DENVER | Transportation Thread - Page 346

Stonemans_rowJ · #**6901** Posted **May 7, 2014, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobg

It's not that black and white. Just because it's not a central core neighborhood it doesn't mean it's Highlands Ranch or that it doesn't "count".

Cory-Merrill is defined in the zoning code as having a neighborhood context of urban edge and I think that's a good way to put it.

Agreed. Nobody said Cory-Merrill did not count or was not a significant Denver neighborhood. I would not consider that a core neighborhood, at least from a geographic standpoint.

It's all subjective though, and really just a matter of semantics.

Stonemans_rowJ · #**6902** Posted **May 7, 2014, 8:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

I think you missed the point. The neighborhood he was writing off is a neighborhood that is, in nearly everybody's mind, a core Denver neighborhood. It's west of Colorado and north of I-25. If that's not within the reach of what we should be focusing on for a workable transit area, and a workable area for densifying the City, then we're talking about an incredibly narrow area. Aren't you the one who's all about big-tent urbanism? I don't see the Colorado and Cherry Creek corridors, and their surrounding neighborhoods, as being all that different from the Highland(s) neighborhoods, or even Cap Hill; places where development potential is somewhat limited. If you're only talking core downtown neighborhoods, then you're going to have a heck of a time funding anything. (Take a look at a map of Denver Council Districts if you're wondering how the City's population is distributed.) There's a lot of gray area between Highland Ranch and Union Station.

Are we only focused on a 1-mile radius of downtown, now? Maybe we need to create a subforum for that too, so make it three - Downtown-Snobs, Real Denver, and then the rest of the Front Range.

I think you miss the point here too. Maybe it's an East Coast thing, where significant urban growth in real numbers isn't terribly common. But gentrification or not, we're talking about a City that's added 50,000 people in three years. There are neighborhoods adding people somewhere, in significant numbers, and (hopefully) not just in Stapleton and GVR. If LoHi isn't one of them, and isn't one that's open to changing that, then perhaps it's not the place we need to direct our sharpest focus on transportation alternatives.

Dude, you're always so bitter whenever it comes to Highland. Why is that? Is it because you struggle to find parking there?

Lohi is definitely a neighborhood interested in adding density and residents. Go there and open your eyes; look around.

You're right: Lohi does NOT need a sharp focus at all on mass transit. Broadway, Colorado Blvd, Colfax, Speer from Union Station to CCN; those are the big corridors. You can easily walk or bike anywhere from Lohi, especially to Union Station, 16th street circulator, etc.

bunt_q · #**6903** Posted **May 7, 2014, 8:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stonemans_rowJ

Dude, you're always so bitter whenever it comes to Highland. Why is that? Is it because you struggle to find parking there?

Lohi is definitely a neighborhood interested with adding density and residents. Go there and open your eyes; look around.

I don't care about Highland either way. LoHi is perfectly fine, great place for all the hip, rich folk, which is why it gets so much attention. It even has a cool name - LoHi - how creative. Every city needs places like that, even if they are irrelevant to the city's future. I'm sure we can pack in a few more wealthy people before it's too full (like West Highland already is, apparently), and then hopefully we can move on to making another neighborhood "cool." Next time, one with some room to grow. Like RiNo.

Cirrus · #**6904** Posted **May 7, 2014, 8:30 PM**

Right, it's not black and white. More of a gradient.

And buntie, if you're going to bring up the east coast then it may surprise you to learn that the District of Columbia is growing at basically the same rate as the City and County of Denver. 646k in 2013 compared to 601k in the 2010 census. And we don't have a Stapleton or Green Valley Ranch. Every single unit of it is legit urban infill.

seventwenty · #**6905** Posted **May 7, 2014, 8:35 PM**

How is a shitty super low cost carrier's plane responsible for DIA?

Cirrus · #**6906** Posted **May 7, 2014, 8:41 PM**

In actual transit news, the Fort Collins BRT officially opens on May 10.

Quote:

Originally Posted by City of Fort Collins

MAX World Premiere
http://www.fcgov.com/transfort/maxlaunch.php

Join the party celebrating the start of MAX service on Saturday, May 10! Kick-off the start of MAX service with a ceremony at the new South Transit Center, and then ride the MAX to each of the stations for parties and entertainment.

Launch Ceremony: Saturday, May 10, 10-11 a.m.

Yay!

Picture from ColoradoStateUniversity on flickr

Stonemans_rowJ · #**6907** Posted **May 7, 2014, 8:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

I don't care about Highland either way. LoHi is perfectly fine, great place for all the hip, rich folk, which is why it gets so much attention. It even has a cool name - LoHi - how creative. Every city needs places like that, even if they are irrelevant to the city's future. I'm sure we can pack in a few more wealthy people before it's too full (like West Highland already is, apparently), and then hopefully we can move on to making another neighborhood "cool." Next time, one with some room to grow. Like RiNo.

Another gross generalization. I've come to expect nothing less from you though.

seventwenty · #**6908** Posted **May 7, 2014, 8:46 PM**

MAX + DUS in 2 days? This is a good week for Colorado transit.

PLANSIT · #**6909** Posted **May 7, 2014, 8:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventwenty

MAX + DUS in 2 days? This is a good week for Colorado transit.

MAX + DUS + MetroRide!

Cirrus · #**6910** Posted **May 7, 2014, 8:54 PM**

Wow.

I expect a lot of pictures.

seventwenty · #**6911** Posted **May 7, 2014, 9:03 PM**

We won't see any MAX pictures, as Ryan never rode the DinoBus.

bunt_q · #**6912** Posted **May 7, 2014, 10:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stonemans_rowJ

Another gross generalization. I've come to expect nothing less from you though.

Oh that's right, it's a beacon of diversity and inclusiveness up there. I'm sure Linger does meals for the homeless, too. And West Highland - they didn't sue the City to keep the renters out, I imagined that. Keep living in your bubble, and I'll keep generalizing you folks inside that bubble. Call it a win-win.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirrus

Wow.

I expect a lot of pictures.

You'll get them.

Something the Fort Collins story didn't point out, we're spending $3 million to build a pedestrian underpass to connect the redeveloped mall site to the BRT. (And a few million more to relocate an existing irrigation ditch so it's possible.) Fort Collins isn't messing around with their BRT.

PLANSIT · #**6913** Posted **May 7, 2014, 10:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

You'll get them.

Something the Fort Collins story didn't point out, we're spending $3 million to build a pedestrian underpass to connect the redeveloped mall site to the BRT. (And a few million more to relocate an existing irrigation ditch so it's possible.) Fort Collins isn't messing around with their BRT.

You aren't kidding. Took a tour a while back. Check out this connection (ped/bike underpass - busway):

Off topic - Bike treatment for crossing tracks (not suitable for Bunt):

Cirrus · #**6914** Posted **May 7, 2014, 10:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Fort Collins isn't messing around with their BRT.

Except the no-service-on-Sundays thing, which really uglies the whole thing. But once they get that sorted out, it will be one of the best examples around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

Bike treatment for crossing tracks

Neato. Those are freight tracks, but treatments like this are how we get the cycling community on board with streetcars. There's a certain segment of them that's skeptical of streetcars because navigating the tracks on a bike can be tricky. Examples of the 2 working together successfully make a difference. Here's a similar treatment in Seattle, for their 1st Hill Streetcar:

PLANSIT · #**6915** Posted **May 7, 2014, 11:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirrus

Neato. Those are freight tracks, but treatments like this are how we get the cycling community on board with streetcars. There's a certain segment of them that's skeptical of streetcars because navigating the tracks on a bike can be tricky. Examples of the 2 working together successfully make a difference. Here's a similar treatment in Seattle, for their 1st Hill Streetcar:

Nice. I've seen that pic before (twitter?) and after seeing this version in FoCo, thought it might be another good example for reference.

Here's a good shot of MetroRide and the new island station/shelter/bike facility:

Photo courtesy of RTD's Twitter.

bcp · #**6916** Posted **May 7, 2014, 11:17 PM**

Is the new MetroRide really just a 9 to 6 m to f service? Youch...lots of people could use it after hours, ball games, etc....extending the hours seems like exceptionally low fruit...

That said, damn good looking bus!!

RyanD · #**6917** Posted **May 8, 2014, 12:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirrus

Wow.

I expect a lot of pictures.

I'm holding off sending my camera to service JUST for Friday at DUS. Then it's going bye bye and I will be photography-less for about a month...

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventwenty

We won't see any MAX pictures, as Ryan never rode the DinoBus.

Shhhhhh! We don't want him to remember.

bunt_q · #**6918** Posted **May 8, 2014, 12:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanD

Shhhhhh! We don't want him to remember.

Just tell Cirrus you tried, but your car wouldn't let you leave.

What are everybody's Friday DUS plans, anyways?

RyanD · #**6919** Posted **May 8, 2014, 1:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Just tell Cirrus you tried, but your car wouldn't let you leave.

True story-ish. I'm amazed it let me go to Ikea on Saturday. I did have to bless it with the holy water oil before the trip to Centennial though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

What are everybody's Friday DUS plans, anyways?

I took the entire day off work for this and I have no idea when the ceremony is, but I'll probably be down there at 10ish and just enjoy downtown since I don't get to do that every single day now!

The Dirt · #**6920** Posted **May 8, 2014, 2:31 AM**

I started working downtown as of Monday so I was going to head down there for an hour whenever as my lunch. Just let me know when you guys want to get together. Ken, are you in? Apparently, they have panel discussions starting at 8:30am, opening until 1:15pm, and festivities starting at 3:30.