CDOT eyes Federal Boulevard to add a bus rapid transit line

DENVER — By 2030, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) hopes to connect Denver transit more efficiently and safely with the construction of bus rapid transit (BRT) lines.

“The objective of this project is to provide reliable, accessible, safe and efficient transportation,” Tamara Rollinson, CDOT Region 1 communication manager said.

According to the project, Colfax and CO-119 have already undergone studying and designing. CDOT is ready to turn toward Federal for its next site consideration.

“We’re talking about the most heavily traveled RTD route in the Denver Metro area,” Rollinson said. “So this will greatly help with transportation. It’s about moving people in providing safe, accessible options for them to get from one point to the next.”

The project would span 18 miles between 120th Avenue in the north to Dartmouth Avenue in the south. 

Rollinson explained the concept would act similar to light-rail transit.

“With some BRT systems, buses have their own dedicated lane, so that they don’t have to compete with other traffic,” Rollinson explained. “Or they may be in a lane in which they’ll have preference with traffic signals, for example.”

Ashley Kidder said she’s looking forward to learning more. She uses one of the routes on Federal, daily.

“I just woke up one day and was like, ‘Why do I have a car? I live in the city. What do I need it for?’ And I sold it,” Kidder recalled. “I was like if I can do it for a year, then great and it’s been four years since I sold my car and I never want to have a car again.”

Kidder said the BRT would do more than just move people around the city faster.

“I think it would be beneficial to those who ride these routes with me, to traffic, emissions, it’s a full package,” Kidder shared. “It’s not just people who ride the bus it affects everybody in a positive way.”

According to the project timeline, construction on Federal could begin as early as mid-2026, if funding is secured this year.

CDOT is hosting open, public meetings on May 6 and May 14 for people who are interested in learning more about the BRT system. 

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