GDT > Campaigns > Denver Airport – Peña Blvd Plan
Denver Airport Is Growing…
2022
69.3m Annual Passengers
of which
41m are “Origin & Destination”
which is
56k per direction per day.
2032 Forecast
100m Annual Passengers
of which
62m are “Origin & Destination”
which is
85k per direction per day.
2045 Forecast
120m Annual Passengers
of which
75m are “Origin & Destination”
which is
103k per direction per day.
The Airport Needs A Plan For This…
The Airport is developing the Peña Boulevard Transportation and Mobility Master Plan. The plan aims to “promote a shift to more sustainable modes”, “enhance safety”, “reduce crashes” and “address equity and barriers to opportunity”.
But… there’s a problem!
The Airport is currently advancing a scheme to expand Peña Blvd – before the “Peña Plan” is finished. A deal has even been worked out with the FAA to use airport revenues to fund 73% of the project!
The “Core Alternatives”
Only highway expansion ideas are being considered as part of the “core alternatives”. Transit should be fully included at this stage, NOT later on. A “bus-only” lane alternative appeared in March 2024, which is little more than managed lane infrastructure but with different striping. A Line expansion or a dedicated BRT busway separate to the highway remains off the table.
“Multimodal improvements will be incorporated into whatever that final alternative is…”
Lisa Nguyen, Denver Airport Planner, Sep 2023
What is “non-drive alone” mode share?
When U.S. airports compare their transit mode share figures with their European or Asia counterparts, they are shamefully behind and they know it. For example London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports post impressive transit mode share (bus and train usage) figures of 40% with plans to increase this to 50%. Denver on the other hand, languishes at a pitiful 10%.
But never mind! Transit mode share figures can always be massaged into “non-drive alone” mode share figures and achievable targets by including trips by private shuttles, taxis and rideshare to give respectable figures in the 40-50% range that conveniently cover up years of failed policies. So, lets give a big welcome to the “non-drive alone” figures, which will be (incorrectly) compared with those pesky foreign airport transit mode share figures that make Denver look so bad.
The story so far…
Aug 17th, 2023 – Letter to the Mike Johnston, Denver Mayor
“We ask that the Johnston Administration and City Council not authorize funds to expand Pena Blvd until DEN has fully considered capital improvements to the A-line as part of its Mobility Master Plan and Environmental Impact Study for the corridor.”
On August 17th, 2023, Greater Denver Transit and the Denver Bicycle Lobby sent a joint letter to Denver Mayor, Mike Johnston requesting that expansion of transit service to the airport is sufficiently considered as part of the Peña Boulevard Transportation and Mobility Master Plan.
We are still waiting for a response.
Mar 18th, 2024 – Denver City Council Vote
Denver City Council votes 7-6 to approve a $5m Inter-Governmental Agreement with CDOT to begin design and environmental clearance of the Peña Blvd Master Plan which will add a new lane and does not include a transit only study option.
Jul 17th, 2024 – Did RTD Influence Flor Alvidrez’s Vote?
“I wanted more funding to go to RTD so they could improve their public transit to the airport. But when RTD is calling you telling you ‘we don’t want it,’ it’s like, ‘why am I going to fight for them?’“
Flor Alvidrez, Denver City Council Member, July 2024
On July 17th, 2024 Denverite published an article by Nathaniel Minor stating that Denver Councilmember Flor Alvidrez had initially opposed funding the road-only study. But just before the vote on March 18th, 2024 (see above), a DIA official asked RTD’s government relations officer to inform Alvidrez and other councilors about the transit agency’s “limitations to expanding the A Line,”. GDT assisted with the article by sharing emails we had obtained via the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA).
“If it is true that even just a single vote on the council was flipped in favor of more road building due to input from RTD, that would raise serious questions about the agency’s current policies and leadership.”
Richard Bamber, Greater Denver Transit Co-founder, July 2024
Oct 13th, 2023 – Letter to the Mike Johnston, Denver Mayor and City Council
“GDT hopes that all City Council members will consider backing these valuable budget amendments that will help put Denver on a path to a sustainable and environmentally responsible future.”
Greater Denver Transit, October 2024
On October 13th, 2024, Greater Denver Transit sent a letter to Denver Mayor, Mike Johnston and City Council backing two 2025 budget amendments proposed by Council Member Sarah Parady. The amendments were:
- Require Denver Airport to Fund an A-Line Study.
- Require Denver Airport to provide $3m in funding for its Transportation Demand Management Plan.
We are currently waiting for a response.
Our View…
Greater Denver Transit is strongly opposed to the current car-centric plan to increase transportation access to Denver International Airport.
– The Peña Boulevard Transportation and Mobility Master Plan needs to fully study and incorporate transit expansion as a “core alternative”.
– The airport needs to adopt bold, incremental targets to increase transit mode share to 20% and 30%.
– Airport revenues may be used to fund transit upgrades to the airport.
– A Line capacity upgrades include double-deck trains, 8-car trains and double-tracking to increase capacity, frequency and resiliency.
– Other transit expansion options such as increasing service on existing RTD routes AB and 104L plus new, regular bus services to the airport from Brighton, Green Valley Ranch and Aurora should be considered.
– Consideration should be given to removing tolls on E-470 between I-70 and I-76 for local residents.
– An airport consolidated rent-a-car (CONRAC) facility should be built connected to a new A Line Station at 72nd / Himalaya. This would be close to the Peña Blvd / E-470 interchange.
– Future airport long-term parking should be located at 40th / Airport – Getaway Park Station.
– Expanded A Line and bus services can accommodate future 2045 demand.
– GDT is incredibly concerned about revelations that RTD lobbied Denver City Council members to discourage them from voting against a scheme that does not feature A Line expansion.