Denver moving forward with light rail

Great news for light rail fans in Denver. Denver is considering going beyond the Fastracks Light Rail system approved by voters last November. This new line would go from Broadway and I-25 up Broadway to the Civic Center Station at Colfax and Broadway. It would then head out Colfax to Colorado Boulevard, and then south to I-25 to connect with the line there.

To me this is an obvious need for Denver. It connects three of the main commercial corridors in the city, and should do wonders for the redevelopment of these areas. Over time I hope it will speed the redevelopment of Colfax and fill in the parking lots and single story suburban style development that gives Colfax that gritty but really boring aesthetic. The same goes for Colorado Boulevard. Although doing better than Colfax, Colorado could use some urbanization as well as an alternative to getting through there than the road, which is a congestion nightmare twice daily. I think Broadway has huge potential for adding to the city's housing stock.

I'm surprised to see the merchants on Broadway lining up to oppose this. Surely there is a way to work out their concerns and improve the area. Light rail can only help them if the stops are done right.