Denver pumps $200 million into Colfax rapid transit line

This graphic shows the features of the East Colfax BRT.Photo byCity and County of Denver

The Denver City Council awarded a $198 million contract Monday to Kraemer North America LLC to build the ambitious Colfax Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT infrastructure. The project will make traversing Colfax much more convenient, according to city staff.

Bus stops will be in the center of the road and will be elevated, city staff explained. Riders will pay their fares before boarding, which makes it easier to get on with travel after a stop. Beyond Yosemite, the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT will continue into Aurora to Wheeling Way and the VA Medical Center, according to city staff, but with the buses running on side lanes.

It’s all part of a way to make it easier and faster to travel along the Colfax corridor. Buses will come and go from stops every four minutes and 20 seconds, city staff said. It is unknown whether that interval is a nod to Denver’s cannabis culture.

The East Colfax BRT also is intended to make getting around Denver safer. The center lanes allow pedestrians and motorists to see each other when making right turns, according to city staff.

Council member Amanda Sawyer said the city must adequately fund assistance to businesses along the Colfax corridor during construction. She also said she agrees with residents who find the design of the center lane problematic.

Construction will begin in October

Construction is expected to begin in October, staff said, and be completed by the end of 2027.

Several council members said during a committee meeting last month they are concerned about how the BRT will divert traffic onto 13^th and 14^th. The roads already are dangerous, Sawyer said, and it would not be a good idea to exacerbate the situation. Jonathan Stewart said traffic studies have shown about two or three cars per minute will be added to those streets. He said that is not enough to make a noticeable difference on traffic congestion.

Safety, ADA accessibility concerns

But Sawyer said 14^th is already dangerous, with cars careening into yards, houses, and garages. She said there are not any traffic calming measures in place and the road is built like a freeway with plenty of room to wander. She said speed is not the problem. Sawyer said water lines are being moved on Colfax in preparation of the BRT construction, and that has caused traffic to spur onto 14^th, she said. “We know what’s coming,” she said, adding a small child could be run down while playing in their front yard.

Council member Chris Hinds said it appeared the bus stops could be difficult for wheelchairs to navigate. Brian McLaren said the project meets ADA requirements, but Hinds said that does not mean engineers designed it in a way accessible to all people in wheelchairs.