Friday, February 16, 2007
18th Street Ped Bridge Funding Approved
A pedestrian bridge at 18th Street over the consolidated main line railroad tracks in Downtown Denver's Central Platte Valley has been planned for many years. Exactly when the bridge would actually get built was always dependent upon the pace of development and the cost and phasing of other infrastructure projects in the CPV. That time has finally arrived.
Recently, the Central Platte Valley Metropolitan District, the entity created to build infrastructure projects in the Valley financed by property tax assessments on real estate in the district, recently approved funding for the 18th Street Pedestrian Bridge. The bridge's design has not yet been determined, but the bridge should be finished by late 2009 or early 2010.
With the undergrounding of the Amtrack and future FasTracks commuter rail lines by 2011 as part of the Denver Union Station redevelopment, 18th Street, which currently ends at Wynkoop Street, will be exteded past Union Station to Chestnut Street, where a pedestrian plaza will continue the short distance past East-West Partners' proposed City House project to the base of the new pedestrian bridge. Once over the tracks, it's a short two-block walk to Commons Park.
Recently, the Central Platte Valley Metropolitan District, the entity created to build infrastructure projects in the Valley financed by property tax assessments on real estate in the district, recently approved funding for the 18th Street Pedestrian Bridge. The bridge's design has not yet been determined, but the bridge should be finished by late 2009 or early 2010.
With the undergrounding of the Amtrack and future FasTracks commuter rail lines by 2011 as part of the Denver Union Station redevelopment, 18th Street, which currently ends at Wynkoop Street, will be exteded past Union Station to Chestnut Street, where a pedestrian plaza will continue the short distance past East-West Partners' proposed City House project to the base of the new pedestrian bridge. Once over the tracks, it's a short two-block walk to Commons Park.
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That's great news. I hope that there will be ramps so us bicyclists don't have to climb stairs like on the 16th St bridge.
Permalink Posted by 
: 2/16/2007 09:53:00 PM
: 2/16/2007 09:53:00 PM
I think the point is: cyclists would rather cycle over the bridge.
Permalink Posted by : 2/17/2007 10:19:00 AM
: 2/17/2007 10:19:00 AM
isn't this the bridge that terminates at the coming Cityhouse tower?
Permalink Posted by : 2/17/2007 11:26:00 AM
: 2/17/2007 11:26:00 AM
Probably can use the lift but that seems a bit wasteful and lazy. We should do all we can to make walking and cycling more convenient. You know, reduce our carbon footprint.
-Troy
-Troy
Permalink Posted by : 2/17/2007 11:54:00 AM
: 2/17/2007 11:54:00 AM
There are also 'tracks' along the side of the stairs allowing you to easily push your bike as you climb the stairs.
Permalink Posted by : 2/17/2007 02:44:00 PM
: 2/17/2007 02:44:00 PM
I bike all the time and there are bike lanes to walk your bike over the bridge now. That was some fairly decent and appreciated bike planning.
Permalink Posted by : 2/17/2007 05:11:00 PM
: 2/17/2007 05:11:00 PM
I was once walking up the steps of the Millennium Bridge as two older women were walking down. The one woman asked the other what those "tracks" were along the edge of ths stairs. The other woman said in a tone of voice of absolute certainty, "Oh, those are for people in wheelchairs."
While I would hope that the 18th Street bridge will have ramps to make it easy to get across without dismounting the bicycle, my experience yesterday afternoon at the Highland Bridge shows the folly of such an approach. Cyclists were carrying their bikes up the stairs rather than deal with the mob of skater dudes who had completely taken over the ramp. I guess they're bored with the skatepark now.
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