Hilltop Neighborhood Association Takes Position On Colorado Blvd. BRT
The Hilltop Neighborhood Association has officially released a position paper outlining our formal opposition to the proposed Colorado Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in its current form. While we support efficient regional transit, the current proposals present severe risks to our neighborhood's safety, traffic flow, and local economy.
Here is a summary of the core concerns and arguments presented by the Board of Directors on June 23, 2026:
Severe Traffic Spillover & Neighborhood Safety Risks: Two of the current BRT proposals involve eliminating existing general travel lanes, which CDOT data indicates could double travel times along this 7-mile stretch. This catastrophic gridlock on Colorado Blvd. will inevitably force thousands of regional commuters to seek bypass routes through our quiet residential streets, such as Monaco Parkway and Holly Street. This traffic diversion poses a direct safety risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and students at nearby campuses like Hill-Steck and Graland Country Day School.
Declining Ridership & Fiscal Concerns: RTD's current data shows a measurable downturn in ridership on Route 40 (the main line for this corridor), likely due to a permanent shift toward remote and hybrid work. Given RTD's structural budget deficits and ongoing scheduling delays, dedicating fixed infrastructure to a corridor with diminishing demand is a highly risky investment. Furthermore, the project would cut the number of bus stops roughly in half, increasing walking times for many local riders.
Threats to Local Businesses: The installation of restrictive medians and the removal of turn pockets will create major barriers for customers and delivery vehicles. Additionally, a multi-year construction timeline for utilities and stations risks causing severe financial hardship for independent corridor businesses before the project is even finished.
"Bus-Only Blinders" & Flawed Logistics: The current plan focuses heavily on bus transit while neglecting other modes of travel. It lacks dedicated bicycle infrastructure and leaves pedestrian sidewalk configurations dangerously close to high-volume traffic. Furthermore, travel patterns on Colorado Blvd. are highly decentralized—characterized by multi-stop errands and through-traffic—making it fundamentally incompatible with a rigid, fixed-route bus model.
Our full position paper can be found below. We encourage neighbors who would like to have their voices heard on this project by sharing comments with CDOT here.
