In recent years, significant attention has been paid to the possible role of Denver Union Station and its environs as (a) a center for interconnecting various modes of transportation and (b) its potential to influence land use by both the private and public sectors. Activity from existing and proposed developments and potential transportation modes must co-exist efficiently and effectively.

The Master Plan prepared by the Union Station Alliance identified and evaluated a number of proposals and plans for the Denver Union Station area. This evaluation included the full build-out of the area and defined how that development will blend into the overall development of Denver Union Station, the adjacent Lower Downtown Historic District and new development in the Central Platte Valley.

The Master Plan serves as a design framework that is relatively general in scope. The purpose of the Master Plan is to guide the redevelopment of the site. As such, this Plan also served as the basis for preparing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a master developer to develop the site.

The Master Plan defines the characteristics of key elements of infrastructure that will be needed to implement the plan in the future. The plan also identifies:

• Transit facility size, location and layout
• Overall site density
• Maximum building heights and locations
• Building bulk planes
• Open space locations and quantities
• Pedestrian connections
• Transit and vehicular access
• Parking quantities and locations
• Other site components
• Building design requirements
• Compatibility with the historic character of the area

Additionally, the Plan depicts the overall conceptual character and layout; however, it does not present a detailed design of future development. The Master Plan also identifies a range of potential uses that could occur. These uses will allow some flexibility to allow future developers options to meet the future market needs and economic considerations.

The Master Plan’s Vision Plan defines a physical environment that seamlessly accommodates transportation modes and efficient movement throughout the site. Among the 40 alternatives studied, the Vision Plan emerged as the strongest alternative. The Vision Plan suggests possible uses for specific land parcels and identifies public spaces and circulation.

Key elements of the Vision Plan include:

• Placing major transportation modes – light rail, passenger rail and regional bus – below grade. This separates functions, promotes convenient and safe circulation, and frees the street level for flexible transportation uses, public spaces, and complementary redevelopment.
  
  
• Restoring and rehabilitating the historic train station to serve as the main circulation and orientation space and to provide transportation services, retail, restaurants, and office uses.
  
  
• Designing the Denver Union Station site to accommodate the potential for a “through” station for passenger rail.
  
  
• Creating a mixed-use, transit-oriented development that makes effective use of transportation infrastructure, supports transit use, increases transit readership, and creates an active and vibrant urban center.
  
  
• Providing a through station for light rail service to improve efficiency and scheduling of arriving and departing trains.
  
  
• Connecting 18th Street between Wynkoop and Wewatta streets.
  
  
• Creating a commercial bus facility for 18 buses one level above the street to accommodate intercity, charter, and tour buses.
  
  
• Providing space for a downtown circulator to supplement the 16th Street Mall Shuttle.
  
  
• Creating flexible street-level space between the historic station and the development on Wewatta Street for pedestrians, private transportation, the 16th Street Mall Shuttle, the proposed downtown circulator, and future development.
  
  
• Improving access and circulation for bicycles and pedestrians, with safe and convenient access from the Cherry Creek and South Platte Bike and Pedestrian Paths and connections between the Central Platte Valley and Downtown at 16th, 17th and 18th Streets.
  
  
• Setting aside 76,000 square feet of flexible program space above passenger rail and below the commercial bus facility between 18th and 19th Streets for transit services or future development.
  
  
• Providing, through mixed-use development, a variety of housing options and employment opportunities at DUS, as well as access and connections to housing and jobs throughout the region.
  
  
• Creating a new public plaza on Wynkoop Street and a new public pedestrian area at the 17th Street Promenade.
  
  
• Providing approximately 2,100 parking spaces to serve transportation, offices, shops and residences.
  
  
• Creating development parcels with the potential for more than 1 million square feet of new offices, residences, shops and restaurants.
  
  
• Combining all these elements in a vibrant, safe, convenient and legible urban environment.

The process relied on input from and collaboration with the four client agencies and the public.