RTD Wins $44 Million Colorado Clean Transit Grant and Launches Airport SkyRide as City Aligns 1,475-Home Goals

RTD Secures Transformative $44 Million State Grant from Colorado Clean Transit Enterprise

DENVER, Colorado — Delivering substantial capital to expand service frequency, enhance passenger safety, and decarbonize regional fleet operations across the Front Range, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) was awarded a historic $44 million grant from the Colorado Clean Transit Enterprise (CTE) in early October 2026. The major state investment finances the procurement of zero-emission battery-electric transit buses, high-capacity depot charging infrastructure, and enhanced route frequencies across high-demand urban corridors in the Denver metropolitan area.

Transit executives affirmed that the grant directly accelerates RTD’s long-term sustainability goals while strengthening operating resources as the agency continues systemwide track rehabilitation under the ongoing Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project.

Activation of Route AL SkyRide and Colfax Center-Running Busway

Expanding direct airport transit access for northern suburban commuters, RTD celebrated strong initial passenger ridership following the late September launch of Route AL SkyRide, providing direct, non-stop coach service connecting Longmont to Denver International Airport (DIA). The new route provides travelers and aviation employees with a dependable, cost-effective alternative to highway congestion and airport parking fees.

In central Denver, transit riders experienced accelerated travel times along East Colfax Avenue, where newly striped center-running transit lanes became operational between Broadway and Colorado Boulevard for Routes 15 and 15L. The dedicated busway serves as the operational operational vanguard for the full Lynx Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, on track to commence revenue service in 2028.

Denver HOST Targets 1,475 Affordable Housing Units in Coordination with DHA

Parallel to transit milestones, the Denver Department of Housing Stability (HOST) reported steady execution toward its 2026 municipal targets, confirming that the city is on track to deliver 575 newly constructed and 900 preserved income-restricted housing units across the city by year's end. The Denver City Council’s Community Planning and Housing Committee held oversight reviews to optimize partnership performance metrics with the Denver Housing Authority (DHA).

The housing initiatives integrate directly with RTD’s Transit-Oriented Development policy, which mandates that 35 percent of housing constructed on surplus agency real estate must be preserved for low-income residents. Regional leaders praised Denver's synchronized execution of clean transit, airport connectivity, and attainable housing as a model for sustainable Rocky Mountain urbanism.