‘Fax Pass’ program supporting local businesses during Colfax BRT construction
As progress continues on construction of the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, RTD is highlighting a new community rewards program to promote small businesses along the street. WeBackTheFax, a business support campaign, recently launched the “We Back The Fax Pass,” which encourages visitors and residents to support the independent businesses that define the historic corridor.
Participants can pick up a physical pass, visit participating businesses, and earn stickers for qualifying purchases. By accumulating stickers, customers can move through reward tiers and unlock prizes. The Fax Pass is designed to encourage foot traffic during construction and highlight the local food, shops, and services that make Colfax Avenue one of Denver’s most distinctive streets. Organizers say each visit helps sustain small businesses and preserves the character of East Colfax during a period of major investment.
Get a Fax Pass
Passes are available at participating businesses and periodic pop-up events hosted by We Back the Fax. The easiest way to find distribution dates and locations is to follow @WeBackTheFax on social media. An event is planned this week, Friday Dec. 12, featuring an ERAS Tour watch party at DNVR Bar.
Visit local businesses
More than 30 establishments located along East Colfax are participating in the Fax Pass program. A full map and list of stops, including qualifying purchases and deals, is available on the program’s website.
Earn stickers and redeem rewards
Participants receive one sticker per qualifying purchase, with a limit of two stickers per business for the duration of the program. Stickers must also be issued at the time of purchase.
Prize tiers begin at six stickers and increase with additional participation. Prizes may be claimed at pop-up events, where We Back the Fax program administrators will verify sticker counts and record redemption with a prize-tracking sticker inside the pass.
Questions about participation, prize redemption, or program rules may be directed to [email protected].
Information for businesses
Independent, brick-and-mortar businesses must be located within one block of Colfax Ave. between Broadway and I-225 to participate. Businesses may determine their own sticker requirements and are responsible for training staff on program rules and criteria.
The program will operate through the East Colfax BRT construction period. Updates and prize availability will be shared on the official We Back The Fax website.
BRT project background
Construction of the East Colfax BRT project began in 2024, after more than a decade of public outreach, and community input led the City and County of Denver to adopt a center-running bus rapid transit for the corridor. The project includes new and enhanced transit stations, improved amenities, as well as improved pedestrian and bike connections.
Once completed, the system is expected to provide more reliable and frequent service with buses arriving every 4.3 minutes during the day. Travel times are projected to drop by 15 to 30 minutes, improving access to more than 250,000 jobs and community services. Denver provides a regularly updated, complete project overview on its website.
Full BRT service is expected to launch in 2028, with provisional operations beginning in summer 2026. RTD has published additional information about preparations for the provisional use period, including a video on level boarding testing at BRT stations conducted in summer 2025.