East Colfax BRT project advances as RTD begins operational testing
The East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project will bring faster, more reliable, and more accessible transit to one of the region’s busiest corridors. As construction continues, RTD teams are working with project partners to ensure the system operates safely and efficiently before service begins.
On a bright Colorado morning last week, members of RTD’s Safety and Environmental Compliance team joined project partners along East Colfax to observe a key milestone in the development of the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor serving Denver and Aurora. The team was on site to support operational testing, an important step in preparing the corridor for future dedicated bus-only lane service.
During the testing, RTD Bus Operator and Revenue Trainer Boubacar Diawara demonstrated exceptional skill as he guided a 60-foot articulated bus, similar to future BRT-dedicated vehicles, within inches of the new elevated platforms. His precision drew a crowd of onlookers, including project staff and engineers, who came to watch the progress firsthand.
While RTD is not the lead agency on the East Colfax BRT project, the organization plays a critical role as a safety partner to the City and County of Denver. Through the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) and Safety Management System (SMS) processes, RTD works closely with project partners to identify potential hazards early and address them before service begins, evaluating risks and ensuring safety is incorporated throughout planning, design, construction, and testing.
This work includes reviewing new infrastructure, validating operating procedures, and confirming that vehicles, platforms, and traffic controls function safely together. The goal is to ensure that when service begins, operators, customers, and the surrounding community experience a system that is safe, reliable, and ready for day‑one operations.
“Operational testing is essential to making sure new transit infrastructure performs safely and reliably before customers ever board,” said RTD Deputy CEO Angel Peña. “By bringing operators, safety professionals, engineers, and regional partners together in real-world testing, we are helping ensure the East Colfax corridor delivers a safe, accessible, and dependable transit experience for the communities it serves.”
Level boarding supports accessibility and faster service
Operational testing also supports preparations for level boarding, a key feature of the future BRT stations. RTD teams previously conducted testing at a center-running platform along the corridor to measure the distance between buses and the raised platforms to evaluate how vehicles align during boarding.
Unlike traditional bus stops, BRT platforms are built to align with the bus floor. This allows customers to step or roll directly onto the bus and enables simultaneous boarding through multiple doors. The design reduces the time buses spend stopped at stations, helping improve travel time reliability along the corridor. Once completed, BRT is expected to save customers up to 30 minutes in travel time from Denver Union Station in downtown Denver to the Colfax Station at Colfax and I-225 in Aurora.
An additional benefit is improved accessibility for customers using wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, or bicycles. Testing also evaluated gap-mitigation tools, including bridge plates, to ensure the system meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
Supporting local businesses during construction
As construction continues along the corridor, RTD, the City and County of Denver, and project partners are also supporting community initiatives designed to help local businesses remain visible and accessible. One initiative is the “The Fax Pass,” part of the We Back the Fax campaign that encourages residents and visitors to support small businesses along East Colfax.
Participants can pick up a pass, visit participating businesses, and earn stickers for qualifying purchases. As customers collect stickers, they can unlock rewards at designated program events, including the popular arch lift viewing parties. The effort helps drives foot traffic to local shops, restaurants, and services while construction is underway and highlights businesses that contribute to the character and history of the corridor.
BRT project information
Construction on the East Colfax BRT project began in 2024 after more than a decade of community planning and input. Full BRT service is expected to begin in 2028. Community members can stay connected by visiting DenverGov.org/ColfaxBRT, following @WeBackTheFax on social media, or calling the night work hotline at 720.336.0025.
As the project continues to move forward, RTD’s Safety and Environmental Compliance team will remain actively engaged to support a smooth and safe transition to dedicated‑lane BRT service. The progress demonstrated during last week’s testing reflects the strong collaboration among RTD, the City and County of Denver, and regional partners to deliver a safer, more reliable, and more accessible transit corridor.