEK TRAIL GALAPAGO ST FOX ST W 13TH AVE ELATI ST DELAWARE ST COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER COURT PL CLEVELAND PL CALIFORNIA ST WELTON ST GLENARM PL 4685 TREMONT PL BROADWAY RTD LIGHT RAIL CALIFOR WELT GLENARM PL TREMONT PL E 20 CIVIC RTD CIVIC CENTER E 6

ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS 16 th Street Mall As the main pedestrian thoroughfare in the BID, measuring pedestrian activity on the 16 th Street Mall is a major goal of the Pedestrian Program.

8 ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS 16 th Street Mall As the main pedestrian thoroughfare in the BID, measuring pedestrian activity on the 16 th Street Mall is a major goal of the Pedestrian Program. sites along the 16 th Street Mall have the highest pedestrian traffi c. In fact, the top ten highest counts were all on the 16 th Street Mall. Using the NBPD extrapolation model, the BID is able to estimate daily, weekly, monthly and yearly activity on the 16 th Street Mall. Our research estimates that the average yearly pedestrian activity for a block on the 16 th Street Mall ranges from a low of 6,594,694 pedestrians to a high of 15,625,601 pedestrians. Location Mid-day Evening Est. Daily Activity* Est. Monthly Activity* Est. Yearly Activity* 16th between Blake & Wazee 2,732 1,877 16, ,576 6,594,694 16th between Lawrence & Larimer 3,463 2,708 21, ,384 8,867,295 16th between Lawrence & Arapahoe 4,466 3,559 28,000 1,000,011 12,500,140 16th between California & Stout 5,788 4,073 34,266 1,129,636 14,120,450 16th between Welton & California 5,825 4,313 35,287 1,163,309 14,541,359 16th between Glenarm & Welton 6,276 4,620 37,918 1,250,048 15,625,601 16th between Tremont & Glenarm 6,121 3,773 34,233 1,128,570 14,107,121 16TH STREET MALL AVERAGE* 4,953 3,560 29, ,933 12,336,666 *numbers derived from the average between extrapolation based on mid-day count and extrapolation based on evening count Special Events The BID counted pedestrian activity on the 16th Street Mall during a special event, Make Music Denver, in June Make Music Denver resulted in a 23% increase in pedestrian activity on 16th Street between California and Welton between 11:30am and 1:30pm and a 20% increase between 5:00pm and 7:00pm. 7

9 High Traffi c Locations in Zone B During mid-day, almost all of the locations with the highest pedestrian traffi c in Zone B were along the 16th Street Mall on both weekdays and Saturdays. During the evening, traffi c was also high on the 16th Street Mall, but counts showed high evening traffi c on Larimer between 14th and 15th on both the weekdays and Saturdays. Mid-Day - Highest Traffi c Locations in Zone B Evening - Highest Traffi c Locations in Zone B Location Day Location Day 16th btw. Glenarm and Welton Weekday 6,276 16th btw. Glenarm and Welton Saturday 5,422 16th btw. Tremont and Glenarm Weekday 6,121 16th btw. Tremont and Glenarm Saturday 4,685 16th btw. Welton and California Weekday 5,825 16th btw. Glenarm and Welton Weekday 4,620 16th btw. California and Stout Weekday 5,788 16th btw. Welton and California Weekday 4,313 16th btw. Glenarm and Welton Saturday 5,466 16th btw. California and Stout Weekday 4,073 16th btw. Lawrence and Arapahoe Weekday 4,466 16th btw. Tremont and Glenarm Weekday 3,773 16th btw. Tremont and Glenarm Saturday 3,726 16th btw. Lawrence and Arapahoe Weekday 3,559 16th btw. Lawrence and Larimer Weekday 3,463 16th btw. Lawrence and Larimer Weekday 2,708 14th btw. Welton and California Saturday 2,702 Larimer btw. 14th and 15th Weekday 1,991 16th btw. Lawrence and Larimer Saturday 2,165 Larimer btw. 14th and 15th Saturday 1,687 CONCLUSION Outlook for 2013 In 2013, the BID will count pedestrians throughout the LoDo and Union Station areas of Zone C. This count will provide important baseline data for the Union Station area before the renovated transit hub reopens in Acknowledgments The Downtown Denver Business Improvement District thanks the Summer 2012 pedestrian counters who spent hours counting pedestrians around Downtown Denver. The BID also thanks the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project and Alta Planning and Design for providing a model for pedestrian extrapolations. About this Report The Summer Pedestrian report is created by the Downtown Denver Research Department. Staff contributors and editors include: Emily Brett, Aylene McCallum and John Desmond. Please direct any questions about this report to Emily Brett at ebrett@downtowndenver.com or Pedestrian count sheets and counter instructions are available upon request. 8

10 APPENDIX A: FULL RESULTS Graph of All Full s (does not include counts on only one side of the street) 9

11 Table of Full Results from Summer 2012 BID Pedestrian (WEEKDAY COUNTS) Location Mid-Day Evening Location Mid-Day 12th bet Welton & Glenarm 67* 36* 16th between Welton & California 5,825 4,313 13th between Arapahoe & Lawrence 168* 133* Arapahoe between 13th & 14th th between Glenarm & Tremont Arapahoe between 14th & 15th th between Welton & Glenarm Arapahoe between 15th & 16th 108* th between Arapahoe & Curtis Arapahoe between 16th & 17th th between Arapahoe & Lawrence California between 14th & 15th th between California & Stout California between 15th & 16th 1,489 1,592 14th between Champa & Stout Champa between 12th & 13th 83* th between Curtis & Champa Champa between 14th & 15th th between Glenarm & Tremont Champa between 15th & 16th 1, th between Larimer & Lawrence Court between 14th & 15th 221* 165* 14th between Tremont & Court Court between 15th & 16th 817* th between Welton & California Curtis between 14th & 15th 620 1,092 14th between Welton & Glenarm Curtis between 15th & 16th 980 1,147 15th between Arapahoe & Curtis Glenarm between 12th & 13th th between California & Welton Glenarm between 13th & 14th th between Champa & Curtis Glenarm between 14th & 15th th between Champa & Stout Glenarm between 15th & 16th 833 1,270 15th between Glenarm & Tremont Larimer between 14th & 15th 1,592 1,991 15th between Larimer & Lawrence Larimer between 14th & 15th 604 1,687 15th between Lawrence & Arapahoe Lawrence between 13th & 14th 241* 140* 15th between Stout & California Lawrence between 14th & 15th th between Tremont & Court Lawrence between 15th & 16th th between Welton & Glenarm Market between 14th & 15th 822* 728* 16th between Arapahoe & Curtis 2,149* 1,432* Stout between 14th & 15th th between Blake & Wazee 2,732 1,877 Stout between 15th & 16th th between California & Stout 5,788 4,073 Tremont between 13th & 14th th between Champa & Stout 2,255* 1,585* Tremont between 14th & 15th th between Curtis & Champa 1,482* 1,992* Tremont between 15th & 16th 311* 1,135 16th between Glenarm & Welton 6,276 4,620 Wazee between 16th & 17th 218* th between Lawrence & Arapahoe 4,466 3,559 Welton between 12th & 13th th between Lawrence & Larimer 3,463 2,708 Welton between 13th & 14th th between Tremont & Court 2,257* 1,762* Welton between 14th & 15th th between Tremont & Glenarm 6,121 3,773 Welton between 15th & 16th *Denotes partial count (only refl ects count from one side of the street instead of both sides of the street) Evening 10

12 Table of Full Results from Summer 2012 BID Pedestrian (SATURDAY COUNTS) Location Mid-Day Evening 14th between Curtis & Champa 311* 236* 14th between Welton & California 2, * 16th between California & Stout 3,184* 3,009* 16th between Glenarm & Welton 5,466 5,422 16th between Lawrence & Larimer 2, * 16th between Market & Blake 1,852 2,790 16th between Tremont & Glenarm 3,726 4,685 16th between Welton & California 2,746* 5,568 Arapahoe between 16th & 17th Larimer between 15th & 16th *Denotes partial count (only refl ects count from one side of the street instead of both sides of the street) 11

13 APPENDIX B: EXPLANATION OF NBPD EXTRAPOLATION PROCESS The National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project, along with Alta Planning and Design and the Institute of Transportation Engineers, developed a tool to estimate daily, weekly, monthly, and annual pedestrian activity from 2-hour pedestrian counts. This model takes into account the time of day, day of the week, climate, and type of pedestrian environment. Extrapolated numbers are based on the following adjustments. Contact DDP or visit bikepeddocumentation.org for more information. Table 1: Hourly Adjustments Model assumes 95% of pedestrian traffi c occurs between 6am and 10pm; Downtown is considered a PED District APR-SEP OCT-MAR PED District PED District wkdy wkend wkdy wkend Hour % of ped traffi c % of ped traffi c 600 1% 1% 1% 0% 700 2% 1% 2% 1% 800 4% 3% 3% 2% 900 5% 3% 5% 4% % 5% 6% 5% % 6% 8% 8% % 7% 9% 10% % 7% 10% 13% % 9% 9% 11% % 9% 8% 8% % 9% 7% 7% % 8% 6% 6% % 8% 7% 6% % 8% 7% 6% % 8% 6% 6% % 8% 5% 5% Table 2: Daily Adjustments Day % of weekly ped traffi c SUN 18% MON 14% TUES 13% WED 12% THURS 12% FRI 14% SAT 18% Table 3: Monthly Adjustments (based on climate) % of yearly ped month traffi c JAN 7% FEB 7% MAR 8% APR 8% MAY 8% JUN 8% JUL 12% AUG 16% SEP 8% OCT 6% NOV 6% DEC 6% 12

Downtown Denver Summer 2013 Pedestrian Count Report

Downtown Denver Summer 2013 Pedestrian Report Funded by the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. Research Department Research Department 511 16 th Street, Suite