Did you Know that Transit Did That? Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity Mile High Connects released their Regional Equity Atlas on April 10. The Atlas paints the picture of where people currently live and where the opportunities and challenges are to improving their quality of life. The maps also provide vision of what the region might look like as new transit lines open and communities become better connected within the region.  |
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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 15, 2012. |
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West Corridor, Denver & Region
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TheDenverPost.com
Lakewood West Rail Line Parking Structure a Showcase of Sustainability
By Monte Whaley, Apr 11, 2012
Crews today broke ground on 1,000-space parking structure at 14th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard that officials say will be a key hub when the FasTracks West Rail line opens in May 2013.
READ MORE...
BikeDenver.org
Access Bridge at Colorado & I-25 Scheduled for Construction
By Piep Van Heuven, Apr 13, 2012 Denver Public Works announced late yesterday that the long-awaited bicycle and pedestrian access bridge at Colorado and I-25 is scheduled to begin construction in early 2013. The bridge will connect SE Denver neighborhoods including Virginia Village and University Hills and provide safe access for people who walk and bike to the Colorado Center light rail station.
READ MORE...
[Editor's note to below: Once again as a reminder: Union Station is the heart - the hub - of the FasTracks System; the West Corridor is one of its arteries - spokes].
DenverUrbanism.com
Denver Union Station Construction Update By Ryan Mulligan, Apr 11, 2012 I'm late posting these pictures, but it's better late than never. Thanks to the folks at RTD and the DUS Project, I was lucky enough to be invited on a site tour of the $500 million Denver Union Station redevelopment project a few weeks back.
READ MORE...
TheDenverPost.com
Wal-Mart Announces SolarCity Projects in Six Metro-Denver Stores
By Howard Pankratz, Apr 11, 2012 Wal-Mart announced Wednesday six SolarCity projects in metro Denver, including three stores in Westminster and one each in Lakewood, Highlands Ranch and Lafayette. SolarCity, which has operations centers in Denver and Parker, will install, own and maintain the six new solar-power systems.
READ MORE...
BoulderBlueLine.org
Parkway Proponents Pushing for Super Eminent Domain By Liz Payton, Apr 13, 2012 Below is the text of both the Mayor of Golden's remarks and those of a Golden Councilperson regarding a proposed bill in the Colorado legislature that would establish a "Beltway Completion Authority," with new governmental powers of "super eminent domain" to build the Jefferson Parkway. Text is reproduced from the Golden Newsletter 4/12/2012.
READ MORE... |
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National
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Transit Ridership Up Again in February; Highest Since 2005
By Andrea Bernstein, Apr 09, 2012
This in from the DOT: transit ridership spiked 5.5 percent compared to February of 2011. According to Ray LaHood's Fastlane blog, "This is the first time since 2005 that transit ridership has increased by more than 5 percent from the prior year for two consecutive months. And the average increase during the past six months of 4.5 percent is the highest since 2008."
Slate.com
Learning To Walk: How America Can Start Walking Again By Tom Vanderbilt, Apr 13, 2012
The plight of life on foot in America was nowhere more poignantly expressed than in the conviction, just last year, of a Georgia woman for vehicular manslaughter. What brought the case to national prominence was a single, Kafka-esque detail: She was not driving.
SwitchBoard.nrdc.org
Data Summaries Show Walkable Communities are Good for Our Health, and for Business, Too By Ken Benfield, Apr 13, 2012
About a year ago, NRDC's executive director, Peter Lehner, asked me what one word, if I had to choose, would most closely describe a smart, sustainable community. Peter thought that the word might be density. But I chose walkability instead.
READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities.com
Where You Live Could Make Your Kids Fat By Sarah Goodyear, Apr 12, 2012 "Walkability" and "food deserts" aren't just urbanism buzzwords. They're crucial factors in childhood obesity. TheAtlanticCities.com
Do Gated Communities Threaten Society? By Sarah Goodyear, Apr 11, 2012 The shooting death of Trayvon Martin has caused an epidemic of soul-searching in the United States. In the weeks since George Zimmerman pulled the trigger in that Florida gated community, it feels as though the entire nation has been busy trying to explain to ourselves what happened and why. StreetsBlog.net
By Angie Schmitt, Apr 10, 2012 Minimum parking requirements are, essentially, a tax on development meant to encourage driving. The cost of housing and offices rises and the difference in rents and sales prices is plowed into new automobile infrastructure. But there is perhaps no other American entitlement as fiercely defended as this widely misunderstood car subsidy. READ MORE...
Governing.comBicycle Commuting Gains Traction In Cities By Mike Maciag, Apr 11, 2012 Many commuters living in growing urban areas are opting to ride bikes to work as an alternative to congested roads and higher gas prices. READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities.comBig Box Stores Linked To the Presence of Hate Groups By Emily Badger, Apr 12, 2012 Economists and sociologists have for years pointed to a number of variables associated with the rise of hate groups in communities across the U.S., including high crime rates, high unemployment, low education, and geographic location. Communities located in the old Confederate states, for instance, have been shown to have higher odds of housing hate groups. Now come findings about a surprising new variable no one has looked at before: Is there a Big Box Retail nearby?
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International (when available)
| WashingtonPost.com
Car-Saturated Mexico City Lets Bicycle Riders Rule the Roads on Sunday Mornings By William Booth, Apr 11, 2012
Hey, honey, let's go bicycling with the kids through downtown Mexico City! Just a few years ago, these would have been the words of a lone madman.
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Sunday's Film (when available)
| {Editor's note to below: Here's a valuable bicycle video tip from the West Corridor's newest neighbor, Campus Cycles at 7310 West Colfax Ave]
 | | How To: Properly Load and Unload Your Bicycle from a Car |
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Things you need to know along the West Corridor
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>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:
>Golden, April 16, 2012, Jefferson County Justice Center, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden Co. 80401, 7 - 9pm
>Lakewood, April 18, 2012, Clements Community Center, 1580 Yarrow St. Lakewood Co. 80215. 7 - 9pm
Full listing of meetings
Detailed Look of the Proposed West Corridor Service Changes
>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. Mayor Murphy will also accept the 2012 Local Government Awards Program category, Planning with vision, from DRCOG for the 40 West Arts District in Lakewood. Click Here to Register 
>Lakewood, starting Friday, June 08, 2012, 5-9pm Lakewood's celebration of the Arts week - Inspire -- 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
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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