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 Wednesday Edition, April 11, 2012. |
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West Corridor, Denver & Region
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TheDenverPost.com Denver Forum on Growth Notes Importance of Transit System
By Kristen Leigh Painter, Apr 11, 2012 Denver Mayor Michael Hancock told a group of more than 250 leaders on Tuesday that the development of the metro area's transit system is at a tipping point, one that requires cohesive, innovative and timely action.
Blogs.Westwordcom
Mile High Connects Finds Access and Equity Gaps in City's Public Transit By Kelsey Whipple, Apr 10, 2012
Since its 2010 launch, Mile High Connects has taken a long, hard, scientific look at Denver's transit system. Formed as a collaboration between nonprofit leaders and philanthropies, the group analyzed the equity and access of area transportation
READ MORE... TheDenverPost.com Metro Denver Tops Nation in Construction Jobs Added
Steve Raabeand & H. Pankratz, Apr 11-12
Among those projects are Exempla St. Joseph's Hospital, the Colorado Supreme Court building, the South Terminal at Denver International Airport, RTD rail development, the veterans hospital at Fitzsimons, and other Fitzsimons expansions at Children's Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Hospital.
READ MORE... >Today! Wednesday, April 11, 2012 10am! Swinerton Builders and RTD Invites Everyone to the Wadsworth Parking Structure Groundbreaking! See Details
>Lakewood, starting Friday,
June 08, 2012, 5-9pm
Lakewood's celebration of the Arts week starts with a Ribbon-cutting, Arts Exhibit & Community Art Project June 8-9-10. Mark your calendars for the INSPIRE week programs at 40 West Arts! Lakewood's celebration of its arts with a ribbion-cutting and preview of the new 40 West Studios at 7175 West 16th Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado 80214 starts June 08, 2012. The new art studio is located just 0.6 miles - an 11 minute walk, or a 6 minute bike ride from the future Wadsworth Light Rail Station. |
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National
| TheAtlanticCities.com
Why Young Americans Are Driving So Much Less Than Their Parents
By Richard Florida, Apr 10, 2012
For generations of Americans, car ownership was an almost mandatory rite of passage-a symbol of freedom and independence. For more and more young people today, a car is a burden they no longer wish to carry.
DC.StreetsBlog.org Census Breaks the News We Already Knew: The Exurbs Are History
By Tanya Snyder, Apr 09, 2012
Last week, the New York Times and USA Today reported that Census numbers had confirmed the death of the outer ring suburbs, or exurbs. The latest numbers, capturing the year (actually 15 months, April 2010 to July 2011) since the last Census, showed a major shift away from the settlement patterns from 2000 to 2010.
Grist.org
Everything That is Good For the Environment is a Job By Van Jones, Apr 03, 2012 Many politicians want us to lower our expectations about the economy. I say it is time to raise them. We should go beyond the shriveled thinking imposed upon us by today's mania for austerity. The time has come to propose solutions at the scale of the problems we face. We can and we must revive the economy - in a way that respects people and the planet.
UrbanLand.uli.org The Great Recession: A Slayer of Sprawl
By John K. Mcllwain, Apr 05, 2012 Suburban sprawl, that seemingly inexorable, inevitable spreading of the population to the outer edges of metropolitan areas, may well be over in the United States. If so, this would be one of the few positive results of the recent Great Recession and the housing crash.
Transportation.NationalJournal.com
Transportation Deductions: Bright Idea or Waste of Time? By Niraj Chokshi, Apr 09, 2012 With gas prices rising, the economy plodding toward a recovery and tax day nearly upon us, the handful of available transportation-related tax deductions may be looking increasingly appealing to Americans seeking an alternative to the expensive drive to work, as the experts at H&R Block point out.
TheCityFix.com
FreewayRemoval Creates Opportunity for Improved Health Quality of Life By Ben Welle, Apr 09, 2012 The famed U.S. intellectual Lewis Mumford once said, "Forget the damned motor car and build the cities for lovers and friends"...(the producer of this blog) seems to be getting a bit closer to that ideal, providing case studies on cities that have successfully removed freeways tearing their cities asunder or separating waterfronts from the enjoyment of residents.
READ MORE...
AdWeek.com
Young Adults Choosing "Cool" Cities March 18, 2012 When times are good, young Americans go where the jobs are. When times are tougher, they head to places they think are cool... Two cities on the list gained markedly in rank among young movers: Denver, which moved from twelfth to first, and Washington D.C., which improved from 44th to sixth.
TheAtlanticCities.com The High Cost of Losing Urban Trees
By Nate Berg, Apr 09, 2012
Every tree in urban Tennessee provides an estimated $2.25 worth of measurable economic benefits every year. Might not seem like a lot, but with 284 million urban trees in the state, the payoff's pretty big.
READ MORE...
CommuteByBike.com
The 12 People Who Block the Bike Path By Samuel Hager, April 2012 Most university towns, including Flagstaff, Arizona, have a bike route through campus. There is a wide lane for walkers next to the bike lane, and the bike lane is split in two with arrows directing cyclists to ride in on the right hand side. In most cases bikers respect their place and walkers respect theirs but not always.
READ MORE... |
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International (when available)
| Grist.org
Solar 'Scandal' Upshot: China is Dominating Global Solar Market, for Better or Worse
By David Roberts, Apr 06, 2012
Conservatives are going nuts about a "new Solyndra," a gullible media is falling for the hype, and the only voice of sanity is ... Politico?
READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities.com
The De-Bikification of Beijing By Debra Bruno, Apr 09, 2012
Just a few years ago, the streets of Beijing were clogged with so many bicycles that riders sailing through an intersection looked like a school of fish moving through the water...Bicycle use in Beijing has dropped from about 60 percent in 1986 to 17 percent in 2010
READ MORE... |
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Wednesday's Film (when available)
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Things you need to know along the West Corridor
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>Lakewood, Wednesday, Apr 11, 2012, 7:30am - 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 list 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 terrific 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, starting Friday, June 08, 2012, 5-9pm
Lakewood's celebration of the Arts week starts with a Ribbon-cutting, Arts Exhibit & Community Art Project June 8-9-10. Mark your calendars for the INSPIRE week programs at 40 West Arts! Lakewood's celebration of its arts with a ribbion-cutting and preview of the new 40 West Studios at 7175 West 16th Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado 80214 starts June 08, 2012. The new art studio is located just 0.6 miles - an 11 minute walk, or a 6 minute bike ride from the future Wadsworth Light Rail Station. >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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