Concerns Arise Over East Alameda Avenue Lane Reduction Proposal in Denver
A proposed plan to reduce lanes on East Alameda Avenue near Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood has sparked significant opposition from local residents and business owners. The initiative, proposed by the city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, aims to enhance roadway safety but has drawn skepticism from those who fear it could worsen traffic conditions.
Details of the Proposal
The plan includes lowering the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph between Logan Street and Franklin Street. In addition, the number of travel lanes is set to decrease from four to two, while dedicated left-turn lanes will be introduced. This strategic change is part of an effort to create a safer environment for all users of the road.
Garrett Ladd, co-owner of the Blackbird Public House at the intersection of Alameda and Downing Streets, voiced his concerns, stating, “It is not going to help.” He believes that reducing the number of lanes could increase congestion, negatively impacting local businesses, including his own. Ladd remarked, “As a restaurant, I can’t really rely on just the people who live next door. We have to have people able to come here. If it takes them too long to get here, they will find other places, and I will lose more business.”
Concerns About Traffic Redistribution
Opponents are worried that restricting travel lanes on Alameda, which currently accommodates around 15,000 vehicles daily, will drive motorists to seek alternative routes through quieter side streets. The city anticipates that approximately 10% of commuters on Alameda will shift to these local roads as a result of the proposed changes. However, Nancy Kuhn, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, dismissed these redistribution rates as “not significant.”
Safety Claims and Statistics
Kuhn emphasized that the primary motivation behind the East Alameda Lane Repurposing project is safety. She stated, “It’s a major focus of ours in the city to get people to slow down.” The initiative comes in response to alarming accident statistics; there were 127 crashes reported in the stretch of roadway from 2017 to 2019, which increased to 169 accidents from 2022 to 2024.
| Year | Accidents |
|---|---|
| 2017 – 2019 | 127 |
| 2022 – 2024 | 169 |
Community Pushback
In response to these proposals, local residents and business owners have established a dedicated website, actforalameda.com, where they are gathering support and encouraging community members to voice their concerns to Denver’s Mayor Mike Johnston. Although the city had intended to implement the changes by September, Kuhn indicated that officials will pause the plan to engage with residents and better understand their feedback.
Ladd remains unconvinced that further discussion will address his concerns: “How is it going to help? I don’t see it being any safer.”
