RTD to begin center lane operations Sept. 27 on E. Colfax from Broadway to Colorado
“Bus-Only Lane Operations” (BOLO) will be in place until full Bus Rapid Transit service launches at the end of 2027
DENVER (Sept. 17, 2026)–– TheRegional Transportation District (RTD) will begin operating its bus Routes 15 and 15L in the two center lanes of Colfax Avenue – from Broadway to Colorado Boulevard – on Sept. 27.
With construction in this segment completed, the East Colfax Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, led by City and County of Denver, with RTD and the City of Aurora as partners, will remove construction fencing and barrels, and RTD will operate buses in designated bus-only lanes. The “Bus-Only Lane Operations” (BOLO)will remain in place until full BRT service launches as soon as construction is complete across the entire corridor, which extends east to I-225, at the end of 2027.
“Bus only lane operation is an important first step in the future full implementation of the East Colfax Avenue BRT. Customers on Routes 15 and 15L will benefit from faster, more reliable service between Broadway and Colorado Boulevard before full Lynx Colfax BRT service launches in early 2028 out to I-225,” said RTD Deputy CEO Angel Peña.
During BOLO, from Broadway to Colorado Boulevard on East Colfax:
- Customers of Routes 15/15L will board and deboard from the BRT’s center station platforms, which will include new security cameras, lighting, public address (PA) systems and emergency phones.
- Customers will continue to board and pay at the forward door but may exit from any door.
- To expedite travel time, bike racks have been installed inside the buses, rather than at the front of the bus. Customers with bikes will board at the rear door to load their bikes onto racks inside the bus, then pay at the front of the bus. Click this link to learn more about how to board with bikes.
- Another new feature to expedite service is near-level boarding at stations. For customers with accessibility needs, the bus will rise and a ramp will be deployed for ease of boarding.
- Passenger vehicles will travel exclusively in the outer traffic lanes.
- Left turns will only be permitted where there is a left-turn lane and arrow. As a safety feature, a curb median separates the eastbound and westbound travel lanes.
- Buses are equipped with Transit Signal Priority technology, which coordinates with traffic signals to allow more efficient movement through intersections.
- New two-hour parking zones along Colfax and on side streets will be free, but time-limited.
- Pedestrians and cyclists should cross at designated crosswalks and bike crossings.
The community is invited to celebrate this project milestone 5-6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at Carla Madison Recreation Center, 2401 E. Colfax Avenue. In place of a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark completion of construction along this segment of the corridor, the event will feature a bolo (cake in Portuguese) cutting. This will be followed by a small business hop to support East Colfax businesses.
About East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit
The East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit will run from Denver Union Station in Denver to the R Line Light Rail Station in Aurora at I-225. The BRT will operate in dedicated center-running lanes from Broadway to Yosemite in Denver and in mixed flow, side-running lanes, in Aurora from Yosemite to I-225.
Once implemented, the project will provide more reliable and frequent bus service, with buses arriving every 4.3 minutes during the day. It is expected to reduce transit travel time by 15 to 30 minutes, offer affordable and reliable access to over 250,000 jobs and community services along the corridor, enhance comfort and safety, and create new streetscape, placemaking, and economic development opportunities.
Learn more about the project here.