Denver Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting March 18, 2026

The Denver City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 1:30 PM in Room 391 of the City & County Building. The committee considered two major action items: a proposed three-year license agreement with VeoRide Inc. (dba Veo) to operate Denver’s Shared Bike and Scooter Program (26-0326), and a block of 38 contract amendments for on-call vertical professional and technical services (26-0254 through 26-0291). After extensive public testimony and council discussion, both action items were postponed to future dates. Eight consent items were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• 26-0293 through 26-0295: Three resolutions dedicating City-owned parcels as public alley right-of-way bounded by East 1st Avenue, North Lincoln Street, East Ellsworth Avenue, and North Broadway, in Council District 7. Approved by consent.
• 26-0296: Dedicating two parcels as right-of-way at South Clermont Street and East Evans Avenue, Council District 4. Approved by consent.
• 26-0297 and 26-0298: Dedicating parcels as right-of-way at North Broadway and West 8th/9th Avenues, Council District 10. Approved by consent.
• 26-0299: Dedicating two parcels as right-of-way at Green Valley Ranch Boulevard and North Jebel Street, Council District 11. Approved by consent.
• 26-0309: Amending contract with Wilson & Company, Inc. to add $17,060 for a new total of $1,087,113.23 and extend one year to 12-31-2026 for design services on the Connecting Auraria project (Larimer Street Bridge over Cherry Creek), Council District 10. Approved by consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lime Access Users (Colby Campbell, Dustin Wilburn, Rin Lian, Whitney Smith, Brayden Davis): Several speakers opposed the transition to a single operator (Veo), urging the committee to extend Lime’s contract for 12-18 months to allow a smoother transition. They described how Lime’s access program (providing free or discounted rides) has been essential for medical appointments, employment, and family emergencies. One speaker noted over 300,000 riders rely on the program, and a rushed transition could disrupt vulnerable residents.
• Downtown Neighborhood Representatives (David Kurth, Mike Miller, Ellen Baker): Representing the Upper Downtown and Lower Downtown neighborhood associations, these speakers strongly supported moving to a single vendor model. They argued that the current two-vendor system creates fragmentation, makes enforcement difficult, and leads to unsafe riding and parking. They stated their position is on structure—not the specific vendor—and that a single operator provides clear accountability, unified data, and better safety outcomes.
• Current Operator Representative (Arnaldo Colon, regional manager for Bird): Opposed the selection of Veo, citing Bird’s seven years of experience in Denver, existing W-2 workforce, and concerns that Veo’s total ridership across all markets is only slightly larger than Denver’s program. He warned that Veo’s planned hiring of 15+ drivers could lead to layoffs in winter, and noted Bird already employs a W-2 team.
• Veo Employee (Devin Morrison, hired as maintenance operations manager): Supported the transition, stating that Veo is investing in a large in-house workforce of over 100 W-2 technicians and 25 mechanics, assembling vehicles in a local warehouse. He claimed that Veo’s fleet is more environmentally sustainable (electric vehicles, no gas vans) compared to Lime’s current use of gas-powered subcontractors.

Discussion Items

• 26-0326 – Veo License Agreement: DOTI staff presented the rationale for selecting Veo as the single operator for a three-year term (with an optional two-year renewal). Key benefits included a 10% price reduction for all riders, a new Denver resident pass offering 35% savings, a more diverse fleet (seated scooters, cargo trike, adaptive devices), real-time sidewalk riding detection, and a W-2 workforce. The contract also includes a revenue share of $250 per device per year (over $2 million annually) and incentives to grow the income-qualified access program. Staff emphasized that a single operator allows better distribution of devices and stronger accountability.

• Council Questions and Concerns:

  • Councilmember Hinds asked about safety, noting eight scooter-related deaths in 2025. Veo’s larger-wheeled seated scooters (70% of fleet) are linked to fewer crashes.
  • Councilmember Flynn questioned Denver residency verification for the discount pass and requested maps comparing current and proposed equity deployment areas. He also asked for the full contract documents to be provided before the final vote.
  • Councilmember Alvidrez expressed concern about Veo’s ability to manage an equity program of this size, noting it took current operators years to build. She also cited risks seen in Columbus, Ohio, with single-operator models leading to service interruptions.
  • Council President Sandoval pressed for the scoring rubric and full contract, stating that NACTO reports (which DOTI referenced) recommend transparent scoring. She argued that without seeing the contract or scoring, council cannot properly vote.
  • Councilmember Romero Campbell asked about device numbers (7,000 currently, 6,000-7,000 at Veo launch) and cross-border riding issues in unincorporated areas. She requested measurable timelines for access program transition and inter-jurisdictional agreements.
  • Councilmember Kashmann noted weak enforcement of prior contracts and asked about data ownership. Staff confirmed the new contract includes clearer service-level agreements and data handoff provisions.
  • Councilmember Watson asked about adaptive devices (Veo’s trike and two-seater e-bike) and Veo’s warehouse location (14,000 sq ft near Regis University). He expressed confidence in the procurement process given that current operators only improved after legislation pushed them.

• On-Call Contract Amendments (26-0254 through 26-0291): These 38 items were presented as a block. They amend contracts with various architecture, engineering, and construction firms to add funds and extend end dates to 7-13-2028 for vertical professional and technical services citywide. No public comment was taken on these items. Council agreed to postpone them to April 15, 2026, to allow further review.

Key Outcomes

• Item 26-0326 (Veo License Agreement): Motion by Council President Sandoval, seconded by Chair Lewis, to postpone to a date certain (April 1, 2026) was approved by a vote of 6-0 (Alvidrez, Flynn, Hinds, Kashmann, Sandoval, Lewis all aye; Gilmore absent). The postponement allows councilmembers to review the full contract and scoring documents before the final vote.
• Items 26-0254 through 26-0291 (On-Call Contract Amendments): Motion by Vice Chair Hinds, seconded by Council President Sandoval, to postpone to a date certain (April 15, 2026) was approved by a vote of 6-0 (same breakdown). These items will be considered at a future committee meeting.
• Consent Items: All eight consent resolutions (26-0293 through 26-0299 and 26-0309) were approved by consent without objection. These dedicate small parcels as public right-of-way and amend a contract for bridge design services.
• Next Steps: The Veo contract will return to the committee on April 1, 2026, for discussion and action. The on-call contracts will be re-scheduled for April 15, 2026. Both require full city council approval (first reading March 31 for Veo, now delayed).