Where the Sidewalk Ends… Wheat Ridge Ward Road

Station and TOD

ULI TOD Series July 12, 2012

FasTracks Gold Line

Northwest Subarea Plan (2006)

TOD supportive infrastructure – how to get it built

1. What we asked for from EPA SGIA grant

2. What they recommended

3. Successes so far

4. Ongoing challenges

Aerial of TOD and Station Area

What we asked for from EPA grant • How do you get TOD infrastructure financed and

built and get the timing right?

• What are the best strategies to get a high quality tight grid of streets that supports walking?

• What about a parking structure?

• What approaches are best to finance major storm drainage infrastructure?

• What is critical to get done early?

• How much private development is needed to justify the investment?

EPA Report recommendations for Wheat Ridge

Parking Garage – Not an immediate concern

1. You might not ultimately need as much parking as you think – don’t overbuild

2. Difficult to justify the upfront expense without a well understood development program

3. RTD’s potential participation in cost sharing has minimal impact on total cost

Success: Window with RTD has lapsed – won’t rule out for later

EPA Report recommendations for Wheat Ridge

Stormwater – Regional approach • Get a regional approach defined early in the

process

• Develop necessary partnerships

• Set up metro district or other fee or tax based funding mechanism

Success: RTD addressed their required storm detention and a portion of the regional detention needs with an off-site detention pond

EPA Report recommendations for Wheat Ridge

Street Grid and Utilities

• Important to get the high quality multi-modal streets

• Use a value capture tool as funding source (TIF, Impact Fees, etc.)

• Streets can also be pay-as-you-go for developers

Success: Urban Renewal in place (TIF); RTD building a good start to the network, on-street parking, sidewalks included and bike lanes on 50th Place

City/RTD proposed street/parking layout

• RTD began EIS process on the Gold Line in 2006

• Examines potential rail line alternatives and any negative impacts and mitigation measures

• City participated in EIS development process

• Recommends final station and parking design for rail stations

• Final EIS completed in 2011

• Incorporate final station design in Northwest Plan update

EPA Report recommendations for Wheat Ridge

Think about a pedestrian bridge

• Opens up much larger opportunity for land development and value capture tools

Success:

• RTD has accommodated a platform in the station design

• Metro District has been formed and bridge is included in their service plan

EPA Report recommendations for Wheat Ridge

Additional strategies:

• Strengthen partnerships

• Update “Plan” with a concrete implementation strategy

• DRCOG grant opportunities

• $4.5M HUD Sustainability Grant

• $500,000 catalytic project for Gold Line corridor

Ongoing Challenges • PentaP Model

• Denver Transit Partners has no TOD motivations (or contract incentives) – only delivering transit

• Bigger picture market conditions and strength of real estate market – will value capture tools be successful?

• Stormwater not fully regionalized – an issue for many other Denver area communities

• Challenge of location in older industrial area – also an issue for many Denver area communities