Peña Boulevard Phase 1B Project Is Envision Silver Verified

The Peña Boulevard Phase 1B Project has been verified Envision Silver by ISI, recognizing comprehensive sustainability performance across quality of life, leadership, resource efficiency, and climate resilience.

As the primary gateway to one of the fastest-growing airports in North America, Peña Boulevard plays a critical role in regional mobility, economic competitiveness, and climate-resilient infrastructure. The modernization of this critical corridor strengthens connectivity between Denver, its suburbs, and Denver International Airport (DEN), while improving safety, operational efficiency, and environmental performance.

The project ensures Peña Boulevard remains a resilient and reliable access corridor to Denver International Airport well into the future. Designed to create seamless multimodal access that extends beyond DEN’s immediate boundaries, the project supports the airport in meeting growing capacity demands while enhancing connectivity across the region.

Originally built in 1993, the 11.1-mile-long roadway is experiencing significant congestion due to airport growth and surrounding development, resulting in increasing accident rates and declining roadway performance. With continued growth in passenger travel and freight movement along the Peña corridor, DEN is improving roadway geometry to ensure reliable trips, support the supply chain, and enhance roadway safety for passengers, employees, freight operators, and surrounding communities.

Project upgrades include wider shoulders, new merge and diverge lanes, enhanced access to public transportation, and expanded multimodal accommodations for vehicles, transit, and cyclists/pedestrians, consistent with Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) design standards. Lighting upgrades along Peña Boulevard will remove 103 existing luminaires with a combined energy demand of 43,250 watts and replace them with 85 LED streetlight fixtures rated at 5,300 lumens, reducing total energy usage by 66%. These upgrades reduce long-term operational costs while lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with corridor operations.

QUOTE FROM ISI:
“Congratulations to DEN and the entire project team on earning Envision Silver for the Peña Boulevard Phase 1B Project,” said Kailey Eldredge, ISI’s Verification Director. “This project demonstrates how strategic infrastructure reinvestment can enhance quality of life, support long-term growth, and integrate environmental and social responsibility into a critical transportation asset.”

QUOTE FROM PROJECT PENA BLVD. PMT (AtkinsRéalis):

The Peña Boulevard Phase 1B project is a sustainability benchmark for the Airport and for DEN’s Design, Engineering and Construction (DEC) division. It is one of the largest landside projects undertaken by DEN and represents the airport’s first Envision certified (Silver) landside project. This level of achievement aligns the project with DEN’s vision to become the most sustainable airport in the world. The project serves as an excellent footprint for this type of achievement for the airport moving forward.” – Tom Cotton, AtkinsRéalis, Peña PMT Design Manager.

QUOTE FROM PROJECT DESIGNER (RS&H):

“The Peña Boulevard Phase 1B project reflects how thoughtful transportation design can advance sustainability while improving mobility, safety, and long-term resilience. RS&H was proud to support the design of this project with integration of the Envision framework to balance operational performance with environmental stewardship and community benefit. Achieving Envision Silver underscores the value of collaboration and forward-looking infrastructure solutions that serve the region today while preparing for future growth.” – RS&H, Randal Lapsley, Design Project Manager

QUOTE FROM LEAD SUSTAINABILTY FIRM (C&S):

“Peña Boulevard Phase 1B is DEN’s first landside project to apply the Envision framework and pursue verification, marking a meaningful advancement in sustainable airport infrastructure. As Sustainability Lead, C&S was proud to partner with DEN and the project team to embed environmental stewardship, equity, and resilience across planning, design, and construction. The Envision Silver award recognizes the project’s lasting social, economic, and environmental benefits, including improved traffic flow, stronger supply chain reliability, and safer, more efficient travel for passengers and freight for years to come.” – Alexandra Davis-Petrenko, C&S Companies, Senior Sustainability Consultant