CO 119 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project
The CO 119 Safety and Mobility Improvements Project, a joint project between CDOT and RTD, is designing improvements to make traveling through the corridor safer for all modes and transit travel faster and more reliable. The project is designed to integrate with other active multimodal projects on the corridor to ensure community members can safely and reliably travel throughout the corridor using their mode(s) of choice. Funding has been secured for implementation of the CO 119 Safety and Mobility Improvements Project, which is expected to go to bid for construction in fall 2023.
The project includes:
- BRT/queue bypass lanes at signalized intersections along Diagonal Highway
- Coffman Street busway
- Improved transit stops in Boulder/Longmont
- Bikeway along corridor
- A new Park-n-Ride near US 287 and CO 66 in north Longmont
Project Overview
Spring 2023
The CO 119 BRT project will optimize regional connectivity and mobility between Boulder and Longmont by providing improvements that result in faster, safer and more reliable transit travel.
Project Background
Colorado Highway 119 between Longmont and Boulder (the Diagonal) is the second most traveled corridor in Boulder County, serving residents, employees, and visitors from across northern Colorado and the Denver metropolitan area.
Travelers along this vital regional transportation corridor which is the primary connection between Boulder County’s two largest municipalities, face unpredictable travel times. Additionally, CO 119 from Boulder to Longmont is a high crash corridor that produces more severe crashes per mile than any other road in unincorporated Boulder County.
RTD, in collaboration with northwest area elected officials, business leaders, and public agencies, completed a comprehensive study that evaluated the viability of bus rapid transit (BRT) along CO 119 between Boulder and Longmont. The study recommended cost-effective mobility improvements to address the growing congestion and travel demand that includes a 2-pattern BRT route and BRT/managed lanes. The study also gauged environmental impacts, multimodal access, transit reliability, and transit travel time.
In 2019, the RTD Board of Directors accepted the Multimodal Corridor Vision Plan for the CO 119 corridor as defined in the Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study. RTD has committed $33 million to fund transit elements of the corridor, including BRT stations, Park-n-Rides and enhanced bus stops. For the CO 119 corridor, RTD’s total contribution is $17 million ( $5 million as a Denver Regional Council of Government Transportation Improvement Program grant match towards the queue bypass lanes at CO 52, and $12 million towards BRT stations and Park-n-Rides along the corridor). The remaining $16 million will be used for local BRT stops in Boulder and Longmont, including CU East Campus improvements and the new Park-n-Ride in Longmont. CDOT and local stakeholders have also provided additional funding for the corridor.
How bus bypass lanes work
Colorado Highway 119 Vision Plan
Project Status
Project Timelines
CDOT/RTD Design/Construction Timeline
- Preliminary Design: Q1-Q2 2022
- Final Design: Q3 2022-Q2 2023
- CU East Terminal Design Completion: Q2 2023
- SH 66/US 287 Park-n-Ride Concept Design Q4 2022
- Construction of Longmont Station – First and Main Q1 2026
- Advertise for Construction: Q3 2023
- Construction Begins: Q1 2024
- Construction Complete: Q1 2026
Public Engagement Timeline
- Multimodal Corridor Planning and Design Public Outreach: Q3 2020-Q4 2023
- CDOT Website Launch: Q1 2022
- CO 119 Presentation to Commuting Solutions: Q1 2022 (April 6, 2022)
- CO 119 Presentation to Community Advisory Committee: Q2 2022 (June 2, 2022)
- CO 119 Presentation to Boulder Mobility Access Coalition: Q2 2022 (June 13, 2022)
- CO 119 Presentation to Longmont Transportation Advisory Board: Q2 2022 (June 13, 2022)
- CO 119 BRT Public Meeting #1: Q2 2022 (June 27, 2022)
- Public Comment Period: Q2-Q3 2022 (June 27-July 18, 2022)
- CO 119 Presentation to Boulder Chamber of Commerce: Q3 2022 (July 7, 2022)
- CO 119 Stakeholder Collaboration Meeting #1 Q3 2022 (September 28, 2022)
- CO 119 BRT Stakeholders meeting #2 Q1 2023 (January 30, 2023)
- CO 119 BRT Branding/Symbol meeting #1 Q1 2023 (February 21, 2023)
- CO 119 BRT Public Meeting #2: Late Q2/Early Q3 2023
Service Planning Timeline
- Scheduling Analysis with Stakeholders: Q2 2022
- Create schedule based on survey feedback and public input from PEL. Work with stakeholders to send survey and gather feedback: Q3 2022
- Implementation of CO 119 BRT Phase 1 (Adjust Routings, Rename Routes BOLT 1/2/3): Q1 2023
- Implementation of 2022 CO 119 BRT Phase 1 Survey (adjust based on feedback received from stakeholder survey submitted in Q3 2022): Q2 2023
- Public Meeting #2: Late Q2/Early Q3 2023
- Phase 2 (Construction/Stop Adjustments/Route Changes): Q1 2024
Final Construction – Open CO 119 BRT for Service: Q3 2025
Project Updates
RAISE 2023 Awardee!
The CO 119 corridor partners (Boulder County, CDOT, and RTD) received $25 million in federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant funding to construct multimodal improvements at CO 119 and Hover Street.
Visit the USDOT announcement to learn more.
The RAISE 2023 Fact Sheet can be found here.