Federal Boulevard
It’s time to fix Federal Boulevard.
Federal Boulevard is a critical part of Denver’s transportation system.
What it is.
It is home to some of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city, including a mixture of immigrant, low-income, young adult and senior populations as well as established neighborhoods and college campus communities.
Federal serves as a main street for these communities, providing access to social services, numerous parks, and a plethora of cherished local minority-owned businesses.
What's the problem?
Federal Boulevard is the most dangerous street in Denver, with a fatality rate more than twenty times the average for urban streets in Colorado. Between 2012 and 2017, twenty-two percent of all pedestrian-involved crashes in Denver were on Federal Boulevard.
This traffic violence is preventable. City leaders acknowledged this with Denver’s commitment to Vision Zero and eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries on our streets. It’s time to back up this commitment with action.
Why it matters.
The victims of fatal crashes on Federal come from all walks of life, but their deaths have something in common: speed. Federal is designed to facilitate high-speed travel and people often drive well above the posted speed limit.
This is unacceptable for a major urban corridor lined with multifamily housing, schools, mom-and-pop businesses, parks, cultural destinations, social service providers, and major transit routes.
People should be able to enjoy one of Denver’s most vibrant urban streets without fear of injury or death.
Three steps to a safer Federal Boulevard.
Traffic calming
Raised, planted medians limit dangerous turning motions and slow traffic.
Pedestrian median refuges shorten crossing distances and provide a safe place to wait.
High-visibility, mid-block crossings provide safe connections to destinations.
Reduced turning radii slow turning vehicles and increase pedestrian space.
Dedicated transit lanes
Updated state law
Federal Boulevard Projects
Over the Colfax-Federal Clover
We teamed up with the West Colfax Business Improvement District to launch the Over the Colfax-Federal Clover project as an effort to bring together community members and local experts to develop design solutions for an intersection that is currently unsafe and dangerous to navigate for all users.
Pop-up Traffic Calming on Federal
Using cones, painted tires, beach balls, and hay bales, we hosted a pop-up demonstration at the intersection of Federal Blvd and 50th Ave complete with a temporary median, protected bike lanes, and curb extensions. Drivers slowed down and pedestrians said it made them feel safer. Next step: permanent installation by DOTI!
Friends of Little Saigon
We’re partnering with local businesses along South Federal Boulevard to celebrate the cultural diversity of this corridor while improving traffic safety and the pedestrian environment.
Related Resources
The Denver Streets Partnership releases the 2020 Vision Zero Action Plan Progress Report Card
For the third year, the Denver Streets Partnership released a report card grading Denver’s progress on meeting their own goals outlined in the Vision Zero Action Plan aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The Report Card focuses specifically on Denver’s progress meeting their goals on street safety improvements, such as building sidewalks and bike lanes. […]
From Parking Lots to Patios
We’re supporting our small businesses in Little Saigon, Westwood, and East Colfax in repurposing space from parking to patios. Check out our new video!
COVID pushed back Little Saigon’s BID effort, so advocates have stepped in to act like one
Jill Locantore, Denver Streets Partnership’s executive director, said Little Saigon Denver business owners couldn’t wait for an official BID when the economy disintegrated, so advocates “pivoted” to provide support themselves.
February 3-11: Celebrate (Socially Distanced) Lunar New Year at the Little Saigon Denver Street Market Fair
Stroll around Little Saigon Denver, support local businesses, and pick up a Year of the Ox gift bag!
Save These February Dates: Advocacy from the Comfort of Your Own Home!
Grab a beverage and get Zoom ready! February provides ample opportunities for you to advocate from the comfort of your own home. Here’s your February guide to cheering for safer streets. Learn about new projects, get updates about projects underway, and share your streets-for-people wishes with City officials. Denver Moves: Federal Blvd. Transit Study Now […]
Federal Boulevard Candlelight Vigil Honors Chris Baker, Hit and Run Victim
More than two dozen family members and friends gathered to honor hit and run victim Chris Baker, whom a driver struck and killed at 70th Avenue and Federal Boulevard on January 19, 2021. Denver Streets Partnership Program Manager Emily Kleinfelter spoke during the candlelight ceremony, and later Denver Streets Partnership Executive Director Jill Locantore spoke with members of the media.
CDOT’s Safer Main Streets aims to make streets safer for people walking, biking, and driving
Denver Streets Partnership chair Danny Katz is excited that CDOT will invest more than $7.4 million on Federal Boulevard and $10 million on West Colfax to improve streets for people walking, biking, and riding transit.
CDOT Is Trying To Fix Metro Denver’s Most Dangerous Roads
CDOT announced funding for Safer Main Streets projects on Colfax and Federal, and Denver Streets Partnership chair Danny Katz talked to Colorado Public Radio about it.
Envisioning a new future for the Colfax-Federal Clover
The intersection of Colfax Avenue and Federal Boulevard, known as the Colfax Clover, was intended to provide quick access for large numbers of fast-moving vehicles. But for anyone trying to access Denver’s west side on foot, bicycle, or transit, the interchange is a dangerous barrier that separates the area from the rest of the city. […]
Residents Support Lane Closures on Federal
We’ve long advocated for increased safety on Federal Boulevard, and are thankful that DPD and DOTI have installed temporary traffic calming. Read the story to hear from Athmar Park residents about the community’s response.
We had every single bus stop on Federal Boulevard assessed – here are the results
Many bus stops in the city lack even the most basic amenities such as seating, protection from the elements, and lighting. We recommend adding these amenities as short-term improvements that would enhance safety, comfort, and convenience for riders along RTD’s second-busiest corridor. On a long-term scale, we recommend much more substantial improvements to Federal’s roadway design and streetscape.
Over the Colfax Clover Neighborhood Festival
The Via West Colfax pop-up neighborhood reimagined the Colfax-Federal cloverleaf as a people-friendly space. Aerial view of the Via West Colfax pop-up neighborhood on June 3, 2018. Image credit: West Colfax Business Improvement District This past weekend, the West Colfax neighborhood had the opportunity to see what the Colfax and Federal cloverleaf interchange could look […]