Colfax & Federal Interchange Transformation

Colfax & Federal Interchange Transformation Project

Both the City and County of Denver (CCD) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) recognize the opportunity at the Colfax and Federal Interchange to reevaluate the current configuration and develop a design that maximizes network opportunities and future land use efficiency.

The purpose of the City and County of Denver Colfax and Federal Interchange Transformation Project (“Transformation Project”) is to build out the understanding of technical factors, including the interchange configuration, improving the transportation network for all users, stormwater requirements and possibilities, and evaluate the scenarios that best connect to the vision, goals, recommendations and strategies from previous citywide and area specific plans.

Many people in the community want to know, What makes this study different than all of the previous planning and transportation work done before? The difference between this study and the previous is one, is that Denver and CDOT are analyzing the possible transformation of the Federal and Colfax interchange with an integrated viewpoint, ensuring that the infrastructure for both stormwater and transportation mobility are addressed to allow for development and a connected system into the existing neighborhoods and the future of the Stadium District.

Project Schedule

The schedule outlines the 2020/2021 planning study work efforts that will result in a preferred scenario that takes into account the community needs, supports a safe and accessible transportation network, and meets requirements for stormwater management.

schedule of Colfax and Federal Interchange Transformation project

PROJECT PHASES:

I. & II. Discovery & Vision Framework Development

March – August 2020

The project team worked with the Stakeholder group to kickoff the project and to receive input on existing conditions and the vision framework. The Vision Frameworkwas developed from the 20+ previous neighborhood and agency studies, and stakeholder input to provide direction on the importance of different factors into the development of a future scenario.

Stakeholder Meeting - May 6, 2020 (PDF)
Stakeholder Meeting - June 30, 2020 (PDF)
Vision Framework (PDF)

Additionally, the project team created three interactive newsletters and mini-surveys to be shared with the community related to: 1) mobility, 2) stormwater requirements, and 3) land development possibilities.

Newsletter #1 – Transportation Mobility:

Newsletter #1 (PDF - ADA Version)
https://spark.adobe.com/page/IKUDoqpNaE5sA/ (English)
https://spark.adobe.com/page/bLivJRjyvWzJe/ (Spanish)
Please take 2 minutes to answer Mini-Survey #1 that focuses on Transportation Mobility: Survey Monkey (Link)

Newsletter #2 – Stormwater:

Newsletter #2 (PDF - ADA Version)
https://spark.adobe.com/page/77ET38QkaeZll/ (English)
https://spark.adobe.com/page/I3RsLMKMLKCOu/ (Spanish)

Newsletter #3 – Land Use:

Newsletter #3 (PDF - ADA Version)
https://spark.adobe.com/page/W5RqfbyKtaj28/ (English)
https://spark.adobe.com/page/6GOXBIXhwFpD0/ (Spanish)

III. Scenario Development

September 2020 – January 2021

The project team has taken into account the previous Colfax/Federal work efforts that outlined different mobility options, identified constraints of the site, taken into account the technical requirements needed for transportation and mobility, and developed draft transformation scenarios that include 7 component layers: stormwater, open space, pedestrian connections, community road connections, transit routes, development parcels, and vehicular traffic. These scenarios are some of many that the project team has/is exploring and will also continue to evolve as this project moves forward.

Stakeholder Meeting - October 1, 2020 (PDF)

Project Area of Influence

While the Transformation Project is analyzing and developing ideas of change for the orange diamond shaped Federal/Colfax interchange, the neighborhoods of Sloan’s Lake, Jefferson Park, Auraria, Lincoln Park, Sun Valley, Villa Park, and West Colfax are connected factors.

Colfax and Federal Interchange Transformation project area influecne map

With over 25 background documents and points of reference that include historic information, neighborhood plans, master plans, roadway alignment studies, and hydrology studies, there are many commonalities that the Transformation Project will build upon. These previous efforts had many commonalities that include the need for equitable, affordable and inclusive places/spaces; improving safety for a multi-modal transportation system; and supporting community values that include diversity and supporting the existing community.