Denver Residents Demand Safer Streets

In 2024, Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) released a safety study aiming to reduce speeding and crashes along east 13th, 14th and 17th avenues. The study recommends installing speed tables every four blocks along these corridors. The study states that this intervention could prevent 2.6 deaths, 117 injuries and 335 property damage crashes over the next five years. In other words, not doing this is costing lives.

The study specifically calls out DOTI's standard traffic calming methods – bulbouts and signal retiming — stating they are "unlikely to reduce travel speeds on East 13th Avenue, East 14th Avenue, or East 17th Avenue to the currently posted speed limit."

Yet according to DOTI's website, the only "near-term" measures currently planned are wholly inadequate paint and plastic post installations while the recommended speed tables have no implementation timeline at all. We cannot rely on half-measures and wait for the "far-term" to install life-saving infrastructure. We ask that DOTI fully implement this study's recommendations with the urgency needed to save lives.

We understand that the city's budget is extremely tight. The cost to install speed tables every four blocks along 13th, 14th and 17th avenues is estimated to be $800,000 — about the cost of two traffic signal installs. In 2024 DOTI spent over two million dollars upgrading six traffic lights along 13th and 14th avenues which has not resulted in any crash reductions on these streets. Surely these speed tables are among the most cost efficient and effective measures DOTI could take. By slowing traffic on these high speed corridors we will also make our neighborhoods more vibrant and safe for residents, visitors and businesses.

A year and half after this study was published, there has been no action to design, fund or build these life-saving measures. While DOTI delays, horrific crashes are happening every day on these streets.

The undersigned residents demand that the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure fully implement the East Avenues Safety Study including the recommended speed tables without further delay.

If DOTI will not prioritize installing speed tables along 13th, 14th and 17th avenues as recommended in the East Avenues Safety Study, City Council should mandate these measures for the protection of our residents.