Latest news with #Lakewood-based
Axios
18-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
DIA's $15M plan for Peña Boulevard
The public's gateway to Denver International Airport faces an existential crisis. The big picture: DIA officials are seeking a $15 million contract to study potential redevelopment of Peña Boulevard, a roughly 11-mile roadway connecting Colorado's biggest economic driver to the city, state and region. Driving the news: A Denver City Council committee on Wednesday will consider sending the contract to the full council after postponing a decision earlier this month. Why it matters: Pushback from council and the public on the contract could force DIA officials to reconsider their strategy for how to safely and efficiently get people to and from a travel hub that expects its annual passenger traffic to reach 100 million by 2027. By the numbers: Daily traffic on Peña Boulevard increased 80% between 1995 and 2023, city documents show. Traffic isn't solely travelers: More than 40,000 airport employees commute to and from DIA, while residents in Aurora and Denver use the boulevard daily. Context: The proposed five-year contract with Lakewood-based Peak Consulting Group would lead a National Environmental Policy Act study to evaluate next steps for Peña Boulevard. Creating a carpool or toll lane, adding a bus-only lane or building a frontage road for local traffic are among potential options in a master plan released last year, per Denverite. Yes, but: Some council members and transit advocates say the airport isn't adequately considering alternatives, including improving public transit to reduce car use and lower emissions. An open letter signed by five advocacy organizations this month urged city council to vote no on the contract. At least one council members said they'd received hundreds of resident messages opposing the $15 million study plan. What they're saying: "This is not the place to wage a war on cars," Councilmember Kevin Flynn said in support of the contract during the March 5 committee meeting. DIA CEO Phil Washington told council members during the same meeting the study is not starting with a "predetermined" outcome, adding it could reveal alternatives. Between the lines: DIA chose Peak Consulting Group through a bidding process that started last year, and it intends to pay for the $15 million contract from its own enterprise fund and federal transportation grants, according to city documents.
CBS News
14-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Colorado jury finds Terumo not negligent in release of toxins in Jefferson County
A jury in Jefferson County on Friday morning determined that Lakewood-based Terumo Blood and Cell Technology was not negligent in the release of the chemical ethylene oxide (EtO) into the community northwest of Denver. The chemical is a known carcinogen and plaintiffs had argued that the emissions, released over decades from the EtO used to sterilize medical devices, gave four women cancer. Terumo argued that the levels released were too low to have caused the women's illness. A spokesperson for Terumo provided the following statement: "We are pleased that the jury ruled in our favor after carefully considering the facts and the science. We care deeply about the Lakewood community, where many of our employees live and raise families, and are committed to meeting or exceeding all relevant health and safety standards in our sterilization of lifesaving medical devices. We look forward to putting this matter behind us and focusing on our mission of improving patient quality of life and meeting the needs of healthcare professionals." An attorney for the plaintiffs indicated he will provide a statement and this story will be updated once it's received. This lawsuit is one of several following studies from the Environmental Protection Agency showing an elevated lifetime cancer risk for thousands of people living near the Terumo facility at the corner of Simms Street and Collins Avenue.
