Welton Next Steps
Project Overview
Welton Next Steps is a project that builds on prior studies to establish a clear, implementable vision for the future of Welton Street. While past planning has produced a range of recommendations, a cohesive and community-informed direction is needed to advance the corridor toward design, funding and construction. This work builds on more than a decade of planning focused on corridor revitalization and completion of the FasTracks connection to the A Line.
Welton Street runs through the heart of Denver’s historic Black community and commercial district in the Five Points neighborhood. Today, the corridor faces challenges related to underperforming transit service, constrained public spaces, and economic vitality. Community stakeholders have consistently expressed a vision for Welton Street as a sustainable, transit-rich, and culturally vibrant corridor that supports economic opportunity and community well-being, extending beyond the L Line extension to include broader public realm and infrastructure improvements.
This effort will deliver an actionable framework to guide future investments, identifying strategies to enhance transit, expand green and public spaces, and create a welcoming streetscape that reflects the corridor’s cultural heritage and supports local business revitalization.
Project Priorities
- Collaborate with the community to develop a shared vision for Welton Street that supports vibrancy for residents and visitors while honoring the corridor’s cultural heritage.
- Promote multimodal transportation options that prioritize walking, biking, and transit use.
- Identify a preferred transit mode and alignment that considers connectivity to downtown Denver and the 38th & Blake A-Line station.
- Integrate green infrastructure and public spaces that are inviting for people, functional for stormwater management, and have a clear maintenance strategy.
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Project Study Area
- Welton Street – Broadway to Downing (30th & Downing Station): This segment will be the focus for full-scope corridor visioning, alternatives development, and feasibility analysis.
- Downing Street –Welton to Blake: This segment will be evaluated specifically for the feasibility of potential transit alignments and alternatives.
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Anticipated Project Timeline
| Phase |
Date |
| Project Kick-off |
March 2026 |
| Vision & Goals |
Spring 2026 |
| Existing Conditions |
Summer 2026 |
| Aternative Analysis |
Fall- Winter 2026 |
| Conceptual Design & Final Plan |
Spring 2027 |
Community Advisory Group (CAG)
DOTI has convened a Community Advisory Group (CAG) to guide the project team’s work and ensure that community perspectives remain central throughout the planning process.
CAG members were thoughtfully selected to represent a broad cross‑section of community voices, interests, and lived experiences within the Welton corridor. Selection criteria focused on ensuring a balanced group with a mix of residents, business representatives, community organizations, and subject‑matter perspectives relevant to the project. Applications for joining the CAG are now closed.
CAG Meeting #1 Materials:
CAG Meeting #2 Materials:
CAG Meeting #3 Materials:
Frequently Asked Questions
Alternative Analysis
How will the project determine a preferred alternative? Who makes the final decision, and how will community input be incorporated?
- DOTI will conduct an alternatives analysis guided by public input. This includes:
- Establishing a vision and goals for the corridor.
- Defining possible alternatives to achieve the vision.
- Evaluating how well the alternatives achieve the goals.
- Recommending a preferred alternative to present to decision-makers.
- Decision-making authority rests with DOTI and RTD.
What metrics will be used to evaluate the success of the project?
- The project team will develop evaluation criteria based on the vision and goals.
- Evaluation criteria will be shared for public input during the alternatives analysis.
Will DOTI recommend removing the light rail on Welton Street?
- The project will evaluate a range of alternatives, including options that retain light rail on Welton and options that consider removal.
- No decisions have been made. All recommendations will be informed by technical analysis and community input.
If bus service on Welton is recommended, how could it be enhanced instead of simply creating a new bus route?
- Enhancements could include more frequent service, higher‑quality bus stations, and street or signal treatments that improve travel times and reliability for riders.
How would shifting transit service on Welton from rail to bus affect frequency, flexibility, and overall access for the community?
- These factors will be evaluated during the alternatives analysis.
- One of the draft project goals is to ensure that public transit on Welton is frequent, reliable, and safe, with high‑quality service and direct connections to major regional destinations, including the A-line and downtown. Recommendations will be evaluated on how they could support project goals.
Can buses run in the same transitway as light rail?
- In some cities, buses and light rail can share street space, but whether this is feasible on Welton depends on design, safety, and operational considerations. This option may be evaluated as part of the alternatives analysis if it supports the corridor vision and goals.
Will the project explore opportunities to incorporate cultural character into the L Line corridor, such as artwork on the light rail tracks or vehicles?
- The project will not develop specific art concepts, though ideas such as trolley replica transit vehicles may be explored.
- One draft project goal is to ensure Welton has a comfortable and flexible public realm that supports community gatherings, vibrant local businesses, and honors cultural heritage. Recommendations will be evaluated on how they could support project goals.
What options have been explored for reconnecting the L-Line to the southern rail corridors (such as the holiday train service)? How would this impact ridership?
- RTD is exploring this option.
- Reconnecting the L-Line to the southern rail lines may be evaluated as part of the alternatives analysis if it supports the vision and goals for Welton.
- Ridership analysis will be completed for all alternatives
Will the project consider full double-tracking of the L line either by a second track on Welton or on a parallel street?
- A double track configuration may be considered as part of the alternatives analysis if it aligns with the vision and goals for the corridor.
Is it possible to make sidewalk and landscaping improvements or add bike facilities while also keeping the L Line? Could the light rail be moved to the center of the roadway to make this possible?
- A configuration like this may be evaluated as part of the alternatives analysis if the benefits, and the resulting changes to available space for vehicles, support the corridor vision and goals.
Is reducing Welton to a single travel lane under consideration?
- A one‑lane configuration may be considered as part of the alternatives analysis if it meets the needs of all roadway users and and supports the vision and goals for the corridor.
What would a two‑way conversion of Welton involve and how might it improve corridor operations? Would this be feasible with light rail?
- Two-way conversion will be evaluated as part of the alternatives analysis, as this has been previously proposed as a possible recommendation for Welton.
- A two‑way conversion may help manage speeds to improve safety.
- Further analysis is needed to determine how a two-way conversion would impact light rail operations and safety of all users.
Is removing public transit service entirely from Welton under consideration?
- Public transit is a priority on Welton. Relocating or removing it is not recommended.
Will the project consider converting Welton into a temporary or permanent shared street?
- At this time, Welton is not a suitable candidate for a shared street because it carries public transit and several thousand vehicles per day. Shared streets require vehicle volumes of roughly 400 or fewer per day. Even with significant traffic diversion, Welton would not meet the standards needed to function as a shared street.
Parking
How is parking currently used along Welton and nearby blocks, and how are options such as repurposing parking being evaluated?
- The project will collect parking data on Welton and the surrounding area.
- Repurposing parking may be considered as part of the alternatives analysis if it allows roadway space to better support the vision and goals for the corridor.
Would a two-way conversion impact parking?
- The project will need to evaluate traffic volumes, parking utilization, public input, and other priorities to determine how a two-way conversion may affect parking.
Is there an opportunity to allow public parking in the parking lots next to Denver Health and the Glenarm Rec Center?
- These parking lots are owned and managed by Denver Health and Denver Parks & Recreation, not DOTI.
- Shared parking could be explored if recommended by the project.
Would fewer cars result in less business on Welton?
- Fewer cars on a street does not necessarily result in fewer businesses. In many cases, it can actually support more successful businesses, but it depends on the street's design, access, and context.
- When car volumes drop because a street becomes more walkable, safer, calmer, or better served by transit, businesses often see equal or higher foot traffic than before.
Community Engagement
What steps are being taken to engage transit dependent neighbors along Welton? Will there be opportunities such as community charrettes?
- Outreach methods include flyering and canvassing, posting information at rail stations, and hosting a transit rider focus group.
- The project will host multiple community meetings and online surveys. Information will be posted on the project webpage. Sign up for email updates here.
How can the public contact the project team?
At the November community meeting at Glenarm Rec Center, proposed street rendering graphics were shown that depicted Welton without light rail. Is this design advancing?
- This meeting was organized by Denver City Council District 9. The graphics shown came from a previous report created by the Five Points Business Improvement District.
- As part of the Welton Next Steps project, DOTI is reviewing all previous plans, studies, and reports. This information will help inform the development of alternatives. No decisions have been made.
Implementation and Construction
How will the project evaluate construction and maintenance costs and use this information to compare alternatives?
- Cost estimates for construction and maintenance will be considered during the alternatives analysis and refined for the implementation plan.
- One draft project goal is to ensure recommendations have a clear pathway to implementation and can be phased over time. Recommendations will be evaluated on how they could support this goal.
How and when will DOTI identify funding to implement recommendations?
- DOTI will consider a range of potential funding sources, including city discretionary funds such as the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), state and federal grant opportunities, and other partner funding to support implementation.
Can the project be phased for implementation rather than needing to wait several years for funding securement?
- One draft project goal is for recommendations to have a clear pathway to achievement and able to be phased to allow for gradual improvement over time. Recommendations will be evaluated on how they could support project goals.
Would extending light rail on Downing affect buildings or trees?
- Potential impacts are not known at this time and will depend on the specific design of the preferred alternative.
- Significant impacts like removing buildings or established trees are uncommon and typically avoided to the greatest extent feasible.
FasTracks
What work has RTD done to evaluate options for extending the L Line, and what operational challenges have been identified?
- RTD completed the Central Rail Extension Mobility Study in 2014, which identified several engineering challenges, including complications from the single track alignment along much of Welton and limited right-of-way on Downing. The full report is available online.
If voters approved the L Line extension as part of FasTracks nearly 20 years ago, why is additional analysis still required, and why do competing priorities matter today?
- RTD’s 2014 study concluded that the proposed L-Line extension may be operationally infeasible and recommended further study in partnership with the City & County of Denver.
- The project intends to identify an operationally feasible and community‑supported solution for providing the transit connection along Welton and Downing.
Why were other FasTracks projects prioritized before the L-Line extension?
- The constructed FasTracks lines were prioritized on the basis of available funding and/or project readiness. As an example, federal grants funded approximately 50% of the project costs for the A, B, G, and W lines.
What would the L-Line extension cost, how does this compare to other unfinished FasTracks corridors, and how much FasTracks funding remains after other commitments like Front Range Passenger Rail?
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According to RTD’s 2025 Finishing FasTracks report, the L Line extension is estimated to cost $211 million, making it the least expensive unfinished corridor.
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The FasTracks Internal Savings Account held about $195 million at the end of 2025. The request for Front Range Passenger Rail is $156 million, though the FasTracks Internal Savings Account is not committed to specific projects.
What was the original cost of the L-Line light rail track and station construction?
- The Central Corridor (I25 & Broadway to 30th & Downing) cost $116.5 million to construct in 1994.
What is the likelihood of RTD posing a ballot question to voters to raise funds (through taxes or other avenues) to complete projects like the L line extension?
- The RTD Board of Directors has had high-level discussions on this topic, but no determination has been made.
Near-Term Improvements & Coordinating Projects
What opportunities and constraints exist for adding native landscaping or trees along Welton, Downing, or the 38th & Blake area, including temporary improvements?
- DOTI is advancing the Welton Streetscape Project, which includes design for landscaping on the northwest side of Welton Street.
- Currently, there are no landscaping projects funded for Downing or 38th & Blake.
- Constraints include limited funding for construction and maintenance, as well as right‑of‑way limitations.
- Tree planting would need to meet both City and RTD design standards. Tree plantings in medians, such as those at the light rail stations on Welton, require careful design and engineering to ensure trees can grow and remain healthy.
What prevents buses from operating on Welton today to increase transit frequency, and could a short‑term pilot help gather data?
- RTD has limited resources to increase frequency throughout its system.
- New bus stops would need to be established, which may require constructing boarding areas, curb ramps, and/or sidewalks to meet accessibility standards.
- A pilot could be considered if resources allow.
What is the status of RTD track maintenance on Welton? And why is this being done before the Next Steps project has identified a preferred recommendation for Welton?
- RTD’s Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project is ongoing, with Welton planned for construction in 2027.
- Major improvements to Welton and Downing could take 5-10 years or more. In the meantime, RTD must make repairs to keep the L Line operating safely and reliably.
Existing Conditions
What does current and historical L Line ridership look like, and how might it change under different future service scenarios?
- Current average weekday L-Line ridership is approximately 400 boardings.
- Ridership declined by about 50% after the line was separated from the D-Line.
- Combined Route 38 and Route 43 ridership between 19th and 31st Avenues is comparable, with approximately 554 average weekday boardings (September 2025).
- Detailed ridership analysis will be conducted during the existing conditions and alternatives analysis phases.
How do transit travel times compare among the L-Line versus the Route 38 or Route 43 bus between downtown and 30th & Downing station?
- It takes approximately the same amount of time depending on where you're walking from downtown.
- Since the L line operates on a single-track configuration, only one train can operate on the corridor at a time. If one train is delayed, a ripple effect of delays can occur.
What would it take to operate the Welton corridor more like a modern streetcar, including using low‑floor vehicles and smaller or modular stations?
- This would require reconstruction of track and stations, obtaining a new vehicle fleet, as well as traffic analysis to evaluate operations.
- Streetcar conversion may be evaluated as part of the alternatives analysis if it supports the vision and goals for Welton.
What constraints have prevented full transit signal priority (TSP) or preemption along Welton, and what is the earliest realistic timeline for improvements?
- The corridor currently uses a pretimed signal system.
- RTD is currently finalizing work on a regional TSP strategy, with DOTI as a partner.
- Implementation requires funding for signal timing analysis and design, equipment procurement and installation, and ongoing maintenance. Without a finalized regional strategy and funding availability, a timeline is unclear.
Other Questions
How does DOTI determine lane widths in a new roadway configuration?
Does RTD have a plan to address the often out-of-service elevators at 38th Blake station?
- RTD partners with Denver Transit Operators to maintain facilities, including elevators, and address concerns as promptly as possible.
Is anything being done about neglected buildings on Welton?
- The District has established and is communicating a plan for compliance.