In the Denver region, there is not always a connection between the location of major job centers and affordable housing. This makes it challenging for people to find, commute to and keep good jobs.
Mile High Connects will partner with RTD and regional employers to improve connections between housing and jobs, making it easier for residents across the Metro area to find and access employment. By influencing transit, land use and economic development planning, Mile High Connects will help to prioritize using transit to advance job opportunities and access for workers at all skill levels.
Research for the
Equity Atlas revealed the following findings, which represent opportunities and challenges related to jobs and transit.
- There is a mismatch between the location of major job centers and affordable housing.
In parts of the region outside of Downtown Denver, there is a mismatch between the location of major job centers and the location of affordable housing, especially in the Denver Tech Center.
- Jobs for low- and middle-skill workers are often far from where they live.
Areas with low educational attainment tend to be further from major job centers, requiring residents of these neighborhoods to travel further for work. These residents are often low-income and are more likely to rely on public transportation.
- FasTracks will improve connections between housing and jobs, especially for many low-income households.
The build out of FasTracks is expected to connect a greater percentage of households of all incomes to jobs. A recent report by Reconnecting America found that 17.6 percent of the Denver region’s jobs are currently located near transit. FasTracks has the potential to increase the percentage of jobs located near transit from 17.6 percent to 26.2 percent.
