Denver: A Model For Regional Thinking

"All three mayors [mayors John Hickenlooper of Denver, Ed Tauer of Aurora, and Steve Burkholder of Lakewood] are proponents of regional cooperation. They are among a growing number of Denver-area city and county leaders who are willing to do what is best for the region rather than limit their focus to their own community and are working more closely with a powerful business community that has brought the region more economic stability and growth. Spurred by a future in which the population is projected to grow by 1.3 million people—from 2.6 million to 3.9 million—by 2030, the region also is working on smart growth initiatives. A new multimodal transportation network and urban growth boundaries, outlined by an agreed-upon vision and supported by intergovernmental agreement, provide a blueprint for the future.

The region has some big issues to address. Traffic congestion was ranked the nation’s third worst, causing an annual loss of $1.4 billion in time and gasoline costs, according to a 2003 report by the Texas Transportation Institute. A critical need exists for affordable workforce housing, given the metropolitan area’s April median housing price of $250,000 for a single-family home. Suburban sprawl continues to devour thousands of acres of open land."