The real story
of the colfax BRT
Denver's $280 Million Experiment. The Results Aren't In Yet.
The Colfax BRT is Denver's first Bus Rapid Transit project. Construction began in 2022. Revenue service isn't expected until 2028— at the earliest. In the meantime, businesses have closed, traffic has flooded residential streets, and costs have escalated. And before we find out whether any of it was worth it, CDOT wants to repeat the same experiment on Colorado Boulevard. We say: wait for the results first.
The money trail
OUR QUESTION:
If the Colfax BRT opened on time and on budget, that would be one thing. But the opening date has moved — and no one is saying with confidence when Denver residents will actually see a BRT bus run on Colfax. Before committing to the same model on Colorado Boulevard, shouldn't we at least finish the first one?
THE TIMELINE OF SHIFTING NUMBERS
2021 — Original estimate: $200–$300 million When RTD first submitted the Colfax BRT for federal Small Starts funding in 2021, the project's estimated capital cost was listed as "between $200 and $300 million." Revenue service was projected to begin by early 2028. At this stage, no construction contract had been awarded and no federal grant had been secured.
Source: https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2022-03/CO-Denver-Colfax-BRT-PD-Profile-AR23.pdf
2022 — Cost refined to $255 million, opening moved to 2026 By November 2022, the FTA listed the total capital cost at $255.31 million — and projected opening year had shifted to 2026. That's two years earlier than the 2028 figure projected just one year prior.
2024 — $197 million construction contract approved Denver City Council approved a $197 million construction contract with Kraemer North America LLC — that's the construction cost alone, before design, engineering, project management, and other costs are added on top.
Source: https://www.greaterdenvertransit.com/colfaxbrt/
2024 — Federal grant maxes out at $150 million The project received the maximum allowed federal Small Starts grant — $149.99 million — leaving the remaining $130+ million to be covered by RTD, the City of Denver, and state sources.
Source: https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/?p=248504
Now — $280 million total, full service pushed to 2028 The current total project cost is $280 million. Revenue service — originally projected for 2026, then repeatedly revised — is now officially projected to begin in 2028, according to RTD's own most recent statements. That's back to exactly where the timeline started in 2021, after years of more optimistic promises.
Source: https://www.rtd-denver.com/community/news/2026/groundbreaking-marks-next-phase-of-east-colfax-brt-as-construction-advances-in-aurora Source: https://denverite.com/2026/05/06/colfax-bus-construction-update/
The $197 million construction contract covers only the physical construction — not design, engineering, project management, federal compliance, or station fit-out. The gap between the construction contract and the $280 million total tells you something about how these projects accumulate costs. Keep that in mind when CDOT quotes you a $300 million figure for Colorado Boulevard.
39%
Ridership Drop
RTD ridership is still 39% below pre-pandemic 2019 levels — and continued falling in 2025.
Source: Axios Denver / RTD data
5%
Rider-Funded
Only 5 cents of every dollar RTD spends comes from fares. Taxpayers cover the rest.
Source: RTD 2024 Annual Report
$280M
Colfax BRT Cost
$280 million spent — and not one BRT bus has run yet. Completion isn't expected until end of 2027.
Source: City of Denver / 9News
50%
Sales Lost
One Colfax restaurant reported a 50% drop in sales. Others have permanently closed.
Source: Front Porch News, Nov 2025
$300M+
Colorado Blvd Est.
CDOT's preliminary price tag for the Colorado Blvd BRT — before it's even fully designed.
Source: CDOT / Hilltop Neighborhood Assoc.
OUR QUESTION:
The opening date has shifted four times. It's now back to exactly where it started in 2021. How much should Denver trust CDOT's projections for Colorado Boulevard?
The Slipping Timeline
They Promised 2026. Now They're Saying 2028.
The finish line keeps moving. Here's the documented timeline — in the project's own words.
2012 — Initial planning begins. Sixteen years before a bus will run.
2021 — Revenue service projected: early 2028. Federal Small Starts application submitted. https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2022-03/CO-Denver-Colfax-BRT-PD-Profile-AR23.pdf
2022 — Opening date suddenly moved up to 2026 — two years earlier, with no public explanation. https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2023-03/CO-Denver-East-Colfax-Avenue-BRT-Project-Profile-FY24.pdf
August 2024 — Construction contract awarded. Contractor Kraemer immediately pushes completion to late 2027. https://denverite.com/2024/08/27/construction-on-that-massive-colfax-transit-project-will-begin-in-october/
October 2024 — Groundbreaking on Segment 1. Five segments, nearly 10 miles total. https://denverite.com/2024/10/04/colfax-brt-construction-impacts/
May 2026 — Segments 1 and 2 (roughly 1.5 miles) just cleared construction for the first time since late 2024. Remaining segments just getting underway. RTD now says full service begins 2028 — right back where it started in 2021. https://denverite.com/2026/05/06/colfax-bus-construction-update/ https://www.rtd-denver.com/community/news/2026/groundbreaking-marks-next-phase-of-east-colfax-brt-as-construction-advances-in-aurora
Meanwhile — Before the current project is even finished, planners have already launched Colfax BRT Next — a study to extend BRT even further east. https://engage.drcog.org/colfaxnext
The Ridership Question
Who's Actually Going to Ride This?
RTD ridership is 39% below pre-pandemic levels — and dropped another 6.4% in early 2025. Source
Fare revenue collapsed from $154M to $57M. RTD's 2026 budget carries a $228M deficit. Source
All of 2024 ridership growth: 0.1%. Source
Only 2,800 people ride Colorado Boulevard buses daily. CDOT projects BRT doubles that — their own projection, for their own project. Source
Only 5 cents of every RTD dollar comes from fares. You cover the rest. Source
If Denver can't fill the buses it already has — why are we spending $280 million to build new ones?
THE COLFAX REALITY CHECK
What's Actually
Happening on Colfax
Supporters of BRT say construction impacts have been manageable. The business owners, residents, and even a neighboring city's mayor disagree. Here's the real picture — in their own words.
BUSINESSES ARE BLEEDING
For over a year, construction has torn up nearly four miles of one of Denver's most iconic commercial corridors — and the city's response was a one-time grant of up to $15,000.
“If you thought we were dead before, well now you’re annoying everybody, and now it’s even more dead.”
“We can’t survive something like that.”
TRAFFIC PUSHED INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
When a major arterial is torn up, traffic doesn't disappear — it gets pushed onto residential side streets. Residents in Capitol Hill, Bluebird, and surrounding neighborhoods have been living with that overflow every single day. The same will happen on Colorado Boulevard. Denver's own BRT Program Director admitted it openly.
“Denver’s construction process has been long and continues to be tough on East Colfax businesses and a nightmare for drivers.”
“One of the unfortunate circumstances is that traffic has to go somewhere, so they typically go to other parallel streets... and there’s a limited amount that we can do.”
This Is Happening on Colfax. They Want to Do It Again on Colorado Boulevard.
CDOT is deciding this summer. Your council member is listening. Take five minutes and make your opposition count.