Article Contributed on: 8/26/2009 2:25:22 PM
Calls for pedestrian routes, redevelopment around Evans light rail station
Overland Park residents are easily connected to the rest of the city with the West Evans Avenue light-rail station in their neighborhood - now a plan that was approved by the Denver Planning Board last week could help connect their neighborhood.
Among the recommendations made in the 20-year visionary plan is bicycle and pedestrian connection points in the Evans Station area. Residents complain they have to get in their cars to travel two blocks to the Evans Station, which is near the intersection of South Santa Fe Drive and Evans Avenue.
Residents who live on the west side of Santa Fe say it's not easy to reach the light-rail station because the only way to cross Santa Fe is over the Evans bridge, which they say isn't pedestrian- or bicycle-friendly to people on either side.
The plan recommends connections across Santa Fe and the tracks at Evans, West Jewell and West Iliff avenues, which will reconnect the east and west sides of the Overland Park Neighborhood, provide access to the Evans Station and complete missing links to the South Platte River Greenway and Trail.
The city would likely seek funding for pedestrian bridges through the Transportation Improvement Program, a regional funding plan through Denver Regional Council of Governments for the distribution of federal and state transportation funds, said Barbara Frommell, Community Planning and Development senior city planner.
The plan also gives the green light to private developers to transform South Broadway from an automobile-dominated commercial corridor to a pedestrian-friendly main street with retail, residential and office uses.
The plan will be reviewed by the FasTracks Committee on Sept. 15 and if approved, will go to a Denver City Council vote possibly in early October, Frommell said.
To view the entire Evans Station Area Plan, go to www.denvergov.org/tod and click on "Station Areas." Call 720-865-2973 for more information.