Community partners, RTD host East Colfax BRT artist event
Community members gathered Wednesday, March 25, at Champagne Tiger on East Colfax Ave. for an event introducing Lui Ferreyra, the artist selected to design artwork for three stations along the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.
Hosted by Denver Arts and Venues, the Colfax Ave Business Improvement District, Lavender Hill Cultural District, and the East Colfax BRT project team, the Meet the Artist event offered attendees an opportunity to learn about Ferreyra’s vision for the Pennsylvania, Hudson, and Uinta BRT station art installations. RTD supported the event by providing information on its role in the East Colfax BRT project and transit services it offers in the corridor, and by hosting an interactive art activity designed to reflect the community’s connection to Colfax.
Lui Ferreya, pictured above, selected to design artwork for three East Colfax BRT stations.
RTD’s “Connected by Colfax” activity invited attendees to illustrate how they travel and interact with the corridor. Participants selected two or more points on a canvas, painted them in colors of their choosing, and connected those points with lines to represent their personal experience moving along Colfax. With community contributions, the completed artwork showcases a collective expression of how residents and visitors engage with one of Denver’s most historic and diverse streets.
Pauline Nugent (left) and Casey Weilnau (right) contribute to RTD's "Connected by Colfax" painting March 25.
“I painted a beer and a pizza,” said Casey Weilnau. “I have loved some of these restaurants and bakeries [along Colfax], especially Cerebral Brewing, and the spaces they provide to make time to connect with my friends.”
“I painted a heart with some horns on it,” added Pauline Nugent. “I have gotten into so many shenanigans on Colfax over the years. I live half a block from Colfax now and Colfax will always have a special place in my heart."
The event supported small businesses along the Colfax corridor and celebrated the major project milestone of the installation of the first station canopy art installation at the Pennsylvania westbound station in February. It also supported several of RTD’s community engagement goals, including building awareness of upcoming BRT construction, highlighting the benefits of bus rapid transit, strengthening relationships with elected officials and project partners, and offering attendees a hands-on creative experience.
More than 30 attendees contributed to RTD's community driven artwork, “Connected by Colfax."
The East Colfax BRT project will create enhanced, reliable transit service between Broadway St. in Denver and I-225 in Aurora. The $202.8-million-dollar project is funded through a Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grant, Elevate Denver Bond program, capital improvement funding, and other sources. Construction is in progress between Broadway to Yosemite and is expected to begin in Aurora later this spring. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2027.
With significant residential and commercial growth expected in the coming years, Colfax Ave. is a critical east-west corridor in the Denver metro region and the backbone of a rapidly growing community.
To learn more about the East Colfax BRT project, visit the City of Denver’s website.
To learn about upcoming community events, visit RTD’s events webpage or follow RTD on social media (@ridertd).