Denver's RTD Lands $150M Fed Grant for BRT Project

Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the East Colfax Avenue BRT will provide faster, more frequent transit for residents and commuters between downtown Denver and the Colfax light rail station in Aurora, Colo.

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

October 7, 2024

Denver's RTD Lands $150M Fed Grant for BRT Project — Denver's 8.6-mile BRT line will improve the experience for transit riders with several miles of dedicated bus-only lanes, traffic lights that will automatically turn green for buses, and faster, more friendly boarding.
**Photo: Denver RTD**

2 min to read

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a $149.9 million grant award to the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver — a major step forward for the agency's plans to build a bus rapid transit line along one of the city’s busiest corridors.

"Americans rely on public transit every day to get to work, go to school, and connect with loved ones — and through our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re making the biggest investments in public transit in U.S. history," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to help deliver Denver's first bus rapid transit line, which will help riders between Denver and Aurora get where they're going more quickly and reliably, saving riders about half an hour each day, while reducing traffic congestion and pollution."

The East Colfax Avenue BRT Line

The 8.6-mile BRT line will improve the experience for transit riders with several miles of dedicated bus-only lanes, traffic lights that will automatically turn green for buses, and faster, more friendly boarding.

Some 22,000 riders use the two current Colfax Avenue bus routes each weekday. The BRT is expected to shorten their trip by about 15 minutes each way.

With a bus arriving every four minutes on weekdays and service provided 24 hours a day, riders will be given new options for getting to key destinations, including downtown Denver, a major high school, 14 residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, medical campuses, historic Aurora, and RTD's 'R' Line light rail.

"BRT routes have been transforming communities across the country with fast, frequent service along key economic corridors nationwide," said FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. "We are pleased to add Denver to the growing list of communities benefiting from America's largest-ever investment in high-quality public transportation."

Building A Strong Fed Partnership

With the signing of this construction grant agreement, FTA is agreeing to provide $149.9 million to the East Colfax BRT, which is estimated to cost $280.5 million.

The funding comes from FTA's Capital Investment Grants program, which helps communities carry out transformational transit projects.

Topics:bus rapid transit Denver RTD FTA Capital Investment Grant federal funding Management Bus

More Bus

Measuring the True Cost of Paratransit Fleets

What truly drives the cost of a paratransit fleet? Beyond the purchase price, seven operational factors quietly determine maintenance frequency, downtime, and long-term service reliability. This whitepaper explores how these factors shape lifecycle cost and what agencies should evaluate when selecting paratransit vehicles.

Bus•by Alex Roman•March 13, 2026

Inside The Bus Coalition’s Push for Stronger Federal Transit Investment

In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.