Denver Coalition Pauses Colorado Boulevard BRT Plan
Neighborhood groups push back on Bus Rapid Transit as state transportation officials announce further study of the project.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Remote Work
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Residents of Park Hill, Hilltop and Cherry Creek North have formed a coalition opposing the proposed Colorado Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit project, and about 19 neighborhood associations have signed a resolution to pause it. The Colorado Department of Transportation announced the project will benefit from further study and removed the possibility of a center bus lane.
Why it matters
The coalition questions whether Bus Rapid Transit belongs on Colorado Boulevard, and former State Senator Penfield Tate III said the project rests on a flawed premise that people will ride the bus there. The dispute centers on whether the corridor can support the transit investment proposed for Denver residents.
About 19 neighborhood associations signed a resolution to pause the Colorado Boulevard BRT project, and the state expects further review to start in 2028. The final project design and timing remain unresolved.
The players
Colorado Department of Transportation
The state agency responsible for planning and managing Colorado's highway and transit network, which announced further study of the Colorado Boulevard BRT project.
Penfield Tate III
A former Colorado state senator who criticized the Colorado Boulevard BRT project as resting on a flawed premise about bus ridership.
The details
Colorado Department of Transportation officials agreed to attend a coalition public forum but later withdrew Tuesday evening, sending an email stating they would not attend. The coalition invited agencies involved in the project to speak weeks ago, and the forum is scheduled for Thursday at 6 pm at Infinity Park Rec Center, co-hosted by the city of Glendale.
Timeline
2028: Colorado Department of Transportation expects to begin further BRT review.
Tuesday evening: Colorado Department of Transportation officials withdrew from the coalition forum.
Thursday at 6 pm: Coalition public forum at Infinity Park Rec Center.
Remote Work
Critics point to the Colfax Avenue bus rapid transit corridor in Denver as a comparison for whether Bus Rapid Transit can succeed on a major city street. The Colorado Boulevard debate tests whether that model fits neighborhoods like Park Hill, Hilltop and Cherry Creek North.
Residents along Colorado Boulevard and in Park Hill, Hilltop and Cherry Creek North could see changes to bus service and street layout depending on whether the project proceeds. Attending the Thursday coalition forum offers a direct opportunity to hear the questions being raised about the project's ridership premise.
The takeaway
Transit projects that reshape a neighborhood street often depend on whether local residents and state planners agree on the basic ridership case. Following the Thursday forum and the 2028 review will show whether the Colorado Boulevard plan moves forward.
What happens next
The Colorado Department of Transportation expects to initiate additional review of the Colorado Boulevard BRT project in 2028, and the coalition forum is scheduled for Thursday at 6 pm at Infinity Park Rec Center.
Further reading
For broader context on how transit planning shapes city life, explore Remote Work coverage on Denver.
Live Poll
Do you support building bus rapid transit on Colorado Boulevard in Denver?
