RTD sees sharp increase in 16th Street FreeRide boardings following reopening
DENVER (Dec. 23, 2025) - The Regional Transportation District (RTD)’s 16th Street FreeRide saw boardings climb significantly during the first full month of the corridor reopening, signaling renewed momentum for downtown mobility and revitalization.
RTD recorded approximately 252,000 boardings in October 2025, when end-to-end service officially resumed along the 1.25-mile corridor between Denver Union Station and Civic Center Station. The zero-fare downtown bus service operated on detour during more than two years of phased reconstruction by the City and County of Denver. According to the most recent ridership report, utilization was nearly double that seen during early construction detours, as boardings dropped to 135,000 in January 2023 when construction on 16th Street was fully underway.
“The 16th Street FreeRide remains vital to downtown Denver,” General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said. “This zero-fare mobility option continues to connect visitors and employees of downtown businesses alike to a myriad of destinations in the area. Data show that utilization of this service only continues to climb following a long period of transformation along the corridor.”
Service reliability also improved with the FreeRide’s return to the full 16th Street corridor. During the construction detours, the average round-trip travel time was approximately 44 minutes. Since reopening, that time has decreased to 32 minutes, with additional improvements expected once the mid-year service changes take effect in 2026.
The FreeRide’s growth in utilization aligns with broader signals of downtown recovery, according to data from the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP), Pedestrian traffic in October 2025 reached 91% of October 2019 levels and was 3% higher than October 2024 levels. Meanwhile, average daily visits increased by thousands compared with 2024 numbers, driven primarily by residents, workers, and visitors now at or above pre-pandemic levels. Downtown activity continued showing signs of strength in November 2025, with pedestrian traffic increasing to 92% of 2019 levels.
“Now the construction is complete, and the new space has been fully unveiled, we're heartened to see people returning to the spine of downtown and once again taking advantage of the FreeRide, one of 16th Street’s greatest amenities," said Kourtny Garrett, President and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. "The FreeRide is a key connector downtown, and we're excited to see ridership grow alongside increasing foot traffic."
Additional data obtained by the Partnership point to sustained momentum in downtown growth, including new ground-floor businesses, strong hotel occupancy, and increased residential demand, reinforcing the role of the 16th Street FreeRide in supporting economic activity and access.
Formerly titled the Free MallRide, the renamed 16th Street FreeRide operates seven days a week, with shuttles arriving every four to five minutes during peak periods. The service, which is delivered via a fleet of fully electric battery-powered vehicles, stops at every intersection along the corridor, providing connections to Denver Union Station, Civic Center Station, and local and regional bus and rail services.
For more information about the 16th Street FreeRide and its decades-long legacy, visit rtd-denver.com.