Until transit improves, parking is a necessity

Re: “Colorado lawmakers seek ban on local parking requirements,” March 9 news story

Having lived in Denver for almost 50 years, reading the article concerning eliminating parking requirements for new housing and businesses makes me think that perhaps I am living in an alternate universe. It seems that some politicians forget where we live.

This is not Boston, New York, or Washington, D.C. To consider eliminating or at least severely reducing housing parking requirements, there needs to be easily accessible, efficient and cost effective (for users) public transit. Colorado in general and the Front Range in particular have a deplorable record in this regard.

For decades, DRCOG and RTD wasted money on endless transportation studies until finally taking a risk on light rail, the most conservative approach possible, with the result being a mediocre solution to the problem.

Just as a certain insightful administration proposed and built the new “expensive” but highly successful airport against strong opposition, RTD should have built a rail transit system that, at least, included underground lines throughout downtown, Capitol Hill, Congress Park, Hill Top and Park Hill.

Yes, that would have cost more, but it would have a much larger ridership and would have worked to greatly reduce commuter traffic.

Perhaps under this scenario it might have been possible to reduce housing and business parking requirements, but not in our current situation. Remember that not everyone can be expected to walk or ride a bicycle everywhere!

And why is Denver always so concerned about developers not being able to make even more money anyway? — Joseph Crystal, Denver