Tejon Street Revitalization Project | City of Colorado Springs

A cross section of Tejon Street that shows the new parking orientation and right of ways.

Workers begin smoothing the concrete expansion of the Tejon St. sidewalk

Construction of the Tejon Street Revitalization Project – to enhance outdoor dining space, sidewalk accessibility, and public safety – is nearly complete. Expanded dining areas, wider sidewalks and new trees have been installed on Block 1 (Colorado Avenue to Pikes Peak Avenue.) and Block 2 (Pikes Peak Avenue to Kiowa Street). All four corners at Tejon Street and Pikes Peak Avenue – Historic Busy Corner -- have been updated with colorful concrete and curbs that slope gently to street level.

The project team will take a winter break and return in the spring with final improvements at Busy Corner.

Relocation of commercial deliveries

At completion, Tejon Street will have a northbound and southbound lane, but the center tune lane will be removed to keep delivery trucks and their drivers out of traffic lanes. Commercial deliveries have moved to alleys and new loading zones on Colorado and Pikes Peak Avenues.

Background

The Tejon Street Revitalization Project is a collaboration between the City of Colorado Springs and the Downtown Partnership’s Downtown Development Authority. The long-term vision for this project is to boost public safety, accessibility and business activity through targeted enhancement of the South Tejon streetscape, from Colorado Avenue to Pikes Peak Avenue.

Downtown Colorado Springs has experienced a $2.3 billion surge in investment in recent years. These investments mean new hotels, restaurants, retailers and 5,000 new dwelling units. The increased popularity of Historic Tejon Street brings a desire for more outdoor dining space, greater sidewalk accessibility, and enhanced safety measures.

Funding

The cost for project design and construction totals $8.6 million. The funding comes from a $1.6m Revitalizing Main Streets Grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation and the City’s Parking Enterprise. The Downtown Development Authority is also providing funding for the redesign and construction of aesthetic enhancements to “Historic Busy Corner" at the intersection of Tejon Street and Pikes Peak Avenue.

Project Elements

What you can expect to see

The goal of the project is to widen and/or standardize patio spaces; widen sidewalks to provide accessibility for all; and enhance the beauty of Tejon Street with new, larger trees, new streetlights and other amenities.

Crews typically start a section of the block by removing patio railings, benches and lamp posts and demolishing sidewalks, curb and gutter. That process creates a blank canvas of sorts for the crews to add back the desired features, including three new concrete areas to serve different purposes:

A 9.5-foot section closest to buildings features a windowpane pattern and serves as patios for restaurants and other establishments.
The middle 10 feet of concrete serves as wide sidewalks to permit accessibility for pedestrians walking and using strollers, wheelchairs or mobility scooters. This section features a diamond-shaped pattern.
The outer six feet of concrete closest to the street is known as the amenity zone. It features stamped, colored concrete and serves as home for the new trees, streetlights and benches.

Making a home for trees

To support optimum tree growth, crews are installing “structural soil cells,’’ to serve as a foundation for the sidewalk but still provide ample space underground for the tree roots to spread. The new trees coming later this year are expected to be 15 to 20 feet tall and reach up to 50 feet tall at maturity, as tall as some of the buildings.

For safety’s sake

At completion, Tejon Street will have a northbound and southbound lane, but the center tune lane will be removed to keep delivery trucks and their drivers out of traffic lanes. Commercial deliveries have moved to alleys and new loading zones on Colorado and Pikes Peak Avenues.

Newsletters

This section of the page will be updated with email newsletters and updates for the Tejon St. Revitalization Project.

Parking Incentives

Learn about parking incentives to use when accessing South Tejon Street businesses during and after the project. As always, all City-owned garages are $1/hour and free on Sundays.

Tejon Street Revitalization Project—Parking Incentives

Visual Resources

Tejon Project Block 2 Map: Closures and Loading Zones

Click the map below to open full-size in a new tab.

Public Involvement

The first phase of the project, Colorado Avenue to Kiowa Street, has been designed with input from downtown businesses and the public through several processes, including the Experience Downtown Masterplan. The City also hosted an open house for the project Feb. 25 that was attended by 25-30 members of the public.

A business/public outreach specialist with Public Works began collaborating with the Tejon Street businesses and other stakeholders in early 2024. Those efforts will continue throughout the project.

Other Related Plans:

Experience Downtown Master Plan

Photos

May 22, 2025

Two patrons of an eatery on Tejon Street smiling for a photo with their dog. They are sitting outside of the restaurant.

Workers pave the widened concrete sidewalk for Tejon St.

A worker in a yellow safety vest places a tree cell on the ground.

A worker carries a plastic tree cell to be placed in the ground.