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Dear CDOT,
Neighbors, neighborhoods, small businesses, property owners, local governments and communities need better information and transparency on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) selection of a locally preferred alternative regarding a bus rapid transit along Colorado Boulevard.
We, the undersigned, urge a pause in decision making of a locally preferred alternative until CDOT can explain to communities, local businesses and local governments along the corridor the criteria and guidelines that will be used to make this decision. Additionally, we request CDOT provide greater clarity to communities, local businesses and local governments along the Colorado Boulevard corridor the projected impacts to the environment, commercial businesses, residential property and local communities a bus rapid transit presents.
CDOT hosted only two community events between 2024 and 2026 on a project that will impact thousands of residents along the corridor over a projected 4-6 year timeframe. Neither event offered a holistic, CDOT led presentation of the project’s four options pros and cons or the impacts on the environment, community or businesses. Rather story boards and disparate information sharing are all that have been offered to these stakeholders.
Communities, local governments and businesses along the Colorado Boulevard corridor have not been provided, comprehensive air and water quality impacts, cost of and locations where storm drainage will be impacted, traffic diversion impacts into neighborhoods, impacts on private property for sidewalk widening or creation, a list of bus stops that stand to be removed or consolidated, further limiting the #40 bus line options for riders. Finally, there are no dedicated federal funds for this project and the estimated $100 - $350 million dollar price tag will be paid by all Coloradans.
Though CDOT is merely the builder of this project and RTD will become the operator of this project, we the undersigned have significant apprehension that this project does nothing more than increase projected capacity for RTD rides when RTD ridership is in fact in decline and there is no fact based need for increased capacity along the #40 bus line. RTD and Colorado are in a budget crisis. This project has not shown it will generate rider fees to increase RTD revenue, nor has is provided evidence that increased capacity is needed along the #40 route. What it has shown is that it will in fact reduce bus stations along the #40 limiting rider choice, increase transit time along Colorado Boulevard for motorists, and potentially impact private property rights.
We respectfully urge a pause in decision making, better and more transparent community outreach before CDOT chooses to impact the lives, homes, business and communities of thousands of Coloradans along this corridor.
Sincerely,