The Regional Transportation District (RTD) announced it has completed upgrades to 36 shelters at 34 bus stops to improve transit travel time and enhance the customer experience along a 9-mile stretch of Colfax from Broadway in Denver to I-225 in Aurora.

The project was brought about by a partnership with the Federal Transit Administration; the Colorado Department of Transportation; Denver Regional Council of Governments; the city and county of Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure; and the city of Aurora.

Upgrades along the Colfax corridor include time-saving operational improvements such as transit signal priority and queue bypass lanes that reduce travel time by as much as two minutes. Curb extensions and expanded boarding areas with more waiting space for customers have been constructed at 11 locations along Colfax.

The 15/15L bus routes along East Colfax Avenue traditionally served over 20,000 customers per day. Ridership along the Colfax corridor remained at over 60% during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly three times the national average.

RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said the project illustrated the collective and collaborative approach taken by the myriad stakeholders for the betterment of the communities situated along the Colfax corridor.

“Recognizing the significance of the Colfax corridor as one of the longest continuous business corridors in the country, which has yielded the busiest traveled bus routes for RTD, it is imperative the amenities located at the stops are reflective of the agency’s priority of customer excellence – to consistently deliver high quality customer service,” Johnson said.