DEN Peña NEPA & Design Project Online Meeting

The project's environmental review and preliminary design process is expected to take about two years. If approvals and funding align, construction of improvements could begin as early as 2028.

Because the project involves federal funding and approvals, DEN is following the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, process. This helps keep the process transparent, gives the public a clear role, and supports eligibility for future federal decisions.
Your input helps shape the project. Stay involved as we move forward together.

Public Engagement Will Continue Throughout the Peña NEPA & Design Project

Scoping

Fall 2025 to Early 2026

Gather input and identify key issues, needs, and priorities that shape the project.

Completed

Alternatives Evaluation

Early 2026 to Late 2026

Develop and compare possible improvements for the corridor based on project needs and community input.

Current Phase

Environmental Review and Draft Documentation

Mid 2026 to Late 2027

Evaluate potential impacts, develop mitigation measures, and document findings.

Upcoming

Public Review

Late 2027

Share draft findings with the public and agencies and gather feedback.

Upcoming

Final Approval

Early 2028

Consider feedback, finalize decisions, and identify next steps.

Upcoming

Corridor Context

What we heard

Conflicts between airport traffic and local traffic create challenges for many different users. You also told us that transit is already an important way people travel along the Peña Corridor.

What we’re doing

Recognizing transit as an existing and future part of the corridor — not an afterthought.

Documenting the mix of airport, local, employee, freight, and visitor traffic as a key corridor challenge.

Considering how major connections, including the I-70 interchange and the DEN terminal area, affect travel on Peña Boulevard.

Purpose and Need

What we heard

Reliable and efficient airport access is critical. The corridor needs to work for how people use it today and how they may need to use it in the future.

What we’re doing

Including travel time reliability and efficiency as key needs in the project’s Purpose and Need.

Using technical analysis and public input together to better understand where and why delays occur.

Alternatives

What we heard

Many people asked for more roadway capacity. Others wanted stronger transit options and wanted to know that transit was being considered from the start.

What we’re doing

Evaluating roadway capacity concepts, including added lanes and collector-distributor-style improvements.

Evaluating transit-focused alternatives alongside roadway options.

Looking at both physical improvements and operational strategies.

Engagement

What we heard

Engagement should be meaningful, focused, and accessible to people who depend on the corridor — including those who may not attend a traditional public meeting.

What we’re doing

Attending community events and existing meetings and offering online engagement options to reach people where they already are.

Continuing bilingual outreach with corridor users, community groups, employers, transportation providers, and other stakeholders.

Focusing outreach on airport employees, including early morning, late-night, and overnight workers.

Transparency

What we heard

You want clear information about how the project is funded, including the role of airport revenues, and what decisions are part of this NEPA process.

What we’re doing

Clearly identifying which ideas are being evaluated through this project and which may require separate funding, policy decisions, or action by other agencies.

We will provide plain-language information about project funding, including how airport revenues may be used.

Sharing summaries at each major phase to show what we heard and how input influenced the process.

Your Feedback

Activity step 2 of 8

Does this summary reflect what matters to the communities and users you know?

Select one option that applies.

Yes, this captures it well

Mostly, but something is missing

No, important concerns aren't reflected here

Please explain why:

Your responses are saved as you move through the open house.

As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, DEN will evaluate how the Peña project could affect people, neighborhoods, and environmental resources in and around the corridor. The review will identify potential benefits and impacts and look for ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate effects.

Study Areas

Study areas vary by resource. Most environmental resources are studied using established technical methods. Community effects also depend on local knowledge. Public input helps DEN confirm whether the Community Study Area reflects the neighborhoods, destinations, and travel patterns connected to the Peña Corridor.

Help confirm the Community Study Area

This map shows where DEN will look closely at potential community effects. Does it include the neighborhoods, businesses, schools, services, travel routes, and community connections that could be affected?

Tell us what should be added or adjusted in the survey question below.

Meaningful Engagement With Affected Communities

DEN is committed to hearing from people who live, work, travel, and do business in areas that could be affected by the Peña project.

Your voice matters

Your input helps DEN understand community concerns, important resources, potential benefits and impacts, and ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate effects.

English Spanish

Community members visit a booth at a Ciñco de Mayo celebration. The booth displays public engagement materials for the Peña NEPA and Design Project, including project information boards, maps, handouts, a QR code sign, and a colorful prize wheel. Several attendees reviewed materials and spoke with project representatives. Decorative balloons and event activities are visible around the booth in an outdoor festival setting.

Your Feedback

Activity step 3 of 8

This page shows where DEN will look closely at potential community and environmental effects. You can help shape that review — both by telling us what issues matter to you and by confirming whether the study area captures the right places.

What community or environmental issues are most important to you?

Select all that apply. Your answers help DEN understand what to prioritize in the environmental review.

Traffic noise

Air quality

Traffic and road safety

Access to jobs, schools, and daily services

Parks, trails, and open space

Equity and impacts on underserved communities

Natural resources and wildlife habitat

Other

Is there anything about the Community Study Area map that should be added or adjusted?

For communities alongside Peña, this corridor provides access to jobs, services, and daily destinations — not just the airport. Does the map capture the neighborhoods and travel routes that depend on it most?

Your responses are saved as you move through the open house.

DEN has completed traffic analysis for the Peña project, based on the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) travel demand model. The analysis shows that without improvements, Peña Boulevard will be even more congested by 2050.

South End Corridor

At Green Valley Ranch Boulevard

Congested 13 - 16 Hours Daily by 2050

Travel Speed 15 MPH on Average

North End Corridor

At Tower Road

Congested 11 - 13 Hours Daily by 2050

Travel Speed 25 MPH on Average

Traffic Has Surged Beyond Expected Capacity

Volumes on Peña Boulevard have increased substantially over time with peak days exceeding 139,000 daily vehicles—far more than a typical four-lane highway is designed to carry.

DEN opened in 1995 and was originally designed to serve 50 million annual passengers

Passenger volumes have grown 165% since opening, with DEN serving more than 82.4 million travelers in 2025

DEN-generated economic impact was $47.2 billion in 2024

DEN's Central Location Powers Regional Travel

DEN is the only major hub airport within 500 miles and offers nonstop flights to more than 200 destinations. It serves travelers from across Colorado, the Mountain States, and the Midwest.

English Spanish

Note: Originating passengers include both domestic and international limited to 500-mile radius using 12 months of data ending June 2025. Analysis by Crawford, Murphy & Tilly and DEN. Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, FM Traffic via Cirium, Airlines Reporting Corporation.

DEN received a wide range of ideas during public scoping, and each idea was screened and compared to determine which concepts should move forward for further evaluation.

Level 1 completed

Initial Feasibility Screening

Screened ideas for feasibility, project applicability, and alignment with project needs. Resulted in some concepts moving forward for additional evaluation, while others did not.

Moved forward

Operational, infrastructure, and travel behavior change concepts

Did not move forward

Alternate routes, infrastructure improvements outside project limits, and new accesses to Peña Boulevard

Level 2 completed

Comparative Evaluation

Compared the remaining concepts to understand how well they meet project needs. Concepts that performed well in Level 2 will move forward to Level 3, where they will be further evaluated and combined into a single alternatives package for preliminary design and full environmental review.

Roadway

Managed lanes on Peña Boulevard with 1-2 lanes in each direction.
Collector distributor road adjacent to Peña Boulevard.

Transit, bicycle and pedestrian

DEN transit center improvements.
New bus and/or shuttle service to DEN.
More frequent evening and late-night A Line service.
Free or reduced transit fares.
Improvements at RTD parking lots at the 40th and/or 61st Avenue stations.
Bicycle and pedestrian improvements to fill gaps in the Peña corridor network.

Operations

Improved signage and wayfinding.
Safety and roadway geometry improvements.
Acceleration/deceleration lanes and/or auxiliary lanes.
Intelligent Transportation Systems and operations improvements.
Ramp metering, using traffic signals on interchange on-ramps to manage traffic flow.

Level 3 upcoming

Identifying the Preferred Alternative

Next, DEN will take a closer look at the concepts moving forward, work through the remaining design questions, and identify one Preferred Alternative package. That package will be documented and evaluated in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document.

Level 3 upcoming

Continue the conversation

Tell us what you think about the concepts moving forward and what DEN should consider as the design is refined. DEN expects to share a Preferred Alternative recommendation for public comment in November.

Two roadway concepts are under consideration. One roadway concept will move forward as part of the preferred alternative.

This concept below would add one to two managed lanes in each direction on Peña Boulevard. Managed lanes help keep traffic moving by managing how the lanes are used — including where drivers can enter and exit, who can use the lanes, and whether a fee would apply. Similar lanes are used on I-70 and I-25.

English Spanish

Proposed Configuration

English Spanish

Managed Lanes primary users

Traffic traveling to the airport.
Some traffic accessing Gun Club Road and Jackson Gap.

Potential benefits

More reliable travel times now and over time.
Faster, more dependable trips for buses and shuttles.
Potential toll revenue to help fund construction, operations, and maintenance.

Potential tradeoffs

Fewer direct benefits for general-purpose lane users.
Tolling may raise cost or fairness concerns.
Access restrictions or eligibility rules may limit use for some trips.

Managed Lane Examples

I-70 Eastbound at Chambers Rd

Buffer separated single managed lane.

I-25 Southbound at I-70

Barrier separated two managed lanes.

I-25 Southbound at US 36

Buffer separated single managed lane.

A photo of a barrier separated two lane of managed lanes on I-25 Southbound at I-70.

Your Feedback

Activity step 4 of 8

While you have the managed lanes concept in front of you, tell us who you think should be able to use them. You'll share your overall preference after reviewing both concepts on the next board.

If managed lanes move forward, who should be able to use them?

Select all that apply.

Carpools and vanpools (free)

Buses and shuttles (free)

Freight and commercial vehicles (tolled)

Single Occupancy Vehicles (tolled)

No preference

Your responses are saved as you move through the open house.

Peña is a multimodal corridor, and people rely on different travel options to reach the airport and nearby communities. These concepts explore ways to make transit, bicycle, pedestrian, shuttle, and other connections easier and more useful for airport travelers, employees, and nearby communities.

No final decisions have been made.

A photo of a DEN bus shuttle picking up a passenger at the airport parking lot area.

A photo of a person locking a bicycle up at the airport with two other cyclists in the background.

A photo of an A Line commuter rail train parked at a station near DEN with passengers on the platform under a cover.

A photo of vehicles, including a DEN shuttle, traveling on Peña Boulevard heading towards the airport.

A photo of two women hugging near a vehicle at the pick-up area at the airport.

A photo of a wayfinding sign at the airport pointing to where the Transit Center is with the Westin Hotel in the background.

DEN Transit Center Improvements

Adds bus bays and improves the layout at the existing DEN transit center to serve more buses, shuttles, and riders.

Potential benefits

Addresses current bus capacity constraints.
Creates space for more bus and shuttle service.
Can be implemented on the DEN campus.

Potential tradeoffs

Does not directly increase transit service levels.
Limited effect on Peña corridor.

40th and/or 61st Avenue Transit Station Improvements

Improves access to the A Line at the 40th and/or 61st Avenue stations with better security, parking, pick up/drop off areas, and walking and biking connections.

Potential benefits

Makes A Line travel to and from DEN easier.
Could shift some vehicle trips to transit by making it easier to use.
Supports DEN’s broader sustainability and multimodal access goals.

Potential tradeoffs

Requires coordination and agreements with partner agencies for funding, operations, and maintenance.
Limited effect on Peña corridor congestion.

New Bus and/or Shuttle Service to DEN

Provides new bus or shuttle service directly to DEN from other parts of the metro area, especially places with high concentrations of airport employees or travelers that are not well served by existing transit.

Potential benefits

Could expand options where transit services are limited.
Could improve connections to high-demand airport travel areas not well served today.
Could reduce some vehicle trips on Peña Boulevard.

Potential tradeoffs

Would require new funding, operations, and oversight.
Requires coordination on routes, stops, facilities, and service.
Limited congestion relief unless widely used.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Connections

Closes gaps in existing and planned bike and trail connections on DEN property to and from the airport.

Potential benefits

Improves safety and access for people walking and biking.
Builds on existing bicycle and trail infrastructure.
Supports DEN’s broader sustainability and multimodal access goals.

Potential tradeoffs

No effect on Peña congestion.

Your Feedback

Activity step 6 of 8

This page covers the transit, bike, and pedestrian concepts under consideration. Tell us which improvements would make the most difference for you or people you know.

Which transit improvements would most likely get you or people you know to use transit more on the Peña corridor?

Select up to 2.

More frequent A Line service evenings and late nights

New or expanded direct bus routes to DEN

Free or reduced fares

Better parking and security at 40th/Airport station

Better parking and security at 61st and Peña station

More buses to the DEN transit center

Better bike and pedestrian connections

None of these would make a difference

Your responses are saved as you move through the open house.

You asked for transit that is easier, more convenient, and more attractive to use. DEN agrees — and is exploring practical ideas to help reduce barriers to transit use.

Transit Is Part of the Peña Solution

The A Line is a highly valued and popular airport connection.

Direct DEN bus routes provide important one seat connections.

Existing transit has room for more riders; capacity is not the primary constraint

Transit can help, but roadway improvements are also needed

Why Transit Use Is Limited

Public input and travel demand modeling point to the same key barriers: transit may have available capacity, but for many trips it is not easy, fast, or affordable enough to be the preferred choice.

A photo of an A Line commuter rail train parked at the DEN Transit Center with the Westin Hotel in the background.

Exploring Ways to Make Existing Transit Easier to Use

Because existing transit has room for more riders, DEN is exploring practical, cost-effective ideas that could reduce barriers and increase use.

Better access

Improved security at stations and Park-n-Rides
Expand 40th and Airport Park-n-Ride

Better service

More frequent evening and late-night A Line service
New and expanded direct bus routes

Lower cost

Free or reduced fares
Free parking at 40th and Airport Park-n-Ride

A Team Effort

Some of these ideas may be outside DEN’s sole authority or funding and would require coordination with RTD, Denver Transit Operators, government agencies, businesses, and other partners.

A colorful DEN-branded shuttle bus travels along a roadway at DEN with the the airport’s distinctive white peaked terminal roof behind the shuttle. The Westin Hotel and economy parking lots are also shown.

Your Feedback

Activity step 7 of 8

DEN has heard that transit needs to be easier, more convenient, and more affordable. Tell us what would make the most difference for you or people you know.

What would most make transit on the Peña corridor worth using?

Select all that apply.

Faster, more direct service

Better connections to and from stations

Lower or free fares

More frequent service

Other

Your responses are saved as you move through the open house.

Next public open house is planned for November 2026

In 2026, we’re expanding outreach to meet people where they are— at community events, small group meetings, and presentations. A calendar of upcoming events where the project team will be available is posted on the project website, and we welcome invitations to your meetings or events.

Preferred Alternative Coming Late 2026

By the end of 2026, we anticipate sharing the results of the detailed alternatives review and a recommended Preferred Alternative.

Your Feedback

Activity step 8 of 8

Is there anything the project team hasn't addressed that you think is important?

Stay informed (optional)

First and last name

Email address

Thank You for Attending Gracias por Asistir

Project Overview

Why is the Project Needed?

Address safety concerns

Provide reliable and efficient airport access

Respond to growth in travel demand around DEN

Enhance travel options

Strengthen economic vitality

Your Feedback

Project NEPA Timeline

Public Engagement Will Continue Throughout the Peña NEPA & Design Project

Scoping

Alternatives Evaluation

Environmental Review and Draft Documentation

Public Review

Final Approval

What We Heard and What We’re Doing

Corridor Context

What we heard

What we’re doing

Purpose and Need

What we heard

What we’re doing

Alternatives

What we heard

What we’re doing

Engagement

What we heard

What we’re doing

Transparency

What we heard

What we’re doing

Your Feedback

Community and Environmental Effects

Study Areas

Help confirm the Community Study Area

Meaningful Engagement With Affected Communities

Your voice matters

Your Feedback

Peña by the Numbers

South End Corridor

At Green Valley Ranch Boulevard

North End Corridor

At Tower Road

Traffic Has Surged Beyond Expected Capacity

DEN's Central Location Powers Regional Travel

Alternatives Evaluation

Initial Feasibility Screening

Moved forward

Did not move forward

Comparative Evaluation

Roadway

Transit, bicycle and pedestrian

Operations

Identifying the Preferred Alternative

Continue the conversation

Concept 1: Managed Lanes

Proposed Configuration

Managed Lanes primary users

Potential benefits

Potential tradeoffs

Managed Lane Examples

Your Feedback

Concept 2: Collector-Distributor Roads

Proposed Configuration

Collector-Distributor Roads primary users

Potential benefits

Potential tradeoffs

Collector-Distributor Road Examples

Your Feedback

Transit, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Improvements

DEN Transit Center Improvements

Potential benefits

Potential tradeoffs

40th and/or 61st Avenue Transit Station Improvements

Potential benefits

Potential tradeoffs

New Bus and/or Shuttle Service to DEN

Potential benefits

Potential tradeoffs

Bicycle and Pedestrian Connections