Ped, Bike, and Transit Recommendations for Evans Station

This was a semester long group project in which we researched the existing conditions at Evans Station in southern Denver, developed recommendations for improving pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure in the area, and prioritized those recommendations. Our study area was made up of the census block groups that fell within a half mile of the station.

During the first stage of the project we collected information of the existing conditions at Evans Station. This included taking pictures at the station, researching the demographics of the area, and researching existing plans that impact the area. I was responsible for finding transportation data. I found and analyzed data on commute time, means of transportation, where residents work, and crash data. I also completed an in-flow out-flow analysis to see how many residents leave the study area to work and how many people enter the study area to work. As part of analyzing all of this data, I created maps and graphs that showed the information visually. Below is one of the maps I created using ArcGIS.

After discussing our existing conditions data as a team, I created an Initial Opportunity Areas map for pedestrian and bicycle improvements and another one for transit improvements. These maps are shown below. I also wrote more detailed descriptions of each Initial Opportunity Area for the final report.

Building off of our Initial Opportunity Areas, we developed a list of recommendations for improving pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure. We then prioritized those recommendations using the National Cooperative Highway Research Program’s ActiveTrans Priority Tool. This required each of us to learn how to use the tool. We also had to input data, such as cost, for each of our recommended interventions. To do this, we researched appropriate information to input into the tool. I was responsible for finding data for half of our pedestrian and bicycle interventions. Below is an image that shows the data inputs for the pedestrian and bicycle interventions. Once we had all of our data and we had the ActiveTrans Priority Tool set up the way we wanted, we were able to prioritize our recommended interventions.

At the end of the semester we compiled a final report and presented a brief overview of our existing conditions research, our recommendations, and our priorities. We collaboratively made the report and presentation and we each presented part of our project to our class.