Ramp widths along Colfax BRT Project

[Bryan Wilson]

Hello Council members Hinds & Sawyer, and RTD Directors Nicholson & Rusha,

Could you please connect with the Colfax BRT Project team to find out why we're not installing 8ft wide sidewalk ramps at intersections where there is sufficient space?

Here is an example at Colfax & Vine.

The Right-of-Way is clearly marked to the right indicating that there is plenty of space to accommodate a wider ramp. It's my understanding based on the Complete Streets Guidelines that the sidewalk & ramps along Colfax should be a minimum of 8ft wide, but wider where possible.

https://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/2/doti/documents/standards/doties-017.0_complete_streets_guidelines.pdf

At other locations, like at City Park Esplanade, we could probably be installing 12ft wide ramps & designating it as a shared-use connection to the Josephine & York Street Stations.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTnzbAikbwt/?igsh=NHllaWZvZ3RpajFi

I requested that in the prior email below.

Obviously, we won't be able to do that where buildings are in the way, but that isn't the case with Vine Street & other locations.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Please respond when you're able to get any information.

Respectfully,

Bryan Wilson 

On Tue, Jan 6, 2026, 10:53 AM Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello,

Please reference the Denver Moves Bikes Update and the plans for the Colfax BRT project.

Requesting both to be updated identifying the sidewalk along Colfax Ave between York and Detroit Street as shared-use. 

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f4fafe1405b6443da158f4d9e257887a

ColfaxBRT.org

I added the sections in question with the yellow dots.

This will not only connect riders from the Colfax BRT transit station to the Carla Madison Rec Center, but also connect riders from the Carla Madison Rec Center to the future 16th Avenue neighborhood Bikeway to the East of Denver East High School.

This would be an excellent opportunity for the Colfax BRT project to install wider sidewalk ramps to accommodate Shared-use.

Thank you in advance for your help! 

Respectfully,

Bryan Wilson 

 

[Bryan Wilson]

Great, thank you!

On Sat, Jan 17, 2026, 5:22 PM JoyAnn Ruscha <JoyAnn...@rtd-denver.com> wrote:

Hi Bryan,

Thanks for reaching out. The city is the lead on planning, but I will certainly inquire. Thank you.

Kindly,

JoyAnn Ruscha

Director, District B

Board of Directors
they | them What are Gender Pronouns?

joyann...@rtd-denver.com
rtd-denver.com

“Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Today’s mighty oak is yesterday’s nut that held its ground.”

- Rosa Parks

 

Regional Transportation District 1660 Blake Street, BLK-36 Denver, CO 80202

 

We make lives better through connections.  

---

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2026 12:35 PM
To: City Council District 10 <distr...@denvergov.org>; Chris Nicholson <Chris.N...@rtd-denver.com>; JoyAnn Ruscha <JoyAnn...@rtd-denver.com>; City Council District 5 <DenverC...@denvergov.org>
Cc: Denver Moves Bikes <bi...@denvergov.org>; east-cent...@googlegroups.com <east-cent...@googlegroups.com>; east-...@googlegroups.com <east-...@googlegroups.com>; Colfax BRT <colf...@denvergov.org>
Subject: Ramp widths along Colfax BRT Project

 

[JoyAnn Ruscha]

Hi Bryan,

Thanks for reaching out. The city is the lead on planning, but I will certainly inquire. Thank you.

Kindly,

JoyAnn Ruscha

Director, District B

Board of Directors
they | them What are Gender Pronouns?

joyann...@rtd-denver.com
rtd-denver.com

“Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Today’s mighty oak is yesterday’s nut that held its ground.”

- Rosa Parks

 

Regional Transportation District 1660 Blake Street, BLK-36 Denver, CO 80202

 

We make lives better through connections.  

---

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2026 12:35 PM
To: City Council District 10 <distr...@denvergov.org>; Chris Nicholson <Chris.N...@rtd-denver.com>; JoyAnn Ruscha <JoyAnn...@rtd-denver.com>; City Council District 5 <DenverC...@denvergov.org>
Cc: Denver Moves Bikes <bi...@denvergov.org>; east-cent...@googlegroups.com <east-cent...@googlegroups.com>; east-...@googlegroups.com <east-...@googlegroups.com>; Colfax BRT <colf...@denvergov.org>
Subject: Ramp widths along Colfax BRT Project

 

[Bryan Wilson]

Thank you for the response, Amber.

Can you please clarify the "must-have" widths & where that is documented?
I've observed a number of developments upgrading to 8ft wide, so I find it hard to believe that they would spend extra money unnecessarily when it isn't required of them.
 - South side of Colfax from Downing to Marion
 - North side of Colfax from Milwaukee to Saint Paul
 - South side of Colfax from Madison to Monroe
 - North side of Colfax from Monroe to Garfield
 - South side of Colfax from Garfield to Harrison
Just seems like there is one standard for developers & another for this project. 

 
As for the signals, they're being relocated at many other intersections. Why can't they be relocated at these other locations the same way?
I just watched the signals get relocated on Colfax at Williams. Will we get 8ft wide ramps there?

I don't understand why 8ft wide widths seem to be prioritized for redevelopments, but not for this project.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Respectfully,
Bryan Wilson

On Mon, Jan 26, 2026 at 10:57 AM Haines, Amber <Amber....@atkinsrealis.com> wrote:

Hi Bryan,

 

In response to your below inquiry, the design team followed the CCD standards for the “must have” widths. We did take the Complete Streets guidelines into consideration for the “where possible” widths, and DOTI committed to placing 8’ widths where we do not have above or below ground built condition conflicts.  This specific location at Colfax/Vine Street has a signal and equipment preventing us from upsizing to the 8’ width.

 

Thanks,

 

Amber Haines   East Colfax Ave BRT Tel: 970.389.1779

 

 

---

From: Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2026 12:35 PM
To: City Council District 10 <distr...@denvergov.org>; Chris Nicholson <Chris.N...@rtd-denver.com>; JoyAnn Ruscha <JoyAnn...@rtd-denver.com>; City Council District 5 <DenverC...@denvergov.org>
Cc: Denver Moves Bikes <bi...@denvergov.org>; east-cent...@googlegroups.com <east-cent...@googlegroups.com>; east-...@googlegroups.com <east-...@googlegroups.com>; Colfax BRT <colf...@denvergov.org>
Subject: Ramp widths along Colfax BRT Project

 

Hello Council members Hinds & Sawyer, and RTD Directors Nicholson & Rusha,

NOTICE – This email message and any attachments may contain information or material that is confidential, privileged, and/or subject to copyright or other rights. Any unauthorized viewing, disclosure, retransmission, dissemination, or other use of or reliance on this message or anything contained therein is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you believe you may have received this message in error, kindly inform the sender by return email and delete this message from your system. Thank you.

[Bryan Wilson]

Hello again, Amber.

I just wanted to see if you had a chance to locate the documentation about the minimum sidewalk requirements. 

I agree that they broadly state a minimum of 5 ft, but that minimum I think is different as the street types move up from residential to collector to arterial.

Just walked past Colfax at Williams, where I feel it's clear that we could have achieved an 8-ft wide ramp even if it wasn't required.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUlbEQNEfnu/?igsh=eTRsZmYwcnJqbTRx

I also believed the raised curbs shouldn't be installed when reviewing the rules and regulations governing encroachments to the public right of way. 

It's my understanding that these are not to obstruct water from flowing off the sidewalk into the tree lawn because it'll result in ice melt refreezing on the sidewalk. 

https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Department-of-Transportation-and-Infrastructure/Documents/Rules-Regulations

I'll have to see if I can find the answer to my sidewalk question there. 

Thank you in advance for your help! 

Respectfully,

Bryan Wilson