Let's play Baseball
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cirrus
The more interesting question is how much higher RTD's ridership would be if they had built lines with maximizing ridership in mind, rather than with maximizing political coverage. We all recognize maximizing political coverage was necessary to pass a vote, but it would be interesting to know the lost opportunity cost.
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Looking on the Bright Side there's no point in what could have been done as the future for light & commuter rail is quite bright. Let's zero in on just the City of Denver and look at TOD over the next decade (and beyond). I see: 2 Home Runs, 3 Triples, 5 Doubles and a number of solid Singles.
Two Home Runs
Denver Union Station
A dream already fulfilled.
The River Mile - Elitch Gardens/Pepsi Center Station
Right on the edge of downtown this high density, mixed-use, walkable development now has the re-zoning in place and master plan and TIFIA funding approval from the city.
Three Triples
38th & Blake Street Station
Perhaps the shiniest of Triples assuming all the development plans move forward.
I-25 & Broadway Station
It's only taken the Gates site ten years but it is now entitled, rezoned and taking off in 2020 along with the other nearby projects.
Decatur-Federal Station
With the total redevelopment of Sun Valley and the Broncos Stadium development plan to the south of the stadium, Decatur-Federal Station is sure to be a solid triple. This is the one station where mixed-use, affordable as well as market rate housing will be built.
Five Doubles
Central Park - Stapleton Station
Over the next decade this TOD should come to fruition as a promise fulfilled.
Auraria West Station
With student housing a part of the Master Plan, this already popular station will get even better.
Belleview Station
Well on its way.
National Western Stock Show Station
While having less of a residential component this $1 billion plus development with voter approved funding in place for most of the project, having a rail station in its midst has to qualify as a nice Double.
41st and Fox Station
One impressive project under construction with a lot of threats and plans for enough to make this an ultimate Double
A number of Singles either exist or will develop over the next decade to include 10th & Osage Station, University Station, Colorado Station and Evans Station.
So after all the pissing and moaning around FasTracks etc the City of Denver will ultimately be the biggest beneficiary of all those FasTracks and previous rail lines with all the TOD over the next decade. I guess you could say that for the City of Denver the system as built is a bubbling Big Home Run.