As the co-chairs of the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Advisory Board, we hear all the time from residents of Denver requesting something as simple as a crosswalk next to their child’s school to make crossing the street safer. The reality is that we have to tell them the vast majority of the time that it won’t happen because Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration doesn’t prioritize transportation safety.
We’ve seen it in West Wash Park, where a highly supported street safety project along Alameda Avenue, five years in the making, was rolled back after the final construction notice was sent out. Some of the wealthiest families in the state, including Jill Anschutz, hired a lobbyist and complained to the mayor. During this latest budget crunch, when DOTI staff members were being laid off and safety projects went unfunded, the city found nearly $100,000 to replace a thoroughly vetted design to accommodate influential residents.