Mississippi Avenue Vision Zero Safety Projects

This section of Mississippi Avenue was identified as needing safety improvements through Denver’s Vision Zero Initiative, a collaborative campaign to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries. The Vision Zero action plan identified that this section of Mississippi Avenue is on the High Injury Network (HIN). The Vision Zero HIN consists of corridors throughout Denver with the highest number of fatal and injury crashes. The HIN accounts for 5 percent of streets in Denver but 50 percent of traffic deaths. Mississippi Avenue's inclusion within this network made this corridor a focus to implement improvements to increase safety for all modes.

The initial development of safety concepts for the Mississippi Avenue corridor first began in 2019. Due to recent grant funding secured through the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the project has moved forward with the evaluation and design of safety improvements with the objective to decrease the number of traffic injuries and fatalities along the corridor.

The designation of the project area, between S Eliot Street and S Quivas Street, was informed by crash data, traffic volume, and general corridor use to determine where improvements were most needed. With S Eliot Street to the west, the project area stops short of the intersection at Federal Boulevard, which is currently under the scope of another project. The eastern limit at S Quivas Street was set because it was the last intersection where a significant number of pedestrians cross Mississippi Avenue, and they would benefit from safer crossings.

The Vision Zero concepts completed in 2019 were based on crash data on the Mississippi Ave corridor. The project team has performed a qualitative and quantitative evaluation to refine and expand on these concepts.

The project team conducted a traffic analysis which modeled current traffic volume data. The team also performed multiple field visits and evaluated the larger transportation network, considering multi-modal and transit comfort and connectivity in the final recommendations. In addition to data collection and evaluation, the project team is conducting ongoing coordination and collaboration with partners and stakeholders. The project hopes to build upon best practices and lessons learned from projects in the Mississippi Ave area, to implement a "one build" policy that sees cohesion across all developments.

The design increases multimodal safety by improving the pedestrian crossing environment throughout the corridor, creating a more comfortable experience for all users. Improvements to the corridor include shortening pedestrian crossings by constructing curb extensions, which will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the road safely and directly. The installation of medians will better define midblock crossing opportunities and provide pedestrians refuge when crossing. Pedestrian crossings will be striped in adherence with Denver traffic and transportation standards.

Currently, the City and County of Denver is working to address sidewalk gaps citywide through various programs. The Mississippi Avenue Vision Zero Safety Project is focused primarily on making crossing improvements, which will create a safer experience for pedestrians. Developing new, directional curb ramps, curb extensions and sidewalks will contribute to a safer, more comfortable pedestrian experience along the corridor. The curb extensions specifically will shorten pedestrian crossing distances and will provide traffic calming measures which will slow down vehicle turning speeds, while maintaining the eleven-foot through lane in each direction required for transit and emergency vehicle access.

The team collected and analyzed traffic and speed data at the project's onset. Traffic analysis evaluated corridor operations with one lane in each direction compared to the current configuration of two lanes in each direction. Traffic modeling confirmed that congestion would not increase as a consequence of lane reductions. 

The project team also evaluated speed along the corridor. The project team has considered community concerns and believes current design improvements will provide traffic calming measures. Incorporating center medians and a lane reduction in each direction will support safe travel for all modes along the corridor.

The driving indicator for medians' placement is historic crash data analysis, which indicates the corridor experiences a large percentage of broadside and sideswipe collisions. A raised median will restrict left turn and through vehicle movements, reducing the potential for broadside and left-turn collisions at these locations. The raised median will also provide physical separation between motorists in adjacent lanes, reducing the potential for opposing sideswipe collisions on Mississippi Avenue. Medians will also encourage pedestrians to cross at designated crossings and provide refuge for pedestrians crossing at designated mid-block locations.

The proposed changes should result in a safer corridor for drivers, pedestrians, and other users. Proposed changes are data driven and predicted to reduce driving speeds and crashes without increasing delays. Median placement will minimize vehicle conflict points. Pedestrians will experience shorter crossing distances thanks to directional curb ramps that feature truncated domes, thus increasing ADA accessibility.

Data supports the assertion that an improved streetscape will benefit local businesses by attracting customers. Visitors are more likely to walk or drive along a road that is easy to navigate. Accessibility will be altered in certain locations; however, no streets will be permanently closed and access to all locations along Mississippi will remain. Business owners can expect temporary impacts during construction; however, careful consideration is going into construction phasing to ensure that impacts are mitigated as much as possible. The City will maintain clear communication with business owners throughout the project to provide advanced notice and information about upcoming construction.

Access to parking lots, roads, and driveways will be maintained. In some locations, accessibility will be modified due to the inclusion of medians.

Like businesses, accessibility to neighborhoods will be altered in certain locations; however, no streets will be permanently closed. The project team will continue to engage with Registered Neighborhood Organizations (RNOs) in the area around project design and feedback milestones.

Once a contractor is on board to implement the designs, they will be required to submit and communicate a detailed schedule and traffic control plan.

The current project will not consider additional greenery or placemaking along the corridor. The proposed improvements focus on pedestrian safety and increasing connectivity in the area, allowing safer access to local businesses, community organizations, and schools.

The project team conducted information and education campaigns in the community throughout the duration of the design process. Before each design milestone, the project team distributed information, both digitally and in-person, to community partners, businesses, schools, and Registered Neighborhood Organizations (RNOs) along the corridor.  The project team attended community meetings to offer project updates and address questions and comments from the public.  A project website was maintained and updated, and all materials shared with the community were made available in Spanish and Vietnamese.

Opportunities for engagement have corresponded with each design milestone and have included digital feedback surveys as well as community office hours hosted at the 90% design milestone.  A summary of the community office hours is available below:

• Summary(PDF, 2MB)

The final design for the corridor was completed in February 2024. The project is anticipated to be bid in April 2024 with contractor selection in Summer 2024. A full project timeline can be found on the project website.

Please check the website regularly to find out about bidding and construction updates. Please email us with any questions or concerns.

Construction of the proposed changes is expected to begin in Fall of 2024 with substantial completion in Summer 2026.