City and County of Denver selects CH2M to help determine the future of the 16th Street Mall

The collaborative effort between the City and County of Denver, Regional Transportation District, Downtown Denver Partnership, the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, the Denver Urban Renewal Authority and the Federal Transit Administration will follow the National Environmental Policy Act process to consider social and environmental impacts when reviewing possible alternatives for the mall, which may include a recommendation to leave the mall as-is.

Re-design possibilities may include new shuttle lane alignments, sidewalk enhancements, expanded seating and other placemaking concepts or alternate surface materials, all of which would help the corridor to meet 21st century needs.

Targeting construction completion of the redevelopment by 2022, if an alternative is chosen through the NEPA process, CH2M will assist the agencies in preparing preliminary design and environmental clearance for the transformation, with a focus on protecting the historic and cultural significance of the 16th Street Mall, maximizing safety and mobility and easing maintenance concerns of the shuttle operations.

"As a hometown company, this opportunity to partner with the City and County of Denver and stakeholders to improve the Mall for transit, pedestrians and leisure activities is exciting," said CH2M City of Denver Account Manager, Scott Ingvoldstad. "We're passionate about improving Denver's livelihood—gaining the support of our neighbors and fostering pride in our city—to preserve the 16th Street Mall's identity as the heart of Denver's vibrant downtown."

More than just a transportation corridor, the 16th Street Mall is truly a jewel of downtown Denver and a connection to many activities and events. Nearly 45,000 weekday riders use the Free MallRide shuttle, which runs the length of the Mall.

Participating agencies officially kicked off the project on June 28 with a 3-day workshop to guide the vision for optimizing the corridor.

With this new work on the 16th Street Mall, and its appointment as the program manager for the National Western Center campus development, CH2M is proving its commitment to creating new pathways for human progress, breathing fresh life, energy and enterprise into every community they touch – starting right at home in Denver.

About CH2M

CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients needing world-class solutions in environmental; industrial and advanced facilities; transportation; and water markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programs like the Olympic Games.

Ranked among the World's Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and program management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honored with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. Connect with CH2M at www.ch2m.com; LinkedIn; Twitter; and Facebook.

SOURCE CH2M

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