$44 Million State Transit Investment to Expand Service on the Flatiron Flyer and Other Transit Services

Denver — Denver-area transit customers will see more frequent transit, longer service hours and new or expanded routes thanks to a $44 million grant being awarded by the Colorado Clean Transit Enterprise (CTE) to the Regional Transportation District (RTD).

This state grant will support longstanding priorities of the Polis administration, including more frequency on the Flatiron Flyer service between Denver and Boulder and service between Boulder and Denver International Airport. These are important steps towards the ongoing goal of restoring higher levels of service on one of the state’s most successful examples of rapid bus service being integrated into highway construction—indeed, the design and operations of the Flatiron Flyer were spelled out in the original environmental review for expansion of US 36.

The investment from CTE, a state-owned enterprise under the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), will make transit more convenient and accessible across the Denver metropolitan area while giving residents more transportation choices, improving connections to jobs and services and helping reduce traffic congestion and transportation-related emissions.

“The Flatiron Flyer has historically been one of the most well-used commuter transit routes along the Front Range, and was part of CDOT’s commitment to adding transit options and improving air quality when US 36 was expanded. CDOT remains committed to the long term goal of restoring higher frequency along this route, consistent with those environmental commitments. Adding long-needed frequency to this important route — alongside other improvements — is an important step that will give people more choices quickly,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “More frequent service, better connections and expanded hours mean more people can count on transit to get to work, school, appointments, entertainment and other destinations. These investments also advance Colorado’s broader goals of providing more transportation choices, reducing congestion and improving air quality.”

RTD estimates the Clean Transit Enterprise grants will support service improvements generating nearly 3.8 million additional transit rides in 2027. As the improvements mature, RTD projects the enhanced service could ultimately support more than 6.5 million additional rides annually.

The grants will support service enhancements on existing or new RTD transit routes throughout the region. Planned improvements include increased frequency and shorter waits on many routes; new, restored or expanded service and longer service hours on select routes.

Improvements funded through the grants include increased frequencies on routes serving East Evans Avenue, Buckley Road, Alameda Avenue, South Downing Street, University Boulevard, West 38th Avenue, Hampden Avenue, Monaco Parkway, Wadsworth Boulevard, and Havana Street.

Other improvements include extended service hours on routes serving Broadway and Mississippi Avenue and expanded or new services along Sheridan Boulevard, service between Central Park and the Anschutz Medical Campus, and service along 72nd Avenue and South Kipling Street.

Funding also will give RTD additional flexibility to provide service for high-volume events that generate increased transit demand, including the Sundance Film Festival, major concerts and Denver Broncos games.

“Transit works best when it is frequent, reliable and connected to the places people need to go,” said Angel Peña, RTD Deputy CEO. “This investment allows RTD to put state dollars directly into service improvements that will make a difference for customers, including shorter waits, longer service hours and stronger connections to jobs, school, health care, the airport and major regional destinations. We are grateful to CDOT and the Clean Transit Enterprise Board for their partnership and for investing in transit as part of Colorado’s broader mobility, air quality and economic future. As these improvements move forward, RTD will continue working with the communities we serve to ensure the service reflects local needs and delivers value across the region.”

The service improvements are designed not only to increase the number of trips RTD can provide but also to make the overall transit network more useful. Shorter headways can reduce the amount of time customers spend waiting for buses and trains, while longer operating hours and expanded routes can make transit viable for more trips and more people throughout the day.

About CTE

The Colorado Clean Transit Enterprise was created by the Colorado General Assembly in 2021 as part of Senate Bill 21-260, a comprehensive transportation funding package. The enterprise is housed within the Colorado Department of Transportation and supports projects that reduce transportation-related air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the use and availability of clean transit.

The enterprise provides funding to transit agencies and other eligible entities for projects that support cleaner, more accessible and more effective public transportation. Its investments can support expanded transit service and efforts to transition transit fleets to cleaner technologies.

The grant funding comes as a result of SB 24-230, which requires the CTE to impose a production fee for clean transit to be paid quarterly by every producer of oil and gas in the state effective July 1, 2025.

About RTD

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) was created in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly to develop, operate, and maintain a mass transportation system that now benefits more than 3.1 million people in the Denver metro area. The transportation agency is governed by a 15-member publicly elected Board of Directors and has a service area of 2,349 square miles. RTD provides transit services via 126 bus routes, six light rail lines, four commuter rail lines, and paratransit options.

For more information, visit rtd-denver.com/about-rtd or call 303-299-6000.

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