Denver Explores The Future Of The 16th Street Mall

The City and County of Denver and the Regional Transportation District, with support from CH2M, will kick off the downtown 16th Street Mall alternative analysis and environmental clearance effort to determine the future of the 1.2-mile corridor.

This week, the City and County of Denver and the Regional Transportation District (RTD), with support from CH2M, will kick off the downtown 16th Street Mall alternative analysis and environmental clearance effort to determine the future of the 1.2-mile corridor. The 16th Street Mall is one of Denver’s most vital connectors and important public spaces.

The collaborative effort between the City and County of Denver, Regional Transportation District, Downtown Denver Partnership, the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) and the Federal Transit Administration will follow the National Environmental Policy Act process to consider social and environmental impacts when reviewing possible alternatives for the mall, which may include a recommendation to leave the mall as-is.

More than just a transportation corridor, the 16th Street Mall is truly a jewel of downtown Denver and a connection to many activities and events. Nearly 45,000 weekday riders use the Free MallRide shuttle, which runs the length of the Mall. “The 16th Street Mall is a vital public space in our great city,” says Brad Buchanan, executive director of Denver Community Planning and Development. “Now is the time to set a course for the mall’s future.”

(Robert W. Mann)

Re-design possibilities may include new shuttle lane alignments, sidewalk enhancements, expanded seating and other placemaking concepts or alternate surface materials, all of which would help the corridor to meet 21st century needs.

The first phase of the project is expected to be finished by this year. If approved, the project and funding details could be identified by 2020 and finished by 2022. Participating agencies officially kicked off the project on June 28 with a 3-day workshop to guide the vision for optimizing the corridor. The intent of this workshop was to establish base conditions in which a redevelopment effort will assist in protecting the historic and cultural significance of the 16th Street Mall, maximizing safety and mobility and easing maintenance concerns of the shuttle operations. Design elements will also be shaped by two public workshops held in July.

(Robert W. Mann)

“As a hometown company, this opportunity to partner with the City and County of Denver and stakeholders to improve the Mall for transit, pedestrians and leisure activities is exciting,” said CH2M City of Denver Account Manager, Scott Ingvoldstad. “We’re passionate about improving Denver’s livelihood—gaining the support of our neighbors and fostering pride in our city—to preserve the 16th Street Mall’s identity as the heart of Denver’s vibrant downtown.”

DURA has roughly $68 million available to contribute to the mall’s redesign. This money comes from the tax-increment financing district (TIF) that helped to originally pay for the mall in 1992, as part of a $60 million bond issuance that has since been paid in full as of 2013. Since that time, DURA has continued to collect taxes but the original TIF is set to expire this year. These unused funds must be spent by 2022, or the money reverts to the City of Denver and Denver Public Schools.

(Robert W. Mann)

Cover Image: Mike Field

Next: The History of the 16th Street Mall