In 2021, Denver doubled parking meter rates and created a Transportation & Mobility Special Revenue Fund (SRF) to invest the incremental revenue—initially estimated to be about $15 million annually—in pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and Vision Zero safety improvements. Instead of funding safer streets, the Johnston Administration has drifted from that purpose. In 2026 and 2027, approximately half of that revenue has been redirected to unrelated and car-centric uses via loopholes in the ordinance that do not reflect the original intent of the Fund.

We’re calling on City Council to get this Fund back on track to prioritizing real safety investments by protecting revenue from being siphoned off for other purposes, and setting clear rules for how it can be used.

Mayor Johnston has doubled down on using $8.9 million from the Fund in 2027 for parking operations, and despite a recommendation from City Council that this line item be amended, he declined to do so. This leaves us with approximately $7.5 million in the 2027 budget for safe streets–less than half of what would otherwise be available.

Denver residents, click the left button below to send an email to your City Councilperson using our forms. Folks who don’t live in Denver can take action by clicking the  right button below to email Councilwoman At-Large Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (link will open in your email client directly). Learn more about why we separate actions for Denver and non-Denver residents in the FAQs at the bottom of this page.

The City is also in the process of implementing automated speed enforcement, a safety strategy that has been long in coming. While the program is still being developed, we have an opportunity to advocate for revenues to be directed to the SRF, potentially adding millions to Denver’s capacity to deliver the safety improvements we so desperately need. But if the SRF ordinance is not amended first, this money could be again repurposed to contribute to the problem, rather than fixing it.