Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

• Beginning June 7, lasting through mid-October, Stout Street will be reduced to one travel lane in all the midblock areas between 14th and 19th streets for staging, equipment storage, rail deliveries, and welding. 
• As soon as Wednesday, June 10, lasting approximately one week, Stout Street will be reduced to one lane in the 15th Street intersection for rail system work. 

• As soon as Wednesday, June 10, lasting approximately two days, California Street will be reduced to one travel lane between 18th and 19th streets for rail deliveries. This closure will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. 

• Full-depth rail reconstruction will occur on Stout and California streets between 14th and 19th streets, (excluding intersections), and on 19th Street between Stout and California streets.
• Rail work will progress north along Stout, turn east along 19th Street, and return south along California.
• All downtown construction will require single- or double-lane closures, but one travel lane will be maintained at all times. 
• While no full street closures are planned in the Downtown Loop, people traveling through this area should plan for delays.
• Business access will be maintained for the duration of downtown reconstruction. Parking garage access may be disrupted for brief periods of time and will be communicated to property management teams in advance, but access will be maintained as much as possible throughout the duration of downtown work. 
• Sidewalk access throughout the downtown corridor will be maintained, and at least three out of four crosswalks will remain open at each intersection.
• Throughout the duration of this work, intermittent lane closures and momentary intersection closures may be required to stage and transport materials. Flaggers and traffic control will be in place to assist traffic around these brief closures.

• D, H, and L line trains will be impacted. 
• As part of the robust alternative service plan during construction, bus services will be available in the Downtown Loop Midblocks. Visit NextRide to plan the best route for your trip.
• The 16th Street FreeRide will increase frequency to approximately every three minutes, seven days a week, and the Free MetroRide will continue operating every 10 minutes during weekday peak periods.

• Single lane closures (1 to 4 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, through Friday, June 5), along Colfax Avenue between Seventh and 10th streets to inspect and clean out stormwater drains and culverts along the light rail tracks.
• As soon as Sunday, June 7, lasting seven to 10 days, Seventh Street will be fully closed between Colfax Avenue and Curtis Street for rail reconstruction. 
• Detours and alternate access: (see detour map here)
  • Access to Seventh Street from eastbound Colfax Avenue will be maintained via Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway. 
  • Access to Seventh Street from westbound Colfax Avenue will be maintained via Federal Boulevard, Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway.
  • Pedestrian access will be restricted from the west side of the Seventh Street intersection and routed to the east side of Seventh Street. Three out of four crosswalks will remain open.  
• As soon as Saturday, June 6, lasting through late September, there will be a single-lane closure on westbound Colfax Avenue between Kalamath and Seventh streets for ongoing rail reconstruction.

• No current activity

• Full-depth rail reconstruction will occur along Colfax Avenue (south of Auraria Campus) from just west of Seventh Street to the eastern ADA-accessible light rail platform (high block) near 10th Street at Colfax at Auraria Station.
• Work will start at Seventh Streets, then continue east along Colfax Avenue toward Kalamath Street. 
• Work on the Cherry Creek Bridge crossing is expected to begin in late summer.
• Work will require full street closures on Seventh and Ninth streets just north of Colfax Avenue, lasting approximately seven to 10 days each. Only one full closure will take place at a time.
• To expedite work and minimize traffic impacts, there will be night work in this area. The contractor acquired a noise variance permit from Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) and will follow all requirements to keep noise levels within the required range. Impacted residents will be notified in advance of night work occurring in the area.
• Various lane, sidewalk, and crosswalk closures will be required throughout the area as work progresses.
• Pedestrians will be detoured as needed throughout the area. 
• Throughout the duration of this work, intermittent lane closures and momentary intersection closures may be required to stage and transport materials. Flaggers and traffic control will be in place to assist traffic around these temporary closures.

• Service disruption on RTD’s D, H, and L Lines. Full details on RTD’s June service changes.
• While Colfax at Auraria Station will not have rail service, the Auraria West station will remain open to serve the C, E, and W Lines. 
• The westbound bus stop just east of the Colfax at Auraria station will remain open to maintain reliable service to campus via the 16 and ART bus routes.

The Five Key Intersections of RTD’s Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project were successfully completed ahead of schedule on August 29, 2024. This part of the project focused on reconstructing light rail track and infrastructure at five intersections in the Downtown Loop:

• Broadway and Welton
• 15th and California streets
• 15th and Stout streets
• 17th and California streets
• 17th and Stout streets

Each intersection received a full-depth reconstruction to improve safety and mobility, address deteriorating transit infrastructure, and protect the agency’s investment in its key transportation assets.

Work to fully reconstruct a segment of light rail track just east of the Colfax at Auraria Station crossing southbound Kalamath Street was successfully completed in late 2025. Crews completed temporary maintenance in 2024 to stabilize the rail base. The full 86-day Kalamath Crossing reconstruction began Sept. 2, 2025, and wrapped up Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.

Kalamath Crossing Completion Report

Work on the Colfax Avenue Alignment will begin on June 7, 2026, lasting through the first quarter (Q1) of 2027. This work will include a full-depth reconstruction of the track that runs adjacent to Colfax Avenue between Seventh Street and 10th Street at the Colfax at Auraria Station, upgrades at the Colfax at Auraria Station, and work on the Cherry Creek Bridge crossing Speer Boulevard. D, H, and L line trains will be impacted. 

To expedite work and minimize traffic impacts, there will be night work in this area. The contractor has acquired noise variance permit from Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) and impacted residents will be notified in advance of night work occurring in the area.

Work on the Downtown Loop Midblocks area will begin as soon as June 7, 2026, lasting through the first quarter (Q1) of 2027. This work will include a full-depth reconstruction of the existing light rail tracks, excluding the intersections where work was completed in 2024, electrical work at stations, and limited utility work at select intersections. Full-depth rail reconstruction will occur in the following locations:

• Stout and California streets between 14th and 19th, excluding intersections
• 19th Street between Stout and California streets

Construction will progress north along Stout, turn east along 19th Street, and return south along California. This sequence allows crews to work continuously while reducing the overall duration of traffic impacts.

As part of the robust alternative service plan during construction, bus services will be available in the Downtown Loop Midblocks. Visit NextRide to plan the best route for your trip.

The final area of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project will include a full-depth reconstruction of the existing light rail track along the Welton Corridor, between the Welton and Broadway intersection and RTD’s 30th•Downing Station. This work will evaluate station accessibility and replace high blocks at existing L Line stations. Work may begin as early as mid- to late-2027.