Public Transportation
Availability Of Mass Transit
Mass transit is provided in all of Colorado's metropolitan areas and in some rural areas of the state as well. The Colorado Department of Transportation estimates that over 1,500 buses are in operation throughout the state.
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is the largest provider of mass transit. Funded primarily by a 1% sales tax, it serves 41 cities and towns in seven counties, and has a service area of approximately 2,406 square-miles in the Metro Denver area. There are now nearly 200 separate routes regularly served by RTD.
RTD was named the No. 1 transit agency (2003) in North America by the American Public Transportation Association (ATPA). The ATPA makes the annual award based strictly upon performance criteria like mass transit operating costs, on-time performance, customer satisfaction and total bus and light rail ridership.
In addition to the service provided by RTD, the following Colorado cities have mass transit services that receive federal funding:
- Colorado Springs
- Ft. Collins
- Grand Junction
- Greeley
- Pueblo
Over the years, RTD has completed several projects to address Metro-Denver's long-range needs for mass transit. Here are some of the more prominent projects RTD has undertaken in recent years or are currently underway by RTD.
FasTracks
In November 2004, Metro Denver voters passed a $4.7 billion mass transit expansion proposal by RTD, known as FasTracks. The FasTracks plan will "build-out" Metro Denver's entire light rail system, adding six new lines and extending existing routes, as well as expanding the regional bus network.
Construction of the FasTracks plan will be completed within 12 years. Funding to complete the expansion will come from a 0.04 percent sales tax within the transportation district and USDOT grants.
The FasTracks build-out will greatly increase transportation options for Metro Denver workers and provide an alternative to congestion during peak travel times. This expansion will be the largest build-out of a U.S. mass transit system since the Washington Metro system, and will rank the Metro Denver area as one of the top five regions in the country in terms of miles of fixed rail.
For information on the FasTracks build-out, please click here.
T-REX
While the Transportation Expansion Project (T-REX) was primarily known as a highway project, it had a very important public transportation component as well. In fact, a significant portion of T-REX involved the construction of 19 miles of double-track rail along Interstate 25 in southeast Denver. Thirteen new light rail stations were built along the line, spurring major transit-oriented development.
The T-REX light rail line connects Metro Denver's two largest employment centers--the Central Business District (downtown Denver) and the Denver Tech Center.
Airport Access Projects
SkyRide, a convenient and very affordable express bus service from various Metro Denver locations (as far away as Boulder) to the Denver International Airport. There are free Park-n-Ride lots all along the SkyRide routes available for customers, some of which are covered, and two of which offer 24-hour security.
RTD is now researching the feasibility of operating an "airport train" from downtown Denver's Union Station to provide yet another alternative form of transportation to the metro area's #1 traffic destination.
Union Station Redevelopment
Denver-area developers, working with property owners and public officials, have crafted a $560 million proposal to transform downtown Metro Denver's Union Station into a regional transportation hub where light rail, buses, and passenger rail converge. The master plan, designed by Master Developers Continuum Partners and East West partners, calls for "mixed use" development on the 19.5-acre site, with offices, residences, and retail--a 24-hour hub of urban activity.