Denver Vibrant Denver Bond Package

Denver's 'Vibrant Denver' Bond Package: $20M for Colfax Corridor Improvements

Denver voters will soon decide on a major bond package, dubbed 'Vibrant Denver', which aims to secure $950 million for nearly 60 capital improvement projects across five categories. The ballot measure, set for November 2023, includes a significant allocation for the Colfax Corridor Improvements project, focusing on lighting, trees, and crosswalks in four business districts.

The Colfax Corridor Improvements project has been allocated $20 million. This comes after Denver voters approved a major bond package in 2017, which included plans for pedestrian upgrades along East Colfax Avenue. The new ballot measures, Vibrant Denver, were developed over several months in 2023, with some concerns raised about the accuracy of cost estimates.

Initially, a portion of the Colfax Mayfair Business District was excluded from the bond-funded improvements. However, the project scope has since been expanded to include this area. The city has acknowledged changes in some bond projects' scopes, with only three cases noted in the Elevate program. Annual bond financial reports have shown fluctuations in project allotments and costs, such as a 117% increase for the 16th Street Mall project.

Earl Jackson, former chief financial officer for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, estimates that 50% of bond project decisions happen behind closed doors. The new mayor of Denver, who took office in 2023, has been involved in the Vibrant Bond proposal's development. The city assures voters that there will be no tax increase if the bonds are approved, as the city will pay back bondholders through property taxes.

Denver voters will decide on the Vibrant Denver bond package in November 2023. If approved, the $950 million will fund projects in transportation, city facilities, parks and recreation, housing and shelter, and health and human services. The Colfax Corridor Improvements project, with its $20 million allocation, is expected to enhance safety and aesthetics along the corridor, benefiting local businesses and residents.