Bus Stop Infrastructure and Accessibility Assessment (BSIAA)

The Bus Stop Infrastructure and Accessibility Assessment (BSIAA) took place from summer 2024 through June 2026 and is RTD’s first systemwide evaluation of bus stop conditions since the early 2000s. Bus stops are the most visible and widely distributed elements of RTD’s network, shaping how customers access, experience, and perceive transit. The BSIAA was developed to assess current bus stop conditions, identify accessibility gaps, and establish a clear framework to guide future investments across the Denver metro region.

Funded in part by a 2023 Federal Transit Administration Areas of Persistent Poverty grant, the BSIAA advances RTD’s Strategic Plan priorities around Customer Excellence, Equity and Community Value. The study documents existing accessibility conditions, amenities, ownership, and maintenance at approximately 7,500 bus stops across eight counties, providing the most comprehensive snapshot of RTD’s bus stop network to date.

What the BSIAA Found

The BSIAA confirms that accessibility challenges are both significant and widespread. Approximately two-thirds of stops do not meet current minimum ADA accessibility requirements, most commonly due to missing or undersized boarding areas, excessive cross slope, or incomplete pedestrian connections. Amenities such as seating, shelters, and lighting vary widely across the system, reflecting historical investment patterns rather than a consistent, regionwide approach. While some higher-ridership corridors include enhanced infrastructure, many stops provide only the most basic elements.

• Approximately 43 percent of stops include seating
• Approximately 17 percent of stops include shelters
• Approximately 36 percent of stops include lighting
• Approximately 24 percent of stops include trash receptacles

The assessment also highlights the complexity of bus stop governance. While RTD operates transit service, most bus stops are located within municipal or state right-of-way. Improving accessibility and amenities requires coordinated action across cities, counties, CDOT, private developers, and RTD.

A Framework for Future Decision-Making

To promote consistent and equitable investment, the BSIAA proposes four bus stop types—Standard, Enhanced, Signature and Premium—based on ridership and service frequency. Each stop type includes defined required and preferred amenities, helping RTD and its partners align infrastructure investments with how stops function within the network.

The BSIAA also proposes an implementation framework that prioritizes transparency in addition to considering accessibility, equity, ridership, service frequency, access to key destinations and implementation readiness. This helps RTD and municipalities evaluate where improvements will have the greatest impact and supports grant applications, capital planning, and corridor-level projects.

Next Steps

RTD is now transitioning from planning to early implementation. Near-term actions identified in the BSIAA include integrating prioritization results into capital planning, advancing accessibility improvements at high need locations, formalizing maintenance coordination with jurisdictions, and establishing ongoing data management protocols. Over the coming years, RTD will update typology classifications as service patterns evolve, align improvements with regional funding opportunities, and coordinate with municipal partners to advance shared responsibilities for sidewalks, curb ramps, and stop-area amenities.

Improving RTD’s bus stops will be a phased, multi-year effort requiring collaboration across the region. The BSIAA provides the foundation for this long-term work—ensuring future investments advance accessibility, equity, customer comfort, and a more consistent transit experience across all communities served by RTD.

• Executive Summary
• Final report
• 2025 RTD Bus Stop Inventory Dashboard