Santa Fe Streetscape Improvements

This project is based on extensive public input. It will improve safety, mobility, and the pedestrian experience along Santa Fe, and enhance the identity, history, and culture of the area.

About the Project

In summer 2026, design of the Santa Fe Streetscape Project will reach 90% completion, reflecting a process built on collaboration with the surrounding community. The core elements, character, and vision of the design were established through multiple community meetings and open houses in 2025 and 2026. The project team is committed to keeping the Santa Fe Business Improvement District and neighbors engaged in decisions around urban design elements as the project moves toward construction.

This project will improve Santa Fe from 6th to 13th Avenues. Work to be completed in 2026 and 2027 will include:

• Full-depth reconstruction to make the modifications that were installed with temporary paint and posts in 2020 permanent. The project will maintain two travel lanes and on-street parking, turn lanes, bus stops, and speed limits while widening sidewalks with new curbs and gutters.
• Relocation of underground utilities including storm sewer and inlets
• Lighting upgrades
• Reconstruction of intersections to shorten crossing distance for pedestrians with new concrete curb extensions
• New trees, green infrastructure, and new permanent seating, planters, and lighting envisioned with the community
• Public art installation as part of a 1% for public art partnership with Denver Arts and Venues

Download the Project FAQs(PDF, 61KB)

Timeline

In advance of project construction, Denver Water and Xcel Energy will be in the corridor to complete construction enabling utility work. This work is anticipated to start in June 2026 and will include:

• Denver Water will replace an aging water main from 7th & 13th. All work will be preceded by mailers and door hangers from Denver Water.
• Xcel Energy will relocate gas lines between 7th & 13th. Xcel will notify impacted properties.

This image shows the construction timeline for 2026, with utility relocations occurring from June to December, final design reached by July, and construction starting in August and lasting into 2027.

February 2026 Open House

In February 2026, the project team hosted a public open house to collect feedback for the final design. This feedback is helping with final revisions to the plan sets that will guide construction and delivery of the permanent streetscape improvements.

Download the open house presentation (PDF, 2MB)

Santa Fe Streetscape Design Study

• Read the draft plan(PDF, 9MB)
• Download for print with higher resolution spread layout(PDF, 12MB)
• Santa Fe Streetscape Preferred Streetscape Redesign
  (JPG, 884KB)

  Learn About the 2020 Pilot Project

  Safety treatments implemented along Santa Fe from 6th to 14th Avenues in 2020/2021 included:

  • Reconfiguring Santa Fe from three travel lanes to two to calm traffic and reduce vehicle speeds; the reconfiguration will center the vehicle travel lanes and add a five-foot buffer between the on-street parking spaces and existing sidewalk to provide people with more space and comfort to walk.
  • Using bollards and paint at intersections to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians
  • New signage to dedicate left turn lanes at the intersections of 6th, 7th, 8th, and 11th Avenues to accommodate traffic flow
  • Adding two “parklets” adjacent to the sidewalk to provide a place for people to sit and gather
  • New bike racks to provide people on bikes/scooters dedicated places to park and reduce conflicts with pedestrians on the sidewalk
  • Realigning bus stops for better placement and spacing to make bus travel more efficient
  • More seating, planters, and lighting enhancements to improve pedestrian visibility, safety and comfort
  • Reduction of the posted speed limit on this stretch from 30 to 25 mph.

  Additionally, local artists Jennifer Chaparro, Alexi High, and Bimmer Torres painted street murals to further enhance the uniqueness of the Santa Fe corridor along the new placemaking buffer for pedestrians at the intersections of 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 12th Avenues.

   

This project is funded by the 2025 Vibrant Denver Bond Program.