Resolving Quebec Street Traffic Jams
If you travel on Quebec between 6th Avenue Parkway and 26th Avenue you’ve experienced traffic backups. When the City developed Lowry they made Quebec four lanes. The same happened with the Stapleton redevelopment. They did nothing to the street in between which remained two lanes. Even without these two large developments, going from four lanes to two would create traffic jams. But given the greatly increased vehicles on Quebec from the two area’s homes, offices and stores, the problem is magnified tenfold. Now after two decades since the planning for Stapleton redevelopment began the city has decided something needs to be done. A study is due out any day.
The best choice is to expand Quebec Street into four lanes with turn lanes at major intersections. This would require the City of Denver to exercise eminent domain to purchase all or portions of the houses aligning the street. This should have been done in 1995. Apparently city officials haven’t wanted to go this logical route. Instead they are considering having Syracuse Street be a one-way street beyond where it goes two-way at 23rd Avenue.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?
To learn more go to:
http://www.denvergov.org/infrastructure/PolicyandPlanning/CurrentProjects/QuebecAlternativeAnalysis/tabid/444494/Default.aspx
Quebec Alternatives Analysis [This is the copy from the above City web page]
With the remarkable transformation of Stapleton International Airport and Lowry Air Force Base over the last two decades, new residents, businesses, and activity continue to transform northeast Denver. Denver Public Works’ Strategic Transportation Plan and East Side Mobility Plan identified a need to improve connectivity and mobility to address new travel demand and access needs in the area. Other strategic plans, such as the dynamic bicycle mobility recommendations established by Denver Moves, will be integrated into the study.
Denver Public Works’ Quebec Alternatives Analysis will focus on identifying near-term, livable alternatives for Quebec Street to improve multimodal mobility and address increasing north-south travel demand. The recommendations of the study will also aim to improve access, safety, and connectivity while respecting the community context and environment.
The study began in the Spring of 2013 and is expected to be completed in late 2013 or early 2014. While the primary technical focus will be along the Quebec Corridor between 26th Avenue and 6th Avenue, the study will have a larger public outreach area between I-70 and 6th Avenue, extending to Monaco Street on the west and Central Park Boulevard/Yosemite Street on the east.
The Quebec Alternatives Analysis will analyze the East Side Mobility Plan’s recommendations for improving the mobility and congestion challenges of Quebec Street in greater detail and identify additional options for consideration and screening.
The analysis will conclude with a recommended near-term action – or set of actions – to improve multimodal facilities, better accommodate additional travel in the corridor, and reduce current congestion. The study will focus on identifying and implementing transportation solutions ranging from immediate actions to improvements phased over a maximum of 5-10 years
Throughout the study, the City will seek public input to help identify and optimize alternatives that best meet the needs of people who live, work, and travel through the corridor.
