CO 119 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project

The CO 119 BRT project will optimize regional connectivity and mobility between Boulder and Longmont by providing improvements that result in faster, safer and more reliable transit travel.

Project Background

Colorado Highway 119 between Longmont and Boulder (the Diagonal) is the second most traveled corridor in Boulder County, serving residents, employees, and visitors from across northern Colorado and the Denver metropolitan area.

Travelers along this vital regional transportation corridor which is the primary connection between Boulder County’s two largest municipalities, face unpredictable travel times. Additionally, CO 119 from Boulder to Longmont is a high crash corridor that produces more severe crashes per mile than any other road in unincorporated Boulder County.

RTD, in collaboration with northwest area elected officials, business leaders, and public agencies, completed a comprehensive study that evaluated the viability of bus rapid transit (BRT) along CO 119 between Boulder and Longmont. The study recommended cost-effective mobility improvements to address the growing congestion and travel demand that includes a 2-pattern BRT route and BRT/managed lanes. The study also gauged environmental impacts, multimodal access, transit reliability, and transit travel time.

In 2019, the RTD Board of Directors accepted the Multimodal Corridor Vision Plan for the CO 119 corridor as defined in the Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study. RTD has committed $33 million to fund transit elements of the corridor, including BRT stations, Park-n-Rides and enhanced bus stops. RTD’s total contribution is $19 million ( $5 million as a Denver Regional Council of Government Transportation Improvement Program grant match towards the queue bypass lanes at CO 52, and $14 million towards BRT stations and Park-n-Rides along the corridor). The remaining $14 million will be used for local BRT stops in Boulder and Longmont, including CU East Campus improvements and the new Park-n-Ride in Longmont. CDOT and local stakeholders have also provided additional funding for the corridor.