How CDOT’s Main Streets program is prioritizing people and safety in the heart of our communities

I’m excited to share some of the stories of a great program in Colorado that is making our streets more people-friendly and has the promise of saving lives.  

I live in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood, and I enjoy walking around my neighborhood. 

I use a flashing beacon to cross a busy main street so I can browse my local bookstore. And I enjoy shopping at the local farmers market that takes place on West 32nd Avenue (closed off to cars during the market).  

While I enjoy spending my weekends walking around the Highlands, I am all too aware of the traffic violence that takes so many lives unnecessarily every year.

I’ve seen people almost crash into one another as they navigate street parking, and I witnessed a crash at West 32nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard that killed a father of two young children.

My story isn’t unique. Unfortunately, many streets in Denver and across Colorado are dangerous for people to travel along and cross by foot, bike, wheelchair, or with a stroller. 

Fortunately, communities with state support, are changing our streets so that they are safer and more people friendly. 

To support this effort, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), in coordination with local partners, is pumping over $150 million into the Safer Main Streets and Revitalizing Main Streets programs. 

The initial Safer Main Streets projects can be found here. 

These projects represent a wide range of improvements like:

• Adding raised medians on roads to make it easier and safer for people to cross the street; 
• Installing new sidewalks and curb ramps;
• Adding protected bike lanes; 
• Installing flashing signals to let drivers know that people are crossing the street;
• Creating multi-use paths that will connect people to major transit stations. 

I am excited to see Colorado dedicate this money to projects that make it safer to walk, bike, roll, and take public transportation. And the elected officials and planners in the communities that got funding to implement Safer Main Streets projects are, too. 

Here are their stories.