Montbello, Green Valley Ranch residents urge Denver City Council to approve Peña Boulevard NEPA study

At the Denver City Council general public comment session on March 24, multiple residents who live near Peña Boulevard urged the council to approve a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study to address severe traffic congestion linking Montbello, Green Valley Ranch and Denver International Airport.

Speakers said congestion on Peña Boulevard impedes emergency response and everyday travel, and they asked councilmembers to prioritize a comprehensive NEPA review that considers both roadway improvements and transit alternatives. "We need both better roads and better transit," said Christopher Urias, a Montbello resident. "We need smart, community-informed solutions that serve everyone, not just airport traffic."

The residents said Peña Boulevard used to be primarily an access route to Denver International Airport but has become a main artery for homes, businesses and warehouses as growth in the corridor accelerated. Anne White, a 48-year resident of Montbello and the Far Northeast, asked the council to "vote fully to have this study done on Peña Boulevard so that we can get something started now," saying she did not want to wait several years for results. Judith Cole, a Green Valley Ranch resident, said council delays frustrated neighbors and warned that study timelines can be long; speakers repeatedly cited planning estimates ranging from "about five to seven years" for major construction projects if work is not started promptly.

Other speakers pressed specific short-term fixes and design concerns. John Hayford, who said he represents limousine and black-car companies serving Denver International Airport, recommended extending or modifying the Tower Road ramp to reduce backups that sometimes reach Fortieth Avenue. Hayford said a longer on-ramp would help trucks and commercial vehicles accelerate and reduce spillover onto local streets. Jeremy Stewart, a frequent airport traveler, argued the NEPA review should explicitly include mode-shift strategies such as expanded rail capacity and improved bus connections. "The only solution to congestion is viable alternatives to driving," Stewart said, and he criticized any study that would consider only widening the road without planning transit improvements.

Speakers cited specific bottlenecks and connecting streets, including Tower Road, 56th Avenue and Fortieth Avenue, and said local roads that were once used as alternatives are now congested as development has intensified. Several speakers said new housing, warehouses and hotels in the corridor have increased daily traffic and that unreliable transit options make private vehicles the default choice for many residents.

These comments were delivered during the public comment portion of the council meeting; no formal council action on Peña Boulevard was recorded during the session. Speakers urged the council to proceed with a NEPA study that evaluates both roadway and transit solutions and to consider interim fixes such as ramp improvements where feasible.