Did you Know that Transit Did That? A new report released...demonstrates that young Coloradans and Americans have been driving less since the middle of last decade. The report, says the average young person (age 16-34) drove 20 percent fewer miles in 2009 than the average young person in 2001. This shows that young people in particular are decreasing the amount they drive and increasing their use of transportation alternatives. Source  |
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Hello Everyone! This is Bill Spriggs and I have found several news articles, links and blogs that I wanted to share along THE BACK FENCE & beyond in this Sunday Edition, April 08, 2012. |
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West Corridor, Denver & Region
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>Mark Your Calendars! Wednesday, April 11, 2012! Swinerton Builders and RTD Invites Everyone to the Wadsworth Parking Structure Groundbreaking!
See Details
BoulderDailyCamera.com
Oskar Blues Eyes Boulder Train Depot for New BrewPub
By Alicia Wallace, Apr 06, 2012
The depot is one element of the multi-faceted Depot Square development that will include an underground Regional Transportation District bus station, a 140-room Hyatt hotel and 71 permanently affordable apartments. Construction is slated to begin this summer and take about 18 months.
READ MORE...
LongmontTimesCall.com
Longmont Democrats Quiz RTD Officials About Latest FasTracks Plans John Fryar, Apr 04, 2012
Two Regional Transportation District board members spent nearly two hours on Wednesday night fielding and answering questions about what kinds of transit improvements Longmont-area residents could count on if metropolitan-area voters were to approve a sales-tax increase to accelerate completion of the RTD's FasTracks system.
READ MORE...
[Editor's Note to below: Another reason that Golden Colorado will be the future prize destination along the West Corridor in addition to its well-attended bikeways].
Health & Wellness in Golden, Colorado
Golden Colo Mayor Holds "Walking" Meetings. By Mayor Majorie Sloan, Apr 04, 2012
"The other side of the healthy-living equation involves physical activity. Making Golden an active, walkable town is in the forefront of council's agenda. And inspired by the Surgeon General and other health advocates, I have decided to hold walking meetings. Folks who call to schedule time with me as mayor can now expect to convene on one of our sidewalks or trails, rather than in a conference room. By integrating walking with a discussion of Golden's issues, we'll be productive while enjoying our town's scenic beauty and improving our fitness."
READ MORE...
Radio Golden:
Extended Interview on the Beltway Lawsuit With Josh Pollock, Apr 06, 2012 The Radio Golden Episode 3 Extended Interview features Josh Pollock, the executive director of Rocky Mountain Wild, one of the two environmental groups that is suing to prevent the construction of the proposed toll highway north of Golden. Josh (who happens to be a Golden resident) fills us in on the status of the lawsuit, the implications, and prospects. If you are interested in finding out where things are at and where they might head, it's worth a listen.
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National
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UrbanIndy.com
Urban Living as an Antidote to Oil Price Fluctuation By Kevin Kastner, Apr 04, 2012 The national conversation that has surrounded the most recent gas price jumps has been predictably frustrating...We usually hear the primal urges (drill baby drill) as well as the technological advances (alternative fuels). However, the simplest solution that the public can act on is to live in a neighborhood that has transportation options.
READ MORE...
USAToday.com
America's Romance With Sprawl May be Over By Haya El Nasser & P. Overberg, Apr 05, 2012
Almost three years after the official end of a recession that kept people from moving and devastated new suburban subdivisions, people continue to avoid counties on the farthest edge of metropolitan areas, according to Census estimates out today.
READ MORE...
DC.streetsBlog.org
What Happened to John Mica, Pro-Transit Republican?
By Ben Goldman, Apr 06, 2012
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking member John Mica knew the value of good transit. "I became a mass transit fan because it's so much more cost effective than building a highway," he told PBS in 2009. "Also, it's good for energy, it's good for the environment - and that's why I like it."
Bloomberg.com
The Era of Big Box Retail Dominance is Coming to an End
By David Welch, Mar 30, 2012
When Best Buy Co. said yesterday it was closing 50 big stores and opening 100 smaller ones, the world's largest electronics retailer was adjusting to reality: The era of big-box retail dominance is coming to an end.
DC.StreetsBlog.orgU.S. PIRG Report: Young Americans Dump Cars for Bikes, Buses By Angie Schmitt, Apr 05, 2012 The U.S. Public Interest Research Group has been crunching the numbers on travel preferences among young Americans - and the news is not good for auto makers. Public transit use increased 100 percent among 16-34-year-olds with household incomes above $70,000, according to a new report from PIRG. READ MORE...
SwitchBoard.nrdc.orgHow the Evolving Housing Market Will Help Sustainable Communities By Ken Benfield, Apr 04, 2012 Many city infill and redevelopment projects, by contrast, are going forward and even commanding market premiums for their urban locations. Housing values have declined much more, on a percentage basis, in sprawling subdivisions as compared to walkable, centrally located neighborhoods, many of which have even steady or increased in value.
READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities.com The Enduring Effect of Neighborhoods By Richard Florida, Apr 05, 2012 Sampson... argues that our communities continue to matter a great deal and that our lives are powerfully shaped by where we live. William Julius Wilson...lauds the book as "one of the most comprehensive and sophisticated empirical studies ever conducted by a social scientist." READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities.comShoes Over Telephone Wires: This Probably Doesn't Explain It By John Metcalfe, Apr 04, 2012 Every citygoer has at one point or another spotted a pair of shoes hanging like mistletoe from telephone wires. Ghost shoes are a staple of urban decor; they propagate furiously in innercities, spreading to nearby trees like ugly sparrows come to roost. What is the reason for these hanging shoes? Don't people, you know, need them to walk with?
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International (when available)
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Wednesday's Film (when available)
| UtilityCycling.org
2012 Bicycle Film Festival
By Melanie Colavito, Apr 05, 2012 Here's the trailer for the 2012 Bicycle Film Festival via Bike Hacks. The Bicycle Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the 2012 festival, and you can submit a film up until April 21.
READ MORE...
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Things you need to know along the West Corridor
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>Lakewood, Wednesday, Apr 11, 2012, 7am - 8:30am. Cindy Baroway and Scott Koop, City Council representatives for Ward 2, will meet with residents and considerate guests for their monthly outreach meeting at the Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District Office, 7125 W. Colfax Ave. The West Rail Line will traverse the northwestern section of their Ward.
>Lakewood, Wednesday, April 11, 10am Mark Your Calendars! Swinerton Builders and RTD Invites Everyone to the Wadsworth Parking Structure Groundbreaking! See details
>Important Transit News Along the West Corridor:
RTD is planning to change bus service when the West Rail Line opens in May of 2013 and will hold public hearings to present the draft plans and hear feedback from the public. The two meetings for the West Corridor:
April 16, 2012, Jefferson County Justice Center, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden Co. 80401
April 18, 2012, Clements Community Center, 1580 Yarrow St. Lakewood Co. 80215. Full listing of meetings
>Lakewood, Saturday, April 21, 2012 9am to 1030am, 7215 West Colfax Ave - West Colfax Buiness Improvement District Office.
Lakewood City Council members, Karen Kellen and Ramey Johnson, Ward 1,
will meet with residents and considerate guests for their monthly outreach meeting. The future West Corridor light rail will traverse the northern section of their Ward.
>Denver Union Station Basement, Friday, April 27, 2012, 7 to 9pm Final Open House for the Model Railroad extraordinary display before construction closes same. Soon the model railroad display put on by the Platte Valley & Western Model Railroad club in the basement of the Denver Union Station will have to close because of the redevelopment of the Station (let's hope they put in better ventilation and more areas to sit for old and struggling families) The open house will run from 7pm to 9pm in the Basement. Press Release pdf >Denver, Wednesday, May 02, 2012, 6pm to 9pm? History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. DRCOG will award Lakewood Mayor, Bob Murphy with the Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding contribution to the region as chairman of the Metro Mayors Caucus FasTracks Task force. Click Here to Register >Lakewood, Wednesday, June 13, 4-6pm. Grand Opening party of A+E Fine Woodworking, woodworking studio, 7175 W. 16th Ave. A&E Woodworking will become a future art collaborative where artists will share a common location to create their artwork. The location is located 0.6 miles - 3 minutes via bicycle - from the future light rail stop at Wadsworth Station.
The very popular RTD West Corridor bus tours are back!! All tours will be from 9am to 11am on the 3rd Friday of the month (April thru Sept). Each reservation that is made is for one seat only; please sign-up all attendees individually. You will receive e-mail confirmation within one week of your registration. Click here to register
MAY 19 - 20TH, 2012 
JUNE 9-15th, 2012 
AUGUST 20-26th, 2012
SEPTEMBER 21-23RD, 2012
Denver Union Station
Construction Cam
Golden Jeffco Station
Construction Cam
Wish You Could Find an Apartment/Condo near a Light Rail Station? As part of TBF's continuing efforts to bring TOD's to the West Corridor & elsewhere, this link from Walk Score.com will now be a permanent feature. Thanks. |
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Commercial Real Estate Assemblages, Land or Buildings Available on The West Corridor
Please note: TBF does not
own or sell any real property.
Prices displayed may not be correct.
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>4917 West 11th Ave Assemblage
>10th Avenue Light Rail Assemblage
>1010 Sheridan Blvd TOD Site
>13th Avenue & Newland St., Light Rail Vacant Land
>5830 West Colfax Ave
>6990 West Colfax Ave Pad Site
THE BACK FENCE supports a corridor wide, regional vision, with individual nodes of unique "places" within that corridor. We hope that the listing of commercial properties available will help to speed this vision to fruition sooner. Learn more about this vision below from the Center for Transit-Oriented Development.
Editor's note: Due to the greatness of Democracy and right of it's citizen's to express concerns freely, RTD has issued a follow-up statement addressing those issues raised surrounding the Future Sheridan Street Parking Structure raised on March 01, 2012. Subjects include 1) Sun/snow on the north side of the structure. 2) Safer lighting between station and parking structure. 3) Ped/bicycle interaction from structure to station. 4) more.
Sheridan Parking Structure
Here's a PowerPoint Presentation of the RTD Elected Officials Briefing held Feb 10, 2012. Part One deals with grade crossing safety (boring) and Part Two has (awesome) photos of the latest civil construction of the West Rail Line. Well worth a peek.
RTD West Rail Line video flyover (entire line from Union Station to the Golden Jeffco Station.
West Corridor Vision
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Things You Need to Know Around the Region
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 >What is the Better Block?
The "Better Block" project is a community revitalization effort that temporarily demonstrates how to improve a street with pedestrian and public infrastructure mixed with art, culture, pop-up businesses and street life. For one day, the project will fill vacant storefronts, create pedestrian seating areas, provide landscaping and street furniture, redraw the street, provide live music, and more. Better Block aims to create quick, inexpensive, high-impact changes that lead to permanent solutions for areas in Denver. >Monday, April 30, 2012
Come Celebrate the Campaign Kick-off of Claudia Folska for RTD Board of Directors! District E. Monday, April 30, 2012, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Garciaʹs Mexican Restaurant, 5050 S. Syracuse St., Denver, CO 80237
Suggested Contribution - Supporter $250 ▪ Contributor $100 ▪ Guest $25 RSVP to rsvp@crlassociates.com or by calling 303-592-5463. Make checks payable to: Committee to Elect Claudia Folska
c/o CRL Associates, 1625 Broadway #700, Denver, CO 80202 http://www.claudia4rtd.com/ |
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