The City and County of Denver and CDOT recognized the need and opportunity at the Colfax Avenue and Federal Boulevard Interchange to reevaluate the current configuration and develop a design that maximizes the transportation network and supports future land uses.

The current highway-style, cloverleaf interchange (shown above) has stood for years as a barrier to community connectivity and user safety. This interchange, located just west of downtown Denver, connects multiple neighborhoods, including West Colfax, Villa Park, Sloan’s Lake, and Jefferson Park, as well as the Stadium District and the Denver Housing Authority’s Sun Valley redevelopment. There are nearly 20,000 people living within a mile of the interchange. The Decatur-Federal Station, located just south of the interchange at Howard Place and Federal Boulevard, is a major RTD transfer station that serves 4,574 passengers daily.

Muller led a team in developing an array of concepts to transform the existing 29 acres into a recommendation that feasibly supports the vision and goals from previous citywide and area-specific plans. The study includes technical evaluations of the interchange configuration, transportation network, and stormwater management scenarios, along with an extensive stakeholder outreach and community engagement process. The study developed design scenarios that focused on addressing equity, resilience, connectivity, health, and safety.

Ultimately, the Final Report (linked at right) concluded that there are a range of possible improvements for this location, with safety, mobility, and economic value that all involved entities can mutually support.