Definitions
Flex Zone: A space intended for parking or loading activities that will take 15-minutes or less. This curbside use can accommodate passenger loading, curbside pick-up/drop-off, commercial loading, and short-term parking.
Loading Zone: Loading zones are intended for loading or unloading of either goods or passengers and not to serve as short term parking. Loading zones are a shared resources typically located near intersections.
Paid Parking: Parking that is paid. A fee mechanism is used to price a parking space. The goal of parking fees is to ensure turnover occurs in heavily utilized areas, that 1-2 spaces are available per block, and encourage people to use other modes of transportation.
Unrestricted Parking: On-street parking with no parking time limits or RPP restrictions. All posted and non-posted parking restrictions, including street sweeping restrictions and parking continuously for more than 72-hours still apply.
Time Limited Parking: Parking that has time limits. Time limits are the permissible length of stay based on curbside demand generated by adjacent land use. The goal of having time limits is to encourage parking space turnover in high demand areas to increase spaces availability.
Blueprint Denver Future Places – Community Corridor: Corridors are mixed-use places oriented along a street. They provide spaces for people to shop, dine and access entertainment amenities. Corridors are often embedded in neighborhoods and serve both residents and visitors. A community corridor typically has a balance of either residential and employment; residential and dining/shopping; or employment and dining/shopping uses. Side streets that are within the community corridor and adjacent to existing non-residential buildings are going to be considered for possible flex zones, paid parking, bike parking, and/or mobile commerce.
FAQ
Why are the no parking Residential Parking Permit excepted restrictions, typically referred to as permit or resident only parking, being removed?
Resident/permit only parking restrictions are not an equitable curbside management approach and prevent DOTI from achieving the goal of maximizing curbside resources while providing on-street parking options for a variety of users.
Why are some parking time limits being extended until 10PM?
The adjustment from 8am-6pm to 8am-10pm is a response to the high frequency of evening activities and parking demand in the area. Extending the time limits later into the evening allows parking spaces to turnover more frequently for patrons and residents.
Why are there 2-hour and 3-hour parking time limits?
2-hour time limits are implemented adjacent to land uses that have medium to long-term parking demand and in areas where frequent parking space turnover is critical. 3-hour time limits are designed to accommodate longer-term parking needs and enhance visitor and guest convenience by providing more flexibility for shopping and dining experiences. They strike a balance between accommodating longer visits and preventing vehicles from occupying the same spaces throughout the entire day, promoting equitable use of the curb, while still providing curbside access for residents and their guests.
Why does all of E Colfax Avenue have only metered parking west of Colorado Blvd?
Paid parking has been extended to cover all on-street parking on E Colfax Avenue west of Colorado Blvd, including the stretch between Elizabeth Street and Colorado Blvd, where it was previously free. Paid parking optimizes parking space utilization by discouraging long-term parking and encourages shorter durations, ensuring spaces are more readily available for convenient parking close to retail and other destinations.
Why are so many loading zones proposed?
With the implementation of E Colfax Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), loading zones on E Colfax Avenue are being removed. The proposed loading zones/flex zones on perpendicular streets can be utilized for commercial loading, passenger loading, or short-term parking. These zones are prioritized for easier access and vehicle movements, especially for those turning right from E Colfax Avenue.
Will residents be exempt from paid parking if they have an area permit?
No, residents will not be exempt from paid parking. Residents with an area permit will be exempt from time-limited parking but not at paid parking spaces.
What is an Area Zone permit?
RPP participants can park on any block within a designated boundary, typically delineated via signs. RPP holder must meet criteria and live at an eligible City & County address to be eligible.
Restriction Changes
General Changes:
- All time-limited parking will be 3 hour instead of 2 or 1 hour
- Time-limited parking on the side streets will be in place from 8AM-8PM
- Paid parking will be in place on E Colfax Avenue from 8AM-10PM (2hr parking)
- All 30-minute time-limited parking changed to loading zones
Unrestricted Parking to Time-Limited North of E Colfax Avenue:
Between E Colfax Avenue and 16th Avenue- N Washington Street
- N Marion Street to N Lafayette Street (2 blocks)
- Franklin Street
- N Williams Street to York Street (6 blocks)
- Filmore Street to Milwaukee Street (2 blocks)
- Steele Street
- Monroe Street
Between 16th Avenue and 17th Avenue
- N Clarkson Street
- N Downing Street
- N Lafayette Street to City Park Esplanade (12 blocks)
Unrestricted Parking to Time-Limited South of E Colfax Avenue:
Between E Colfax Avenue and 14th Avenue
- N Emerson Street
- N Corona Street
- N Marion Street to Steele Street (20 blocks)
- Madison Street
Between 14th Avenue and 13th Avenue
- N Clarkson Street to N High Street (12 blocks)
- Garfield Street
About the East Colfax BRT Project
Colfax Avenue, one of the area’s most historic streets, is a key east-west transportation route and the backbone of a thriving and diverse community. With significant population and business growth expected in the coming years, now is the time to reimagine the Colfax experience with a focus on moving people more efficiently, safely, and sustainably along the corridor.
The project includes new and enhanced transit stations, service amenities, improved pedestrian and bike connections, and placemaking opportunities. Between Broadway and Yosemite Street, the BRT will operate in center running bus lanes. To implement the new BRT lanes, changes will be made to East Colfax Avenue and surrounding streets, including parking removal. The biggest parking impact to East Colfax Avenue and the surrounding neighborhoods will occur between Broadway and Colorado Boulevard and between East 17th Avenue and East 13th Avenue. Because of the anticipated impact and higher utilization in this area, a Curbside Access Plan is being conducted.
For more information on the BRT project, please visit: www.DenverGov.org/ColfaxBRT
About the Curbside Access Plan (CAP)
A Curbside Access Plan (CAP) is a comprehensive, implementation-based neighborhood (or area) curbside and parking plan that addresses resident, business, and property owner parking challenges and concerns, explores alternative curbside management strategies, and identifies recommendations.
The biggest impact to existing parking regulations on East Colfax Avenue and the surrounding neighborhoods will occur between Broadway and Colorado Boulevard and East 17th Avenue and East 13th Avenue. To help mitigate the impact, a CAP is being conducted for this area.
The project team has conducted outreach and is continuing to work with businesses in the CAP area to better understand how each business communicates with their delivery companies/drivers on loading logistics.
The project team collected existing parking restrictions and parking utilization information, included in the tabs below. The project team developed preliminary parking and curb use restrictions, and we are looking for your feedback in the mapping activity below. Please add any comments you have about the proposed curbside changes.
Previous Enagement
We are currently in the process of developing strategies and recommendations and plan to integrate revised recommendations into the East Colfax Avenue BRT design. If you would like to explore the work that was previously completed, please expand the meetings below.
Feedback on challenges, generators, and user groups was collected as part of the Colfax BRT community outreach in June 2023.
An online meeting with stakeholder was held on September 12, 2023 to share results of parking utilization and develop goals for the CAP.
The meeting was held on 11/08/2023 and reviewed the results of the mapping activity and survey. This meeting included additional discussion on strategies and recommendations.
