Federal Boulevard
It’s time to fix Federal Boulevard.
The corridor is getting a makeover as early as 2030 with the addition of Bus Rapid Transit, but the current design may not live up to the potential of the corridor as a people-friendly main street without strong advocacy.
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.
Bus Rapid Transit
Bus rapid transit (BRT) is like light rail on tires. In other words, it is an enhanced, high-frequency bus service that can move more people faster and more reliably than traditional bus service.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has identified Federal Blvd for BRT service because of its high ridership. People got on the bus along Federal Blvd 9,000 times every day in 2023. Currently, though, buses on Federal face significant delays because they’re stuck in traffic, which causes long travel times—almost 50% more than traveling by car. BRT will make bus service faster and more reliable on Federal, while reducing conflict between modes and calming traffic, but only if it’s implemented to the standards of true Bus Rapid Transit.
Speed safety cameras
A new state law gives Denver the opportunity to use photo enforcement more broadly to decrease reckless driving on dangerous streets like Federal Boulevard. Speed safety cameras are a proven technique used worldwide to reduce speed-related injuries and fatalities. When deployed effectively, they actually result in fewer citations as safer travel speeds become the norm.
Federal Boulevard Projects
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.
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.
Related Resources
Hard pass on Lot M, Mr. Mayor
Mayor Johnston’s vision for the Mile High Line hinges in part on the Denver Broncos’ plans for Burnham Yard, the site of the new stadium. To make room for the development, Denver Water must relocate its Operations Complex to a different site. The problem? Their preferred site is a non-starter for DSP and our coalition partners. Along with 38 other community partners, we sent a letter to the Johnston administration to encourage the City to find an alternate location.
Bus Rapid Transit on Federal
A prominent north-south corridor, Federal Boulevard has some of the highest bus ridership in metro Denver. People get on the bus along Federal Boulevard 9,000 times every day in 2023. These riders, however, experience significant delays due to vehicle traffic, resulting in longer, inconsistent travel times—almost 50% more than delays experienced by people in cars.
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!
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 […]
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 […]
Federal Boulevard Corridor Study
Federal Blvd is a critical north-south link on Denver’s west side connecting people to local cultural districts and regional destinations. The corridor has the 2nd highest ridership in the RTD bus system, and 26% of Denver residents, more than 16,000 people, live in adjacent neighborhoods. Completed by the City in 2017, the Federal Boulevard Corridor […]
Report: It’s Time to Fix Federal
Federal Boulevard has: The 2nd highest bus ridership in the RTD system 26% of Denver residents in adjacent neighborhoods BUT: 45% of sidewalks have no buffer from fast-moving traffic 47% of sidewalk segments have a low-quality pedestrian rating Between 2012 & 2017: 22% of fatal pedestrian-involved crashes in Denver were on Federal Boulevard Federal Boulevard’s […]