Department of Community Development
Reference: Downtown Public Realm Study Update
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Emma Lane, AICP, Senior Planner - Historic Preservation
Date Prepared: March 5, 2026
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Study Session item is to provide an update on the projects from the Brighton Downtown Public Realm Study that staff has completed or partially completed, and to contemplate and discuss future items that may be completed in the near future.
BACKGROUND
In December of 2024, City staff contracted with Dig Studio to create a Downtown Public Realm Study to evaluate the public spaces within Brighton’s downtown. The plan focuses on the feasibility of certain changes to the public realm in downtown.
Staff worked with the consultant to provide recommendations for public realm upgrades, and the consultant compiled these into the final Brighton Downtown Public Realm Study. The plan includes feasibility of traffic circulation changes and recommends a two-way traffic pattern while removing parking on both sides of North Main Street for the first two blocks north of East Bridge Street. This allows for the public realm space to be expanded to 20 feet on either side of the street. In its final configuration, this recommendation proposes special paving and shared street patterns, including curb-less design which will integrate the public spaces and slow traffic speeds.
While the roadway improvements are a main focus of the document, ancillary public realm improvement recommendations have also been provided within the document, in a format that prioritizes items into short-term, medium-term and long-term projects to make each item more feasible. This provides a menu of smaller improvements that can be completed in any order, while also allowing for multiple projects to be completed at the same time if feasible. Please refer to the final document for details regarding specific recommendations.
DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY UPDATES
Since the study’s completion in March of 2025, the City has been diligently working to accomplish recommended items in the plan. The items shown below have been completed or partially completed and have already begun to improve the downtown public realm area. The items below are referenced in the Brighton Downtown Public Realm Study on pages 35-41.
SHORT-TERM PROJECTS (2025-2028)
S1 - Reduce truck traffic on Main Street
• Public Works is in the process of installing “No Truck Route” signs installed in the downtown area. Projected installation timeline for those signs are in the late spring or early summer of 2026. Once the signs are installed, staff will work with the Police Department on enforcement.
S2 - Enhance wayfinding and signage
• BURA is working on the beautification project at Highway 7 (Bridge Street) and Highway 85, which will include a gateway sign as designed in the Community Identity Design Plan. BURA is also in the process of installing wayfinding signage throughout the downtown district to direct residents to public parking, civic buildings, and points of interest. The pedestrian wayfinding signs were discussed at the March BURA meeting and the sign package will go out to bid in the near future.
S3 - Install BRT stop on Main Street
• The east-bound bus stop along Bridge Street will be installed just east of Cabbage Street. This is planned to be installed in mid-spring or early summer, before the Boulder to Brighton Flyer bus service begins service later this year. The west-bound stop will be located at the existing pull-out in front of the depot east of the train tracks and Cabbage Street.
S8 - Restripe Strong Street
• Public Works completed the striping on Strong Street to the east of Main Street in the fall of 2025. This included restriping the parking on the north side of the street from angled parking to parallel spaces, and the parking on the south side of the street to back-in spaces.
LONG-TERM PROJECTS (2025-2033)
L4 - Provide safe & connected bike trails
• The first project to address this recommendation was the Veterans Park Trail Connection Project. The project expands the City’s trail system by adding approximately 400 linear feet of new trail along the Bridge Street right-of-way. This segment strengthens connectivity between downtown Brighton and the Colorado Front Range Trail, enhancing regional access for residents and visitors.
• The extension also links Veterans Park to the roundabouts on the west side of the city, further advancing Brighton’s commitment to developing accessible, well-connected green spaces. As part of the project, new curb and gutter were installed along this portion of Bridge Street to improve stormwater conveyance and overall infrastructure functionality.
FUTURE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY PROJECTS
Staff would like to discuss future projects and set priorities from the Downtown Public Realm Study with the City Council so that the items within the plan will continue to be advanced. All of the projects listed below would require more exploration in order to complete, so staff would like to have the Council’s feedback before spending time on the items.
S7 - Safety improvements at Bridge Street and Main Street
• Public Works is proposing safety upgrades to the intersection of Bridge Street and Main Street, including upgraded crossings which could include pedestrian refuges and flashing beacons.
M5 - Expand green space at 1st Avenue, Main Street and Bush Street intersection
• This project would close the southern-most block of South 1st Avenue where it intersects with Main Street, creating a safer intersection. As a result of closing that portion of the street, the plan recommends converting the former pavement and asphalt areas to park space.
L7 - Implement a "Quiet Zone" for Railroad (modified from "Quiet Zone" to just general safety modifications)
• Staff has explored the option of a “quiet zone” through the core city and has determined that this is not feasible at this time. However, staff would like to investigate making general safety updates to the Bridge Street crossing. This may include upgraded crossing bars, sidewalks, and other safety mechanisms.
ATTACHMENTS
● Annotated “Recommendations & Next Steps” section from the Downtown Public Realm Study
● Full Brighton Downtown Public Realm Study
● Draft Staff Presentation