THE STITCH


URBAN REGENERATION:

‘The Stitch’ is an elevated transit experience that soars above the Cherry Creek waterway in Denver with vistas of the Front Range and Rocky Mountains in the distance. 

DENVER,CO

The platforms and bridges that connect the urban ropeway stations create opportunities for vertical parklets and strings of pedestrian-focused routes that stitch together Denver’s unique neighborhoods, connecting LoHi, LoDo, The River Mile, Ball Arena, Union Station, The Theater District, the Convention Center, Auraria Campus, the Golden Triangle, Cherry Creek North and more.  With a minimal footprint and a diagonal route through the city, The Stitch meets numerous bike trails, bus routes and train lines already within the city to create a dynamic, pedestrian oriented and well-connected urban environment for Denver.

THE ROUTE

By stitching together Denver's diverse neighborhoods, the urban ropeway system will not only improve mobility but also catalyze community growth and development along its corridor. Experience the city from a new perspective while enjoying a practical, efficient way to reach your destination.

stitching denver into a mobility hub

The proposed urban ropeway system will transform how Denver moves by creating seamless aerial connections across our growing city. This innovative transit solution offers:

Efficient connections between existing bus routes, light rail, and bike infrastructure, creating a truly integrated mobility network

  1. Traffic congestion relief by providing an alternative transportation mode that operates above street level

  2. Community accessibility for neighborhoods previously disconnected by physical barriers

  3. Sustainable transportation with zero emissions at the point of use

  4. Reliable transit times unaffected by ground-level congestion

Elevating Our Transportation Future

Speer Boulevard, one of Denver's major arterial roadways, currently faces severe traffic congestion problems that continue to worsen. Peak hour gridlock frequently extends travel times by 15-25 minutes for even short segments of the corridor. Bus routes attempting to serve this corridor face unpredictable delays, with buses often trapped in the same traffic as private vehicles. Intersection bottlenecks at major cross streets create ripple effects that extend congestion to surrounding neighborhoods.

Unlike major infrastructure projects that can take 5-10+ years from planning to completion, urban ropeway systems can be designed, approved, and constructed in just 18-36 months. By avoiding complex underground utilities relocation and extensive roadway disruptions, the urban ropeway minimizes community impact during construction while delivering benefits sooner.

Urban ropeway systems require significantly less energy per passenger-mile than buses or trains. Their continuous operation eliminates the stop-and-go energy waste of traditional transit, resulting in lower operational costs and reduced environmental impact over the system's lifetime.

The Denver urban ropeway offers remarkable cost savings compared to traditional transportation infrastructure. While subway systems can cost $400-700 million per mile and light rail averages $80-220 million per mile, urban ropeway systems typically cost just $10-30 million per mile. This dramatic difference means Denver can implement a comprehensive aerial network for a fraction of the cost of ground-based alternatives.

By literally rising above physical barriers like highways, waterways, and rail corridors that traditionally divide neighborhoods, the urban ropeway creates direct connections between previously isolated areas, fostering community integration and economic development opportunities.

The Denver Urban Ropeway represents a forward-thinking approach to urban mobility—one that can be implemented quickly, cost-effectively, and with minimal disruption while maximizing connectivity across our growing city.

Cherry Creek Trail: An Underutilized Asset

Running parallel to Speer Boulevard, the Cherry Creek Trail represents one of Denver's most beautiful yet underutilized transportation resources:

  • Limited connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods restricts access to this premium non-motorized corridor

  • Missing links between the trail and major employment/residential centers reduce its practical utility

  • Seasonal usage patterns show the trail is primarily recreational rather than serving as a true transportation alternative

  • Safety concerns in certain sections, particularly after dark, limit its appeal for commuters

  • Lack of integration with other transit modes prevents the trail from functioning as part of a comprehensive mobility network

The proposed urban ropeway system would complement both Speer Boulevard and the Cherry Creek Trail by providing an elevated connection that bypasses traffic congestion while creating new access points to the greenway below, effectively transforming these parallel corridors into a multi-modal transportation spine for the city.

Denver's Aerial Connection: Linking the City's Premier Destinations

The proposed Denver Urban Ropeway will create seamless connections between the city's most vibrant and visited destinations, transforming how residents and visitors experience our city.

Glide effortlessly above traffic as you travel between downtown's cultural heart and sporting venues without the frustration of parking or congested streets. The urban ropeway system creates direct aerial pathways connecting Denver's premier attractions in minutes rather than the unpredictable journey times experienced on congested roads.

From watching the Nuggets play to attending a world-class exhibition, from enjoying riverside dining to catching a concert, the urban ropeway transforms previously disconnected experiences into a cohesive urban journey. Stations strategically placed at key destinations will feature intuitive connections to existing transportation, making transfers simple and intuitive.

Business travelers, sports fans, cultural enthusiasts, and everyday commuters alike will benefit from this revolutionary connection between Denver's most beloved landmarks – experiencing the city from an entirely new perspective while saving time and avoiding the stress of ground-level congestion.

Experience Denver as a truly connected city, where your next destination is just an urban ropeway ride away.