Denver Ridership Doubles, Even Without New Rail

Since Denver Metro voters passed FasTracks in 2004, transit ridership has almost doubled. Warren Karlenzig looks at how they did it.

1 minute read

October 15, 2009, 10:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

"First, the city created a regional mandate for public transit, combined with tangible, measureable goals. Mayor John Hickenlooper told me in 2006, "We passed the most ambitious transit initiative in the history of the United States. It was because all 31 mayors in the seven-county area unanimously supported it."

Hickenlooper said the city wanted to reach 20 percent ridership by 2020, even 25 or 30 percent if it could. Little did he know at the time that the city would be on its way to hitting its goal without even laying one mile of new rail under the FasTracks."

FULL STORY: Denver Nearly Doubles Public Transit Ridership--Despite Light Rail Expansion Delays

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 in Common Current

Government / Politics Transportation Colorado Denver Mayor Hickenlooper FasTracks View More

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