The Denver Regional Transit District (RTD) broke ground on construction of a bus rapid transit (BRT) line for East Colfax Avenue that will transform how people move along the corridor, making travel by bus faster and more reliable and providing an attractive alternative to driving that’s safer and better for the environment. At the groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 4, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $150 million toward implementation of the BRT system — the maximum allocation allowed in the FTA’s Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grant program.
The 8.6-mile BRT line will improve the experience for transit riders with several miles of dedicated bus-only lanes, traffic lights that will automatically turn green for buses and faster, more friendly boarding. FTA notes approximately 22,000 riders use the two current Colfax Avenue bus routes each weekday. The BRT is expected to shorten their trip by about 15 minutes each way.
With a bus arriving every four minutes on weekdays and service provided 24 hours a day, riders will be given new options for getting to key destinations, including downtown Denver, a major high school, 14 residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, medical campuses, historic Aurora and Denver RTD’s R Line light rail.
“Americans rely on public transit every day to get to work, go to school and connect with loved ones – and through our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re making the biggest investments in public transit in U.S. history,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to help deliver Denver’s first bus rapid transit line, which will help riders between Denver and Aurora get where they’re going more quickly and reliably, saving riders about half an hour each day, while reducing traffic congestion and pollution.”
“Investing in our public infrastructure means investing in our community and the East Colfax Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Project will improve the quality of life for our region, create jobs and increase access to vital transportation options,” said U.S. Rep Diana DeGette (D-CO-1). “This project is high quality and it speaks to the work done by all the partners who have made this a reality. I look forward to seeing how this project will provide safe, reliable and efficient transit for all who use it.”
At the groundbreaking ceremony, state and local leaders emphasized the positive impact a future BRT system will have on the area.
“This new bus service on Colfax Avenue will provide the transit opportunities Coloradans deserve along one of our busiest corridors. The state was proud to support this effort and I’m excited to see work begin on construction. Soon, Coloradans can take advantage of this new service, saving people money and time spent in traffic,” said Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
“BRT on East Colfax will strengthen and reinforce connections across the region,” said Denver RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson. “For the single mother getting her newborn to a medical appointment or the high school senior making it to school on time or the new arrival to the United States starting a new job, this project will make life better for each of them. Generational transit projects like this one demonstrate how mobility can have far-reaching outcomes for society.”
Denver RTD says the implementation of BRT on East Colfax Avenue from Civic Center Station to I-225 in the city of Aurora, Colo., will offer dedicated, center running transit lanes from Broadway to Yosemite Street, more efficient travel through signalized intersections and faster boarding operations, reducing transit travel time along the full stretch by up to 30 minutes. In addition to improving travel times, the East Colfax BRT will feature an enhanced pedestrian experience, with more trees and lighting and improved sidewalk and transit stops.
“Connecting people to and from Aurora more efficiently along this vital mass transit corridor will help us in our efforts at revitalizing East Colfax,” said City of Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman. “The CU Anschutz Medical Campus is at heart of this region’s health care, medical education and an emerging bioscience industry and the East Colfax BRT will improve the travel experience for the people who live, work and seek care here.
“We want to express our heartfelt thanks to the FTA Deputy Administrator [Veronica] Vanterpool and the Biden administration for investing in bus rapid transit in the Mile High City,” said Amy Ford, executive director of Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. “East Colfax Avenue will be open and accessible throughout construction and we’re encouraging the public to back small businesses on the corridor as we build a better tomorrow.”
The city and county of Denver has established a small business assistance program to support businesses during construction. At the groundbreaking ceremony, project partners joined the local business community in launching “We Back the Fax” – a community driven initiative encouraging Denver residents and visitors to support local businesses along East Colfax Avenue before, during and after BRT construction.
"It took the conviction and courage of hundreds of people to bring us to today's groundbreaking; our Colfax businesses are the embodiment of courage and conviction and keep the heart of Colfax vibrant and bustling,” said Frank Locantore, executive director of the Colfax Avenue Business Improvement District. “While bus rapid transit will bring great benefits to the corridor when complete, during the BRT construction, we ask the public to spread the word to friends, family, and colleagues through our We Back the Fax campaign, to support local businesses along East Colfax so the street remains a dynamic and engaging throughout construction.”
“FTA is happy to ‘Back the Fax’ by supporting Lynx bus rapid transit, which will transform how people move on the busiest bus corridor in the region,” said FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. “It’s just the latest transit transformation under the Biden-Harris administration, demonstrating our investment in American communities from the ground up – making more jobs, schools, parks and so much more accessible through high-quality public transportation.”
Construction of the East Colfax BRT is estimated at $280 million. Along with FTA’s funding, other funding sources include $88 million from the city and county of Denver, including $55 million from the Elevate Denver Bond, $28.4 million from the Denver Regional Council of Governments and $14 million from the city of Aurora.
The city and county of Denver is partnering with Kraemer, N.A. for implementation of the BRT. Work crews will begin mobilizing the week of Oct. 7, starting at Broadway and East Colfax Avenue. The project is expected to be completed in Q4 of 2027.
Brandon Lewis | Associate Editor
Brandon Lewis is a recent graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lewis is a former freelance editorial assistant at Vehicle Service Pros.com in Endeavor Business Media’s Vehicle Repair Group. Lewis brings his knowledge of web managing, copyediting and SEO practices to Mass Transit Magazine as an associate editor.
