Downtown Denver Partnership Releases Latest Travel Survey Report
- Downtown Denver Partnership
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 29
The Downtown Denver Partnership has published the results of its 17th annual Travel Survey, conducted in fall 2024. The survey tracks evolving employee commuting patterns and mobility perceptions in Denver's downtown core, and generated over 3,500 responses, providing comprehensive insight into current travel behaviors and emerging trends.
The 2024 survey reveals a continued increase in personal vehicle dependence among downtown commuters, a trend that has steadily grown since 2020. Employees consistently prioritize safety and reliability when choosing their commute mode, with decisions further influenced by flexible return-to-office schedules and demand for faster, more adaptable transportation options.
What downtown employees are saying:
Cost drives alternative transportation choices: Among employees who use non-car modes for commuting, 35% cite cost savings as their primary motivation.
Reliability remains a barrier to using public transit : Nearly 42% of respondents would increase their transit use if service reliability improved.
Protected infrastructure encourages cycling: Over one-third of employees (33.8%) would bike more frequently with expanded protected bike lane networks.
Proximity creates opportunity: Nearly 30% of downtown employees live within five miles of their workplace, suggesting significant potential to decrease single-occupant vehicle trips among these commuters specifically.
The Downtown Denver Partnership remains committed to developing a safe, accessible and efficient mobility network that supports diverse transportation options for all downtown commuters. In the past year, the Partnership advanced several key initiatives which included:
Launching the Downtown Area Plan update, a comprehensive vision plan that will guide the future of downtown and include key transportation improvements.
Advocating for the renewal and expansion of the Denver Downtown Development Authority with a framework that supports investments that will catalyze economic growth and revitalization in the center city.
Conducting a comprehensive off-street parking study and expanding secure bike storage options for downtown users.
Playing an active role in shaping policies to improve transit safety and access by testifying during the 2024 and 2025 State Legislative sessions.
The Downtown Denver Travel Survey continues to serve as an essential measurement tool for evaluating the impact and effectiveness of mobility-related policies, programs and infrastructure investments. These insights directly inform the Partnership's ongoing efforts to create a more connected, sustainable downtown transportation network.
