Colorado Boulevard Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-capacity, efficient bus service that incorporates elements of light rail. These include enhanced stations, all-door boarding, purchasing tickets before riding and, in some locations, dedicated bus lanes. BRT achieves high-quality service because it minimizes delays, such as making frequent stops and getting stuck in traffic at intersections. It combines the capacity and efficiency of a light rail with the flexibility, cost and simplicity of a bus system.

To meet the Colorado Department of Transportation’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, CDOT is building BRT on major arterials in the Denver metro area, including plans to improve travel along Colorado Boulevard with attractive and reliable BRT service. New BRT routes in Denver will enhance transportation options on state highways and improve connections to the region's passenger rail system. BRT will improve transit for existing riders and add high-quality service for new ones.

CDOT, in collaboration with the Regional Transportation District (RTD), the City and County of Denver, Arapahoe County and the City of Glendale, is working on a planning study (also known as an Alternatives Analysis) to improve travel on parts of Colorado Boulevard through BRT service in the area between I-70 and the Southmoor transit station south of Hampden Avenue. The project will also ensure that there is an ADA-compliant network of contiguous sidewalks to optimize connectivity and accessibility for all modes of travel.

• 2023 to 2024 - Initial corridor plan
• 2024 to 2026 - Alternatives Analysis and environmental evaluation
• 2026 to 2028 - Final design
• 2028 to 2030 - Construction and testing
• 2030 - Service begins

Colorado Boulevard is a major roadway and state highway in the Denver metropolitan area, acting as a central arterial for connecting various modes of travel at the local and regional levels. It is a nexus for connectivity, linking trails, transit lines, interstates, and other key routes. And yet, Colorado Boulevard can be a difficult street to travel on and across, and it doesn’t work for all modes of travel.

Colorado Boulevard is one of RTD’s highest ridership bus routes, with approximately 3,000 riders per day. However, buses on the corridor experience significant delays, resulting in long travel times.

Colorado Boulevard is also part of Denver’s high-injury network. Between 2018 and 2022, 117 crashes resulted in a death or serious injury along this corridor. Colorado Boulevard has limited infrastructure for pedestrians, including one mile of missing sidewalks, four miles of non-ADA compliant sidewalks, and many bus stops that lack shelters and benches. Additional existing challenges include:

• Infrastructure and amenities on Colorado Boulevard, especially for non-vehicular travel, are discontinuous and inconsistent.
• Being a pedestrian on Colorado Boulevard, which means traveling on sidewalks and crossing the street, can be a high-stress experience.
• While Colorado Boulevard is an auto-dominated environment, the corridor is traveled by people using various modes, not only motor vehicles.

The Colorado Boulevard BRT Project aims to deliver reliable, convenient, and attractive bus rapid transit service. Project priorities include improved safety, air quality, transit reliability, faster travel times, enhanced rider experience, and connectivity to other routes and services.

With the implementation of the Colorado Boulevard BRT Project, CDOT is anticipating significant growth in transit ridership in the corridor. Providing a high-quality and affordable service for people who rely on and/or choose to use transit will support Colorado in reaching greenhouse gas reduction targets, result in economic returns for the local jurisdictions along the corridor and improve safety in this high-injury corridor.

Public input is crucial to the success of the Colorado Boulevard BRT Project. You can get involved by attending our public meetings, submitting questions or concerns to our general comment form linked here, calling our project hotline at 720-900-5609 or emailing [email protected], and continuing to visit our project website for updates.

Project Contact Information
Tamara Rollison
Communications Manager, R1 & Deputy Director of Communications, Statewide
[email protected]

Ryan Noles
Bus Rapid Transit Program Manager
CDOT Region 1 Traffic & Safety
[email protected]