Project Overview

The City and County of Denver has earned an Envision Silver distinction for the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, recognizing the project’s contributions toward advancing sustainable, resilient, and equitable transportation solutions. Developed after years of study and extensive community input, the project will deliver center-running BRT service along East Colfax Avenue from Broadway to Yosemite, with dedicated transit lanes, enhanced stations, and improved pedestrian and bicycle connections. Beyond this area, BRT will be side-running. Once in service, the East Colfax BRT will reduce transit travel times by up to 30 minutes, expand affordable and reliable access to more than 250,000 jobs and community services, enhance comfort and safety, and support placemaking and economic development opportunities along the corridor.

The East Colfax BRT Project was developed to meet the increasing demand for transit travel along Denver’s most central commercial corridor and to support the region’s future growth with safe, affordable, and equitable mobility. With population and employment expected to increase significantly through 2040, weekday ridership on East Colfax is projected to rise by as much as 40 percent, yet the corridor is already operating near capacity during peak hours. Its limited right-of-way leaves little room for expansion, and without major improvements, congestion and delays will only worsen, threatening reliability for the thousands of people who depend on Colfax transit every day. This project addresses these challenges with a faster, more reliable, and more accessible transit service that strengthens transportation connections throughout the region and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by enabling more non-motorized trips. It also advances Denver’s Vision Zero initiative, making the corridor safer for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and transit riders. Beyond transportation benefits, this project supports long-term economic vitality, encouraging future investment in the corridor, and expanding placemaking opportunities.

The City and County of Denver selected the Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Framework to guide the East Colfax BRT Project’s sustainability goals as part of its broader commitment to delivering cost-effective, environmentally conscious, and high-quality infrastructure as outlined in its strategic transportation plan, Denver Moves Everyone, and in its Department of Transportation and Infrastructure’s Sustainability Policy. Envision provides a comprehensive approach to evaluating sustainability across the full project life cycle – from design to construction to performance – and is comprised of 64 indicators (called credits) which are organized within five categories: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World, and Climate and Resilience. Together, the categories and credits address materials, energy, conservation, community development, planning, collaboration, human well-being, mobility, and more. By committing to Envision verification, the City ensured this project would not only improve mobility, but also deliver community benefits like reduced transportation costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, better air quality, safer streets, and opportunities for placemaking and fostering long-term economic vitality along the corridor.

East Colfax BRT is currently under construction with completion anticipated by 2027. An online project dashboard provides community members with regular updates on construction progress.

Verified Sustainability Achievements

Enhanced Public Safety – The East Colfax BRT Project goes beyond regulatory requirements to create safer travel. With features like dedicated BRT lanes, improved crosswalks and lighting, weather-protected stations, and enhanced bike and pedestrian connections, the project is projected to reduce crashes by more than 20% while improving equitable access to healthcare, jobs, and community services along the corridor.

Improved Community Mobility – This project will improve mobility and access along the corridor by reducing travel times, increasing ridership by more than 40%, and reducing estimated vehicle miles traveled by over 30,000 per day by 2040. By integrating complete streets elements—such as safer pedestrian crossings, bike amenities, lighting, and street trees—the project enhances comfort and safety for all users while improving connectivity throughout the region.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Advanced Equity – The East Colfax BRT Project team proactively involved community members, businesses, and agencies throughout planning, design, and construction. Outreach was conducted in partnership with trusted local organizations and included targeted workshops and multiple languages. Input from a diverse range of stakeholders, including historically underserved communities, directly influenced key project decisions, such as station design and branding, the development of funding to support local businesses during construction, and strategies to address long-standing mobility and access inequities. This process fostered broad community support and strong collaborative partnerships throughout project design and construction, including robust participation in We Back the Fax, a community-driven initiative to encourage support for local businesses along East Colfax Avenue before, during, and after the BRT construction. Stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with both the engagement and resulting project outcomes.

Enhanced Local Character – This project incorporated extensive community input on public art, station design, and streetscape improvements, including decorative crosswalks, seating areas, and tree canopy expansion, with green infrastructure components to optimize positive impacts, even in limited spaces. Historic sites and existing trees have been preserved where possible, and new design elements, such as transparent station windscreens and a cohesive station theme, enhance the visual environment. These efforts reflect the local community values and improve the overall urban experience.

Encouraging Sustainable Transportation – Transportation currently accounts for one third of Denver’s greenhouse gas emissions. By replacing and upgrading the city’s busiest bus routes, this project encourages a long-term shift to active and shared transportation, reducing car dependency and supporting Denver’s climate and mobility goals. It integrates the BRT corridor to Denver’s broader multimodal network — connecting riders to light rail, commuter rail, and local bus routes — while enhancing pedestrian and bike access, as well as first- and final-mile access.

Quotes

“The City and County of Denver is excited to receive the Envision Silver award for the Colfax BRT project and thanks everyone on the project team who worked to advance sustainability, resiliency, and transportation equity at every stage. The Envision Silver framework is a valuable tool that helps us verify that we’re incorporating best practices broadly and building sustainable infrastructure that helps us achieve the city’s decarbonization goals, as well as improve quality of life for our city’s residents and enhance economic vitality.”

– Amy Ford, Executive Director, Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure

“The goal of the East Colfax BRT project is to make Colfax better for everyone. To receive the Envision Silver award means we’re taking the right steps to meet high standards in sustainability, while delivering a more reliable transit option that reflects community values around connectivity and aesthetics and improves access to businesses and services along the corridor.”

– Jon Stewart, East Colfax BRT Program Director, City and County of Denver

“ISI congratulates the City and County of Denver and its project partners on achieving Envision Silver verification for the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit Project. This project demonstrates how communities can deliver safe, reliable, and affordable mobility while also prioritizing sustainability, resilience, and equity. By applying the Envision framework, Denver has ensured that the East Colfax BRT will not only meet today’s transportation needs but also provide lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits for the region.”

– Kailey Eldredge, Verification Director, ISI