5280 Trail on Acoma Street & Acoma Street as a Shared-Street

[Bryan Wilson]

Hello,

I received an update on the Shared Streets Program, which included N Acoma Street from 12th to 9th Ave.

Will this be separate from the 5280 Trail Development - Acoma Street Segment, which looks to be from 12th to 10th, or will that include the segment down to 9th? 9th Ave is a planned Neighborhood Bikeway.

It also seems like we could use a plan to connect 9th Ave to Bannock & across Speer Blvd for riders commuting to the Hospital. Any update on what will happen at the Bannock/Speer Blvd Intersection?

I use that bridge from time to time & it feels dangerous.

Thank you in advance!

Respectfully,
Bryan Wilson

CC'd https://groups.google.com/g/downtown-denver

[Bryan Wilson]

To follow up...
I looks like the https://www.the5280trail.com/ maps riders down Acoma St to 9th Ave & then crosses Speer Blvd at Bannock.


Was that changed?
Given that 9th Ave is a planned Neighborhood Bikeway, I think it would be nice to extend the Acoma St project another block from 12th to 9th.

We can then plan to widen the Bannock Street Bridge at Speer Boulevard with shared-use space on each side for bike commuters & pedestrians.

I don't see any details about improving the Bannock Street Bridge on the Citywide Bridge Program Website.
Can someone please provide an update?

Thank you in advance!

Respectfully.
Bryan Wilson

[Bryan Wilson]

Thank you for your response.

Then, why not plan the new bridge to one side of the bridge at Bannock instead of 10th?

No matter where you're traveling as a rider, we're adding extra blocks that could otherwise be alleviated?

At the very least, why not move it from 10th to 9th?

It doesn't connect to anything.

I'm asking as someone who will never use it at 10th, despite biking through that area.

Thank you in advance.

Respectfully,

Bryan Wilson 

On Wed, Jan 14, 2026, 3:33 PM Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Sam.B...@denvergov.org> wrote:

Hi Bryan, thanks for reaching out.

The attached plan was developed for connection from Acoma to Sunken Gardens, providing that connection to the hospital you mention and others. This plan calls for a new bridge rather than a widening. There is currently no funding for design or construction of that connection.

The Rise Bond funded project you referenced on Acoma is only from 10^th to 12^th. We can clarify that it does not extend to 9th. We'll also reach out to DDP about updating their 5280 map to include the revised connection from Acoma to Sunken Gardens.

Cheers,

 

Sam Beneck | Senior Project Manager 
City & County of Denver
Department of Transportation & Infrastructure | Transportation Implementation Division

Mobile: (720) 815-5663 | sam.b...@denvergov.org | meet with me

  Pronouns | He/Him/His

 

---

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 7:42 AM
To: Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Sam.B...@denvergov.org>; Shared Streets <Shared...@denvergov.org>
Cc: City Council District 10 <Distr...@denvergov.org>; downtow...@googlegroups.com <downtow...@googlegroups.com>; in...@downtowndenver.com <in...@downtowndenver.com>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: 5280 Trail on Acoma Street & Acoma Street as a Shared-Street

 

To follow up. . . I looks like the https: //www. the5280trail. com/ maps riders down Acoma St to 9th Ave & then crosses Speer Blvd at Bannock. Was that changed? Given that 9th Ave is a planned Neighborhood Bikeway, I think it would be nice to

[Bryan Wilson]

Well, I'm essentially asking why we don't seem to be connecting the planned 5280 Trail down Acoma, to 9th & then Bannock.

https://www.the5280trail.com/

9th is a planned Neighborhood Bikeway, so the 10th Ave bridge is a block out of the way each direction.

Why not shift that down to 9th Ave & connect the Acoma project from 12th to 9th?

Was there a particular reason why 10th Ave was considered?

I'm not aware of 10th Ave being planned as a bike route.

Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

Respectfully,

Bryan Wilson 

On Thu, Jan 15, 2026, 9:51 AM Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Sam.B...@denvergov.org> wrote:

I don't think I'm fully understanding your question, can we discuss on a call? I'm open after 2pm today or 3pm tomorrow including evenings. Let me know what works for you and I'll set up an MS Teams call so we can look at maps.

Cheers,

 

Sam Beneck | Senior Project Manager 
City & County of Denver
Department of Transportation & Infrastructure | Transportation Implementation Division

Mobile: (720) 815-5663 | sam.b...@denvergov.org | meet with me

  Pronouns | He/Him/His

 

---

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 6:42 PM

To: Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Sam.B...@denvergov.org>

Cc: Shared Streets <Shared...@denvergov.org>; City Council District 10 <Distr...@denvergov.org>; downtow...@googlegroups.com <downtow...@googlegroups.com>; in...@downtowndenver.com <in...@downtowndenver.com>; Cieciek, Gregory M. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Gregory...@denvergov.org>; Phillips, Taylor - DOTI CE0429 City Planner Senior <Taylor....@denvergov.org>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: 5280 Trail on Acoma Street & Acoma Street as a Shared-Street

 

[Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior]

I don't think I'm fully understanding your question, can we discuss on a call? I'm open after 2pm today or 3pm tomorrow including evenings. Let me know what works for you and I'll set up an MS Teams call so we can look at maps.

Cheers,

 

Sam Beneck | Senior Project Manager 
City & County of Denver
Department of Transportation & Infrastructure | Transportation Implementation Division

Mobile: (720) 815-5663 | sam.b...@denvergov.org | meet with me

  Pronouns | He/Him/His

 

---

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>

Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 6:42 PM

To: Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Sam.B...@denvergov.org>

Cc: Shared Streets <Shared...@denvergov.org>; City Council District 10 <Distr...@denvergov.org>; downtow...@googlegroups.com <downtow...@googlegroups.com>; in...@downtowndenver.com <in...@downtowndenver.com>; Cieciek, Gregory M. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Gregory...@denvergov.org>; Phillips, Taylor - DOTI CE0429 City Planner Senior <Taylor....@denvergov.org>

Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: 5280 Trail on Acoma Street & Acoma Street as a Shared-Street

 

[Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior]

Hi Bryan, thanks for reaching out.

The attached plan was developed for connection from Acoma to Sunken Gardens, providing that connection to the hospital you mention and others. This plan calls for a new bridge rather than a widening. There is currently no funding for design or construction of that connection.

The Rise Bond funded project you referenced on Acoma is only from 10^th to 12^th. We can clarify that it does not extend to 9th. We'll also reach out to DDP about updating their 5280 map to include the revised connection from Acoma to Sunken Gardens.

Cheers,

 

Sam Beneck | Senior Project Manager 
City & County of Denver
Department of Transportation & Infrastructure | Transportation Implementation Division

Mobile: (720) 815-5663 | sam.b...@denvergov.org | meet with me

  Pronouns | He/Him/His

 

---

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 7:42 AM
To: Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Sam.B...@denvergov.org>; Shared Streets <Shared...@denvergov.org>
Cc: City Council District 10 <Distr...@denvergov.org>; downtow...@googlegroups.com <downtow...@googlegroups.com>; in...@downtowndenver.com <in...@downtowndenver.com>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: 5280 Trail on Acoma Street & Acoma Street as a Shared-Street

 

To follow up. . . I looks like the https: //www. the5280trail. com/ maps riders down Acoma St to 9th Ave & then crosses Speer Blvd at Bannock. Was that changed? Given that 9th Ave is a planned Neighborhood Bikeway, I think it would be nice to

[Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior]

Thanks for clarifying!

Options for the connection between Acoma and Sunken Gardens were reviewed at several public meetings. The purpose of the connection is to serve as a "link" of the 5280 Trail. Two alternatives were considered which utilized 9th Ave, however the strong preference from the respondents was for "Alternative D" which followed 10^th Ave. That's not to say that a neighborhood bikeway on 9^th and improvements to the Bannock bridge will be eliminated from future planning. It just means those facilities would be separate from the 5280 Trail. 

I've included some figures below from the past meetings, but all the planning study materials are available for your review on the 5280 Trail - Acoma Street Segment website under "Connections to Sunken Gardens Park".

 Please let me know if there's anything else I can provide. 

Cheers,

 

Sam Beneck | Senior Project Manager 
City & County of Denver
Department of Transportation & Infrastructure | Transportation Implementation Division

Mobile: (720) 815-5663 | sam.b...@denvergov.org | meet with me

  Pronouns | He/Him/His

 

---

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2026 11:30 AM

To: Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Sam.B...@denvergov.org>

Cc: Shared Streets <Shared...@denvergov.org>; City Council District 10 <Distr...@denvergov.org>; downtow...@googlegroups.com <downtow...@googlegroups.com>; in...@downtowndenver.com <in...@downtowndenver.com>; Cieciek, Gregory M. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Gregory...@denvergov.org>; Phillips, Taylor - DOTI CE0429 City Planner Senior <Taylor....@denvergov.org>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: 5280 Trail on Acoma Street & Acoma Street as a Shared-Street

 

Well, I'm essentially asking why we don't seem to be connecting the planned 5280 Trail down Acoma, to 9th & then Bannock. https: //www. the5280trail. com/ 9th is a planned Neighborhood Bikeway, so the 10th Ave bridge is a block out

[Bryan Wilson]

Thank you for the update, Brandon.
No, I didn't get that information, & I appreciate you sharing it! I CC'd https://groups.google.com/g/downtown-denver to share that information with others.

I agree that closing Cherokee Street at 10th would be good for everyone.
Do you think it would be reasonable to ask if the crossing & bridge could be shifted to the south a bit?

The thought here is to get the bridge & crosswalk closer to the entrance of the Cherry Creek Trail that runs under it. Plus, it would make the crossing more direct for anyone coming from the opposite side of the Speer Blvd from 9th Avenue. From there, people can choose to go up to 10th at Cherokee or down to 9th at Bannock.

The big picture is a direct connection along 9th Avenue all the way to the future Broncos' Stadium in Burnham Yards.
I feel that all these decisions were made before we had that knowledge. 9th Avenue on the West side will connect everyone directly to the future stadium site.
https://denvergov.org/BurnhamYard 

That said, I still wish the Acoma project were being extended down to 9th Avenue to pick up the 9th Avenue Neighborhood Bikeway. I'm not aware of any plans to connect 10th to the East from there, so I think it's reasonable to try to better connect 9th Avenue.

Do you think these are things we can ask about?

Thank you in advance.

Respectfully,
Bryan Wilson

On Thu, Jan 15, 2026 at 2:22 PM board gtcd <bo...@goldentriangleofdenver.com> wrote:

Hi Bryan,

You may well have gotten this update from someone else already. I live at 10th and Acoma and cycle everyday, and I'm very excited about this project.

Latest info can be found on the city's 5280 - Acoma Street Page. There has been a public engagement process and multiple options were presented.

The preferred option was linking 10th and closing vehicular access here. There are also remnants of an old bridge over cherry creek here.

Latest info from the last engagement meeting in September is here. This includes results from Sunken Gardens Connection community input and latest on the Acoma "Place" segment.

Best,

Brandon Johnson, Golden Triangle Creative District Board co-chair

[Bryan Wilson]

Hello again, Sam & Ellen,

Could you two please connect & confirm that the Vibrant Denver Bond Project for the 8th Ave Viaduct, denvergov.org/BurnhamYard Small Area Plan, the future Denver Broncos' Stadium, the5280trail.com, & the 9th Ave Neighborhood Bikeway approved in the East Central Area Plan are all being looked at to make connections as direct & safe as possible?

Is there someone looking at this?
I personally ride frequently down 9th Ave, to Bannock, then cross Speer Blvd into the Sunken Gardens, continuing on 9th Ave all the way to Navajo. Sometimes I'll turn south & then loop onto the existing 8th Ave Viaduct to the South Platte River Trail & sometimes I'll turn north towards the 10th & Osage Station.

Seems reasonable to try and plan something that connects all of them & utilizes them to the fullest extent possible.

Thank you in advance.

Respectfully,
Bryan Wilson

[Bryan Wilson]

Thank you for your response, Ellen.

I've included the others.

I'm confused though since I don't believe 9th ever intersects with Cherokee.

I also understand that there was a recent alternatives analysis, but wasn't that prior to the Denver Broncos' Stadium announcement as well as the approval of the Vibrant Denver Bond Projects, which includes 8th Ave?

So, I feel that we have new information to take into account & asking specifically who is coordinating all of these projects.

Respectfully,

Bryan Wilson 

On Fri, Jan 23, 2026, 10:03 AM Ellen Forthofer Dalton <efda...@downtowndenver.com> wrote:

Hi Bryan, 

The 5280 Trail crossing will be at 9th/Cherokee given the recent alternatives analysis, and there are also ongoing conversations across partners to make the important connection at Burnham Yards as you've identified below. Thanks for being a strong advocate for better connections in our city!

Cheers,

Ellen

Ellen Forthofer Dalton | Senior Manager, Urban Planning + Design efda...@downtowndenver.com | Direct: 303.685.7370 1515 Arapahoe St., Tower 3, Ste. 100, Denver, CO 80202

---

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2026 2:10 PM
To: Ellen Forthofer Dalton <efda...@downtowndenver.com>
Cc: Information <In...@downtowndenver.com>
Subject: Re: 5280 Trail on Acoma Street & Acoma Street as a Shared-Street

 

Thank you for your email.

The rest of the thread can be viewed here:

https://groups.google.com/g/downtown-denver/c/Unv-98zrKiU

Still asking if the connection across the Cherry Creek Trail can be moved a little further South.

As you likely know, the Denver Broncos Stadium Site is now planned for the Burnham Yard Site.

DenverGov.org/BurnhamYard 

I feel this needs to be taken into consideration to get people to & from the stadium from the East of Speer Blvd.

Are you aware of any discussions taking place about this?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Respectfully,

Bryan Wilson 

On Fri, Jan 16, 2026, 1:02 PM Ellen Forthofer Dalton <efda...@downtowndenver.com> wrote:

Hi Bryan, 

My colleague forwarded this email chain to me. I can't speak specifically to the Shared Streets Program updates you're referring to, but happy to share a bit more information about the 5280 Trail and recent community conversations in Golden Triangle. Following Denver voters passing the 2021 RISE GO Bond, the segment of the 5280 Trail on Acoma St between 10^th and 12^th Avenues was fully funded for final design + construction. As design conversations kicked off in the community for these 2 blocks, the Downtown Denver Partnership contributed additional funds to conduct an alternatives analysis with the community on how the 5280 Trail should cross Speer and connect Golden Triangle with La Alma Lincoln Park via Sunken Gardens Park. This was done with the intent of updating the 5280 Trail suggested routing and elevating community voice and preference. We're still wrapping the final details of the Sunken Gardens Connection project, but community feedback overwhelmingly supported updating the 5280 Trail route to turn west on 10th and cross Speer at Cherokee with a new pedestrian and bike bridge; this updates the route initially discussed in 2019. More information about both of these efforts - design of the 5280 Trail on Acoma and the preferred alternative for connecting across Speer - can be found here. 

Additionally, you might be interested in some of the projects that began design in 2025 following the Neighborhood Transportation Management Plan process in Civic Center/Capitol Hill. Final report can be found here. I'm not sure where information is kept online for this, but I also believe DOTI is planning improvements to the current bike lane and crossing on Bannock Street and bridge as part of the South Central Community Transportation Network. 

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Ellen

Ellen Forthofer Dalton | Senior Manager, Urban Planning + Design efda...@downtowndenver.com | Direct: 303.685.7370 1515 Arapahoe St., Tower 3, Ste. 100, Denver, CO 80202

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 7:42 AM

[Ellen Forthofer Dalton]

Hi Bryan, 

Apologies, typo. The Sunken Gardens Connection preferred alternative analysis identified Cherokee/10^th as the preferred crossing of the 5280 Trail. This is an important connection between the Golden Triangle and La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhoods. As I noted below, there are ongoing conversations about additional connections to other destinations in Downtown Denver, such as Burnham Yards. 

Cheers,

Ellen

Ellen Forthofer Dalton | Senior Manager, Urban Planning + Design efda...@downtowndenver.com | Direct: 303.685.7370 1515 Arapahoe St., Tower 3, Ste. 100, Denver, CO 80202

---

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2026 10:42 AM
To: Ellen Forthofer Dalton <efda...@downtowndenver.com>; Beneck, Sam W. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <sam.b...@denvergov.org>
Cc: Information <In...@downtowndenver.com>; Shared Streets <Shared...@denvergov.org>; City Council District 10 <Distr...@denvergov.org>; downtow...@googlegroups.com <downtow...@googlegroups.com>; Gregory M. - DOTI Project Manager Engineering Senior <Gregory...@denvergov.org>; Taylor - DOTI CE0429 City Planner Senior <Taylor....@denvergov.org>; dist...@denvergov.org <dist...@denvergov.org>; board gtcd <bo...@goldentriangleofdenver.com>; south-cent...@googlegroups.com <south-cent...@googlegroups.com>; east-cent...@googlegroups.com <east-cent...@googlegroups.com>

[Bryan Wilson]

Thank you, Ellen. I do agree that connecting the Sunken Gardens across Speer Blvd is important, which was what I initially brought up when I started this email thread.

Why not...
- Connect Acoma St all the way to 9th Ave?
- Shift the plan for the shared-use bridge closer to the ramp to access the Cherry Creek Trail?

Again, the Sunken Gardens Connection preferred alternative analysis was conducted before both the Denver Broncos' Stadium Announcement AND the Vibrant Denver Bond Projects were passed.

So...
I'm simply asking for a more direct connection planned to get from 9th Ave on the West side of the Sunken Gardens to the Cherry Creek Trail & to 9th Ave.
This is currently what is on the Denver Moves: Bikes Update Map.

As you can see, 10th Ave wasn't even recommended as a connection.
I would anticipate a number of bike commuters to come up the Cherry Creek Trail, exit just after Bannock & then want to connect to 9th Ave.

Why can't we at least consider that?

What if the sidewalk along one side of Speer Blvd was designated as shared-use and the connection across Speer Blvd & the Cherry Creek Trail was moved closer to 9th Ave to more directly connect riders?

It just seems like directly connecting to 10th on the East side of Speer Blvd & 9th on the West side is creating an unnecessary detour for the majority of riders.

Thank you in advance for your help connecting all of these projects.

Respectfully,
Bryan Wilson