Montbello Organizing Committee

The Montbello Organizing Committee (MOC) is a grassroots organization composed of residents working to positively affect the quality of life for all who live, work, or volunteer within the neighborhood. A fairly new organization, the have delved into addressing issues in three major areas. Their goal of alleviating the food desert status is catalyzed by the work to develop healthy accessible food for all residents. They are also engaging neighbors in reshaping the narrative of Montbello―often unfairly and negatively characterized―through community enhancement efforts, which include a 50th Anniversary Celebration of Montbello, later in 2016. MOC’s work addressing public transportation accessibility in Montbello led to a victory in late 2015 when RTD altered a bus route that would have made accessing the community’s only grocery store very difficult. The group recently learned that RTD is planning to close the Montbello Park and Ride on Peoria and Albrook, a highly trafficked area for pedestrians, riders, and drivers. With the closure, an increase in traffic along Peoria is anticipated (especially since Havana is closed for construction and the increase in traffic to and from DIA). An increase safety concerns is also predicted, since sidewalks are in need of maintenance and are not capable of supporting the high quantity of riders waiting for the buses. MOC, with the help of Mile High Connects, is gathering stakeholders such as riders, RTD, City Council, and Public Works to find solutions to this new challenge. ​