Delivering Colfax BRT and Nine Million Passengers

Denver residents want clean, environmentally responsible transportation, and a vibrant, growing city — all without having to change (too much). In the midst of addressing up-zoning, densification, accessory dwelling units, historic preservation, affordable housing issues, and residents’ desire to drive a lot of the time, bus rapid transit (BRT) had to be designed to meet the needs of the community. The pandemic turned the idea of a work-commute upside down; a lot of businesses and transit/travel decisions followed.

The East Colfax corridor has maintained its ridership despite the disruption. Businesses are wary of construction now, just after things are returning to something that looks more like “normal.” Denver also needed to replace five miles of century-old water pipe in the corridor before the BRT project could begin. Creating the momentum for the project, assembling the funding stack, involving the community, and sequencing all the phases of the project has been a major effort. Groundbreaking took place in October 2024, and the project is on its way to completion.