17th and 18th Avenues Bus Priority & Vision Zero Project

The 17th and 18th Avenues Bus Priority & Vision Zero Project will improve pedestrian safety, decrease travel time, and increase reliability for RTD Route 20 along 17th and 18th Avenues between Broadway and Colorado Boulevard. Because 17th and 18th Avenues are also a part of Denver’s High Injury Network, the project will include a detailed crash analysis and identify proposed safety improvements to support city-wide Vision Zero efforts.

DOTI is conducting a feasibility evaluation that includes analysis of traffic operations, parking occupancy, and transit travel time delay to determine appropriate recommendations along the corridor. Subsequently, conceptual and final designs are being developed for any projects that are recommended.

Project Study Area

Project Background

The 17th Avenue and 18th Avenue corridors were identified in the 2018 Regional Transportation District (RTD) Network Analysis of Potential Improvements to Bus Speed, Delay, & Access Study as areas where bus priority investments would have a high impact on transit travel times and reliability. The study incorporated a screening methodology based on passenger loads, route performance, and network connectivity to select a regional network of priority corridors for further analysis. Several of these corridors have been or are currently being planned and designed, such as the East Colfax Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Federal Boulevard projects.

Beginning in 2021, Denver conducted a Bus Priority Network Study to identify projects to improve speed and reliability of bus service. Through a data-driven analysis and community input about bus service, 17th and 18th Avenues were identified as corridors for improvement.

The 17th and 18th Avenues Bus Priority & Vision Zero Project will develop final design treatments that build upon previous projects identification of challenges along the avenues related to bus service.

Project Schedule

Existing Conditions

The project team conducted an existing conditions analysis for the project, which included the following components:

• Previous plan review
• Pedestrian and bicycle network assessment
• Bus travel time and reliability assessment
• Traffic count and speed data collection
• Crash analysis assessment
• Parking utilization assessment
• Field observations

The existing conditions analysis identified opportunities to make 17th and 18th Avenues safer for all road users and improve bus priority, These include:

• Reduce vehicle speeds
• Improve sight lines ("daylighting") at unsignalized intersections
• Improve bus travel times and reliability
• Coordinate with existing projects (Colfax BRT, Pearl Street Neighborhood Bikeway, York/Josephine Corridor Study)

Recommended Improvements

Recommended improvements to address opportunities within the study area include:

• Bus Bulbs at the majority of eastbound bus stops along 17th Avenue
• Lane Shifts on 18th Avenue between York Street and Broadway
• Paint and Post Bulb Outs at most intersections along 17th and 18th Avenues in locations where there is on-street parking
• Safer neighborhood bikeway crossings at Pearl Street and 17th and 18th Avenues

Descriptions of Improvements:

Bus Bulbs are curb extensions at bus stops that allow the bus to pick up and drop off riders in lane without pulling in and out of traffic. Bus bulbs provide more space for riders waiting for their bus and help to improve travel times.

A lane shift is a travel lane shift that encourages vehicles to slow. The locations of the lane shifts on 18th Avenue were selected to maximize in-lane bus stops and minimize parking impacts.

Paint and Post Bulb outs (or "curb extensions") extend the sidewalk or curb line at intersections. Bulb outs have many benefits including: shortening pedestrian/bicyclist crossing distances, improving visibility at the intersection, and reducing vehicle turning speeds.

Safer neighborhood bikeway crossings are proposed at the Pearl Street Neighborhood Bikeway across 17th Avenue and 18th Avenue. The design would reduce the number of lanes to cross and install a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon. 3-to-2 lane conversions would occur on 17th Avenue between Logan Street and Washington Street and on 18th Avenue between Washington Street and Pennsylvania Street.