The Vibrant Denver Transportation Bond: Ignoring the Community, Prioritizing the Wrong Projects
The City of Denver asked residents what mattered. Thousands responded. The Mayor didn’t listen.
What Denverites Asked For
When the City of Denver asked for public input on capital improvements, residents responded loudly and clearly:
1,137 comments called for better bike infrastructure and protected lanes, nearly 18% of respondents to the Mayor’s surveys.
Yet the final $950 million bond package does not fund a single new bike lane.
What the Bond Does Fund: A Costly Bridge Rebuild
One project the mayor did prioritize: a complete rebuild of the 8th Avenue Bridge, estimated to cost tens of millions of dollars.
But here's the truth:
We’ve heard Bridge engineers say the bridge is structurally sound and there are other bridges in Denver that are in worse condition.
Recent city engineering reports confirm it is structurally sound.
Experts in the field believe a moisture barrier and resurfacing would extend its lifespan, at a fraction of the cost
A full rebuild isn’t just expensive, it’s unnecessary, wasteful, and diverts funds from real community priorities
The full rebuild of the bridge is about a subsidy for the billionaire owner of the Broncos, who wants a brand new stadium built nearby.
This isn’t about safety, it’s about spending priorities.
The Mayor Isn’t Listening
Residents asked for:
🚲 Protected bike lanes
🚶♀️ Safer neighborhood streets
🏘️ Housing solutions
🗳️ Modern election facilities
Instead, the Mayor chose:
🚧 A $50M+ bridge rebuild that is unnecessary when a repair can be done
💬 Ignoring the most frequently mentioned survey topics
❌ Zero funding for basic, low-cost improvements that would benefit every neighborhood
We Deserve Better
This bond is being sold as an investment in Denver’s future. But real investment means listening, adapting, and honoring community voices.
“People across the city want to reduce speeding and ride bikes safely… but the bond includes nothing for us.”
— Public Feedback
Know What’s In—And What’s Not
✅ Funded:
Street resurfacing
Rec center renovations
A costly bridge rebuild
❌ Not Funded:
New bike infrastructure
Safer crosswalks and traffic calming
Affordable housing
Zoo upgrades and election security
A no vote means the Mayor will have to come up with a better list of projects
If you vote no, it sends a message to the Mayor and City Council that they will need to come up with another list of projects that is better based on what the community actually wants. It rejects the idea that we should be subsidizing major bridges for a billionaire football team owner. Check out this Denverite article with more details on what it means to vote no.
Learn More Before You Votebillionaire
🗳️ The Vibrant Denver Bond will be on the November 5, 2025 ballot. Make your voice count.
Resources:
📬 Learn more about voting at Denver Votes.
📅 Email you City Council Member asking for more bike lanes in the bond.
Read about the Vibrant Denver Bond in the Press:
Denverites Concerned about projects left off the Vibrant Denver Bond List
Prices for controversial Vibrant Denver bond list revealed
Bike Advocates Say they were left out of Denver’s Big Spending Plan