The Colorado Department of Transportation is preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for alternative improvements of Interstate Highway 70 between I-25 and Tower Road. At a minimum the highway must be rebuilt as is, at a cost of $396 - $606 million. Simply adding 2 to 4 lanes along the corridor could cost between $1.2 billion and $1.6 billion depending in part on the use of tolled express lanes. Another alternative being considered would relocate a portion of I-70 to the I-270 and Brighton Road alignment at a cost of $1.5 billion to $2.0 billion, again depending in part on the use of tolled express lanes. This alternative would replace the existing I-70 alignment with East 46th Avenue at grade. The DEIS should be available to the public this summer. Funding for construction of the project has not been identified.

The Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District Parking Committee has issued a report of its study of parking in the BID. Among its conclusions - nearly half of the CCN visitors use street parking; but only 10% of the parking spaces in the area are street spaces. Clearly, the off-street spaces are not used effectively. The same conclusion was drawn in a parking study commissioned by the city in the early 1990s. This problem will be addressed in the Capital Improvements project planned for the District. The CCN BID has hired Design Workshop and Nolte Engineering to design the public improvements to be built in the District, including Fillmore Plaza, with input from the BID's Design Advisory Board, merchants and residents.

The parking study also reports that most complaints about the parking kiosks result from the delay in credit card processing and the need to walk back to the car to put the receipt in the car. Among the study's recommendations is improved signage for off-street parking and improved kiosk technology. When construction is complete on NorthCreek and the Fillmore Place complex including Pura Vida (now open), those property owners (Sturm Group and Western Development) will restore Fillmore Plaza to near its former configuration without the gazebo and the spruce trees, on an interim basis until the long- term design is finalized and built. The Sturm Group is proposing zoning changes at Fillmore Place to allow residential use on the upper levels at the north end of the block along 2nd Avenue. If and when approved, the design of Fillmore Plaza will be finalized in conjunction with the design of the street improvements throughout the BID.

Nick LeMasters reports that in spite of soft retail markets nationwide, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center is doing well. The Farmers Market has moved from the Bed Bath and Beyond parking lot to Cherry Creek Drive North, just east of University with vehicles blocked from the street, increasing the available parking during the market hours.

Transportation Solutions reports efforts to enhance the connection between Cherry Creek and downtown by creating a flat-rate taxi fare. Such a fare change would require approval by the Public Utilities Commission. Denver City Council Member Jeanne Robb reports inquiries about development of more hotels in Cherry Creek North, which could take advantage of such a fare change.