Veronica Acosta joined Denver7 in January 2021 as a reporter.
DENVER — More than 20,000 people ride the RTD 15 and 15L buses every single day, which travel east and west on Colfax, with thousands more driving through the busy corridor. In the next few years, it's likely that all those who use the roadway to travel will be impacted by the East Colfax BRT Project, which broke ground Friday.
'This is a very, very welcome, long overdue project,' said Richard Bamber, with Greater Denver Transit. 'The current Colfax buses, that's routes 15 and 15L are the busiest buses RTD currently runs.'Bamber is fully on-board with project. Ultimately, he believes it'll attract more people to the Colfax corridor area. 'It'll make Colfax, this section of Colfax, so much more pleasant, whether you are here to work, rest play be a huge sort of upgrade,' he said. The project will go in phases, beginning on Colfax between Broadway and Williams. It will create center-running bus lanes and reduce the roadway down to one lane of travel in each direction. It's something business owners, like Holly Brooks, who's owned the Capitol Hill Bookstore for about 20 years, isn't excited for. 'They came and told me that they were going to do that, and I screamed,' she said. Brooks told Denver7 her business relies primarily on customers who drive there. Inherently, those commuters require a place to park. The problem for Brooks is the project will reduce 970 parking spots in the area by 300. 'We really rely on the parking and it will disappear,' she said. Brooks added that with nearby parking spots gone, she doesn't believe her business can survive to rejoice in the long term benefits expected with the East Colfax BRT project. 'Well, nobody can stop,' she said. 'What? We should just wave as they go by?'However, for those who rely on RTD's 15 and 15L bus, like Kala Hill and her 7-month-old baby, Vander, the BRT is a good idea and the current system is something she's relied on heavily. 'I use it just about every day,' Hill said. 'We're going to Mile High Behavioral Health. I'm doing a class there today.''I wouldn't be able to get anywhere if it wasn't for the bus. So I'm really grateful for it,' she added.
Bus Rapid Transit East Colfax BRT Project RTD Buses Businesses Commuters Drivers Parking
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Veronica Beard’s Spring 2025 ‘It’ Girl Wants Casual LuxeWhat does the Veronica Beard girl want for spring? Casual luxe, according to founders Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard.
Read more »
East Colfax Community Collective celebrates $3 million purchase of Denver apartment buildingSam Peña is a multimedia journalist at Denver7 KMGH in Denver, Colorado.
Read more »
Denver City Council gives green light to construct the East Colfax Avenue bus rapid transit projectMegan Ulu-Lani Boyanton reports on the business beat at The Denver Post. Previously, she worked in Washington, D.C., as a Capitol Hill reporter at Bloomberg Government, covering agriculture and trade policy. Megan received her master's in mass communication from Arizona State University.
Read more »
Construction on the East Colfax bus rapid transit system expected to begin early OctoberVeronica Acosta joined Denver7 in January 2021 as a reporter.
Read more »
Breakfast spot on East Colfax will close after 5 yearsAny retail business that opened during the same month as the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020 — and then thrived — can be considered a success.
Read more »
Construction on East Colfax rapid transit system to begin FridayClaire Lavezzorio is a reporter at KMGH Denver7 in Denver, Colorado.
Read more »