Denver Regional Council of Governments

Metro Vision 2035 Plan

What’s in the Plan for 2035?
Metro Vision 2035 is the long-range plan to manage growth within the
Denver area. It addresses development, transportation needs and
environmental quality. Bringing communities together to enhance our
g
region’s q y of life is the plan’s
quality p most important goal.

Growth in our region is inevitable.

inevit To maximize the benefits and
minimize the costs of growth,
growth Metro Vision promotes development
patterns that make efficient use of public infrastructure, are sensitive to
environmental considerations, and accommodate the diverse needs and
lifestyles of our region’s residents. The plan also recognizes the
important connections between
betwe development and transportation.

How can more thanth

han four
four million
m people get around? That’s a ques-
tion Metro Vision address
addresses by planning for a balanced transporta-
tion system that offers many travel options. The system aims to
move people and goods efficiently, incorporating bus and rapid
transit, highways, local streets and bicycle and pedestrian
facilities. Needs identified in the plan outweigh available
funds. Therefore, to achieve Metro Vision’s goals, DRCOG
must work with partner agencies on strategies for obtaining
funding.

O ne off the
One th
he Denver
D regio
region’s most important assets is its
environment. Mountain
Mounta views, large expanses of land
and pleasant weather have drawn people to the area
for centuries. As the area becomes more populated,
our region must take greater care to ensure these
assets don’t disappear. Metro Vision seeks to pre-
serve adequate open space, clean air and water
for generations to come.

The full Metro Vision 2035 plan is available

for download at www.drcog.org.
 Key plan elements
• Limit the extent of urban development in 2035 to 921 square miles.
• Encourage development in higher-density, mixed-use, transit- and pedestrian-oriented
urban centers.
• Create senior-friendly communities through development patterns and community
design features that meet the needs of elderly residents.
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( • Limit the amount of low-density, large-lot (semi-urban) development in 2035 to
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( 3 percent of all households in the region, the same as it is today.
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! ! • Maintain Boulder, Brighton, Castle Rock and Longmont as distinct and self-sufficient
Longmont freestanding communities, separate from the larger urban area.
BOULDER • Recognize and support the role of rural town centers in providing services beyond the
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DOUGLAS 2006 Urban Area

2006 Semi-Urban Area
" 2035 Urban Growth Boundary (UGB)

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 Key plan elements
• Construct and maintain a regional transit system that includes expanded rapid transit, bus
service, and places to park and take transit, and that serves the elderly, disabled, and
low-income populations.
• Construct and maintain a regional roadway system that includes new and improved road-
ways and interchanges, and street improvements that accommodate a variety of modes.
• Maximize transportation system performance by providing pedestrian and bicycle facili-
Specific corridor(s) ties, promoting alternatives to driving alone, and improving efficiency through activities
and technologies to
be determined
such as traffic signal improvements.
BOULDER • Work to address the anticipated $40 billion transportation funding shortfall through 2035.
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Tier 3 - Conceptual Preservation
DOUGLAS Corridors
Regional Roadway System
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(Some funds for preservation
contained in base system)

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 Key plan elements
• Establish an integrated, linked, permanent parks and open space system that is accessible
to all of the region’s residents. Protect a minimum of 854 square miles of state and local
parks and open space by 2035.
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 About DRCOG
The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) is thinking “SMART,” by emphasizing
Sustainability in the region’s vision for growth and development, acting as a Model for regional
cooperation, Advocating for the needs of seniors, establishing Regionalism as the best approach
to problem solving, and partnering with business and industry to meet Transportation needs.

B O U L D E R

BROOMFIELD

G I L P I N o A D A M S

DENVER

C L E A R C R E E K A R A P A H O E

J E F F E R S O N

D O U G L A S

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±
10 20
0 150 300
Miles
Miles

COUNTIES MUNICIPALITIES

Adams County City of Arvada Town of Empire City of Lone Tree

Arapahoe County City of Aurora City of Englewood City of Longmont
Boulder County Town of Bennett Town of Erie City of Louisville
City and County City of Black Hawk City of Federal Heights Town of Lyons
of Broomfield City of Boulder Town of Firestone Town of Mead
Clear Creek County Town of Bow Mar Town of Foxfield Town of Morrison
City and County of Denver City of Brighton Town of Frederick Town of Nederland
Douglas County Town of Castle Rock Town of Georgetown City of Northglenn
Gilpin County City of Centennial City of Glendale Town of Parker
Jefferson County City of Central City City of Golden City of Sheridan
City of Cherry Hills Village City of Greenwood Village Town of Silver Plume
Town of Columbine Valley City of Idaho Springs Town of Superior
City of Commerce City City of Lafayette City of Thornton
City of Dacono City of Lakewood City of Westminster
Town of Deer Trail Town of Larkspur City of Wheat Ridge
City of Edgewater City of Littleton
30% Post Consumer
1290 Broadway, Suite 700, Denver CO 80203-5606
Phone: 303-455-1000 Fax: 303-480-6790 E-mail: drcog@drcog.org On the Web: www.drcog.org