Jake Carias, PhD
@jakecarias.bsky.social
Urban Sociology, Urban Planning, & Health Inequalities | Statistician @CCCS | Urbanist | Member of the Buffalo diaspora in metro Denver | 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
"Denver is not currently a transit-first city. The vast majority of our street space is devoted to the movement of personal vehicles . . . RTD needs more funding to be able to run those buses and trains frequently all day, every day. But it's the cities and the state that control the street space."
RTD ridership is down 40%, its budget has holes, and lawmakers are fed up
“Cuts to service are unacceptable. We want more transit in the future,” said James Flattum, co-founder of the Greater Denver Transit advocacy group.
www.denverpost.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:26 PM
"Denver is not currently a transit-first city. The vast majority of our street space is devoted to the movement of personal vehicles . . . RTD needs more funding to be able to run those buses and trains frequently all day, every day. But it's the cities and the state that control the street space."
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Surface parking lots have gutted the urban fabric of our downtowns.
Pictured below: Buffalo, NY
Pictured below: Buffalo, NY
February 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Surface parking lots have gutted the urban fabric of our downtowns.
Pictured below: Buffalo, NY
Pictured below: Buffalo, NY
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Trains and buses could soon run more frequently on lines around Denver, reversing pandemic-era cuts to RTD.
RTD plans to significantly increase frequency of G and B trains to Arvada and Westminster
Trains could run every 15 minutes to Arvada and every 30 minutes to Westminster.
denverite.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Trains and buses could soon run more frequently on lines around Denver, reversing pandemic-era cuts to RTD.
My only concern is that encouraging RTD to think “creatively” during a budget crunch is pretty much what got us the half baked system we have today: a single tracked Airport line, mountains of delayed maintenance, and routes along highways with stations in seas of parking lots…
Lots of great reporting coming out of the @cprnews.bsky.social today, including this www.cpr.org/2026/02/11/r...
RTD Board Chair believes FasTracks will never be built — and alternatives should be considered
“We'll never build FasTracks. Shocker, right?”
www.cpr.org
February 12, 2026 at 6:56 AM
My only concern is that encouraging RTD to think “creatively” during a budget crunch is pretty much what got us the half baked system we have today: a single tracked Airport line, mountains of delayed maintenance, and routes along highways with stations in seas of parking lots…
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Homeowners across Colorado may have expected their property tax bills to go down this year — after all, their homes may be worth less.
Instead, many property owners will see their bills rise again.
Instead, many property owners will see their bills rise again.
Why your Colorado property tax bill still increased this year
The state had granted temporary tax discounts in recent years, but they are expiring.
www.cpr.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Homeowners across Colorado may have expected their property tax bills to go down this year — after all, their homes may be worth less.
Instead, many property owners will see their bills rise again.
Instead, many property owners will see their bills rise again.
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
"A top Democrat in the Colorado Senate is resigning to take nonprofit job, citing legislative pay" #coleg
A top Democrat in the Colorado Senate is resigning to take nonprofit job, citing legislative pay - The Colorado Sun
Senate President Pro Tempore Dafna Michaelson Jenet of Commerce City, who spent nearly a decade at the Capitol fighting for sexual assault survivors and to improve mental health care, said serving in the legislature has become a financial hardship for her family
coloradosun.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:32 PM
"A top Democrat in the Colorado Senate is resigning to take nonprofit job, citing legislative pay" #coleg
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
MASSIVE VICTORY for GDT's advocacy and for RTD Riders coming this June:
G Line’s 15-min frequencies are FINALLY being RESTORED and...
B Line’s 30-min peak frequencies are FINALLY being RESTORED!
Huge props go out to RTD’s new COO Patrick Preusser for his leadership and his team making it happen!
G Line’s 15-min frequencies are FINALLY being RESTORED and...
B Line’s 30-min peak frequencies are FINALLY being RESTORED!
Huge props go out to RTD’s new COO Patrick Preusser for his leadership and his team making it happen!
February 8, 2026 at 5:06 PM
MASSIVE VICTORY for GDT's advocacy and for RTD Riders coming this June:
G Line’s 15-min frequencies are FINALLY being RESTORED and...
B Line’s 30-min peak frequencies are FINALLY being RESTORED!
Huge props go out to RTD’s new COO Patrick Preusser for his leadership and his team making it happen!
G Line’s 15-min frequencies are FINALLY being RESTORED and...
B Line’s 30-min peak frequencies are FINALLY being RESTORED!
Huge props go out to RTD’s new COO Patrick Preusser for his leadership and his team making it happen!
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Opinion | "America’s higher-education footprint extends far beyond its borders — but our federal-policy imagination has not caught up."
https://chroni.cl/4kjFQPn
https://chroni.cl/4kjFQPn
The Forgotten Campuses of American Higher Education
Colleges in U.S. territories and American institutions overseas are neglected and underfunded.
chroni.cl
February 5, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Opinion | "America’s higher-education footprint extends far beyond its borders — but our federal-policy imagination has not caught up."
https://chroni.cl/4kjFQPn
https://chroni.cl/4kjFQPn
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Imagine if, instead of sitting in I-25 traffic, there was a train you could ride? 🛤️
Front Range Passenger Rail
#BuildFRPR
#BuildTheTrain
#SkipTheTraffic
#RideTheFrontRange
Front Range Passenger Rail
#BuildFRPR
#BuildTheTrain
#SkipTheTraffic
#RideTheFrontRange
February 5, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Imagine if, instead of sitting in I-25 traffic, there was a train you could ride? 🛤️
Front Range Passenger Rail
#BuildFRPR
#BuildTheTrain
#SkipTheTraffic
#RideTheFrontRange
Front Range Passenger Rail
#BuildFRPR
#BuildTheTrain
#SkipTheTraffic
#RideTheFrontRange
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
The vote would be a citywide referendum on the YIMBY ideology.
Denver YIMBYs float a major upzoning initiative for the ballot
The proposal would rezone tens of thousands of properties, but it has a long way to go.
denverite.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The vote would be a citywide referendum on the YIMBY ideology.
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Do you have to be a social scientist to know how funny this is?
February 3, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Do you have to be a social scientist to know how funny this is?
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Colorado now has 6 million people, even amid slowly population growth
Colorado now has 6 million people, even amid slowly population growth
But the state saw more residents move to other states than move in. The State Demography Office attributes the declines in net migration to migrants who left.
coloradosun.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Colorado now has 6 million people, even amid slowly population growth
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
The suburb’s voters will decide in a special election whether to send the city back to its old development rules, making it harder to build townhomes, condos and duplexes across the city.
Lakewood zoning laws will go to vote in April special election
Welcome to the next round of this suburban growth fight.
denverite.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:40 AM
The suburb’s voters will decide in a special election whether to send the city back to its old development rules, making it harder to build townhomes, condos and duplexes across the city.
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Make Lakewood Liveable again. Attend next week's campaign kickoff and fundraiser to defend the best new zoning coding in Colorado. Make Lakewood Livable Campaign Kickoff & Grassroots Fundraiser
Date: Feb 3 • 17:00
www.eventbrite.com/e/make-lakew...
Date: Feb 3 • 17:00
www.eventbrite.com/e/make-lakew...
Make Lakewood Livable Campaign Kickoff & Grassroots Fundraiser
Support a more affordable, sustainable Lakewood! Defend our recently passed pro-affordable housing, pro-environment, and pro-people zoning!
www.eventbrite.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Make Lakewood Liveable again. Attend next week's campaign kickoff and fundraiser to defend the best new zoning coding in Colorado. Make Lakewood Livable Campaign Kickoff & Grassroots Fundraiser
Date: Feb 3 • 17:00
www.eventbrite.com/e/make-lakew...
Date: Feb 3 • 17:00
www.eventbrite.com/e/make-lakew...
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Colorado saw more traffic deaths in 2025, including a rise in impaired driving and pedestrian deaths
Colorado saw more traffic deaths in 2025, including a rise in impaired driving and pedestrian deaths
The uptick follows a decline in traffic fatalities from the prior 2 years, underscoring the need to refocus safety efforts
coloradosun.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Colorado saw more traffic deaths in 2025, including a rise in impaired driving and pedestrian deaths
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
"In a 4-2 vote, Democrats cited the lack of a holistic plan to address the state's growing prison population, despite repeated requests for the administration to do so."
Story from @bentebirkeland.bsky.social www.cpr.org/2026/01/21/s...
Story from @bentebirkeland.bsky.social www.cpr.org/2026/01/21/s...
State budget committee rejects request for more prison beds until DOC provides more complete plan
The Department of Corrections requested ongoing funding in the budget for 788 state prison beds to the tune of $2.4 million
www.cpr.org
January 23, 2026 at 2:46 PM
"In a 4-2 vote, Democrats cited the lack of a holistic plan to address the state's growing prison population, despite repeated requests for the administration to do so."
Story from @bentebirkeland.bsky.social www.cpr.org/2026/01/21/s...
Story from @bentebirkeland.bsky.social www.cpr.org/2026/01/21/s...
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
New York State lawmakers are flirting with the idea of regulating e-bikes as if they were cars, but don't have all the facts.
State Pols Could Regulate E-Bikes Despite Not Knowing What They Are - Streetsblog Empire State
State lawmakers are flirting with the idea of regulating e-bikes as if they were cars, but don't have all the facts.
buff.ly
January 23, 2026 at 3:11 PM
New York State lawmakers are flirting with the idea of regulating e-bikes as if they were cars, but don't have all the facts.
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
NEW: The City of Denver insists it didn't water down a finalized street safety project at the request of a billionaire's family who opposed the project in their neighborhood. City council was skeptical today.
January 22, 2026 at 3:19 AM
NEW: The City of Denver insists it didn't water down a finalized street safety project at the request of a billionaire's family who opposed the project in their neighborhood. City council was skeptical today.
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Denver’s downtown office vacancy rate grows to 38.2% as tenants reimagine the workplace
Denver’s downtown office vacancy rate grows to 38.2% as tenants reimagine the workplace
Much of the downtown submarkets ended 2025 more than 40% empty. But as available sublease space diminishes, the industry hopes stabilization is afoot.
coloradosun.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Denver’s downtown office vacancy rate grows to 38.2% as tenants reimagine the workplace
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Apartments in metro Denver reach highest vacancy rate in 16 years, pushing down rents again
Apartments in metro Denver reach highest vacancy rate in 16 years, pushing down rents again
Fourth quarter 2025 also had landlords offering more free rent, gift cards and other concessions in 21-year history.
coloradosun.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Apartments in metro Denver reach highest vacancy rate in 16 years, pushing down rents again
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
To get more housing built, Mayor Mike Johnston said the city will continue its effort to improve the permitting system.
Sharp decline in apartment construction is among Denver mayor’s ‘biggest fears’
Mayor Mike Johnston wants the city to help developers build, and he’s lukewarm about its affordable housing law.
denverite.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:26 PM
To get more housing built, Mayor Mike Johnston said the city will continue its effort to improve the permitting system.
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Uh-oh...oh, well.
January 18, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Uh-oh...oh, well.
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
Build homes in existing communities with roads, schools, and services—or keep paving over farmland and open space? DOLA’s Strategic Growth Report makes a compelling case for infill and compact growth. Read our takeaways:
Colorado at a crossroads: Why smart growth beats sprawl
We must be more strategic about the kinds of housing we choose to build and where we choose to build it.
housingforwardco.org
January 16, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Build homes in existing communities with roads, schools, and services—or keep paving over farmland and open space? DOLA’s Strategic Growth Report makes a compelling case for infill and compact growth. Read our takeaways:
Reposted by Jake Carias, PhD
State lawmakers are back at the Capitol starting today. Here's a primer for a new session from @bentebirkeland.bsky.social
www.cpr.org/2026/01/14/c...
www.cpr.org/2026/01/14/c...
Colorado begins another legislative session with more desires than money to spend
Property insurance rates, paying for Medicaid are among the topics they will tackle
www.cpr.org
January 14, 2026 at 5:52 PM
State lawmakers are back at the Capitol starting today. Here's a primer for a new session from @bentebirkeland.bsky.social
www.cpr.org/2026/01/14/c...
www.cpr.org/2026/01/14/c...