Denver Mayor and City Council Meeting on October 8, 2024: Denver Connector Program Update

The mayor and Denver City Council convened on October 8, 2024, for a briefing from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) on the Denver Connector microtransit program. The session included an overview of existing services in North Denver and the Northeast (Montbello/GES), performance statistics, and plans to launch a new West Side service zone by the end of 2024. Council members discussed equity, service gaps, community engagement, wait times, and long-term sustainability. No formal votes were taken; the briefing was informational.

Announcements

• Councilmember Alvidras announced the Public Health and Safety Active Collective Trauma Summit on October 10–11, recognizing healers and mental health workers.
• Councilmember from District 6 announced a virtual District 6 Academy on October 15 focusing on street safety, with participation from DOTI, Police Chief Ron Thomas, Denver Streets Partnership, and Transportation Solutions.
• Councilmember Sawyer coordinated a citywide "Celebrity Crossing Guard" event on October 9 at various elementary schools to raise awareness about school zone safety. Multiple council members shared the schools where they would participate.

Discussion Items

• Denver Connector Program Briefing (presented by Amy Ford, DOTI; Justin Beckley, DOTI Planning Supervisor; David Krutzinger, Transit Director)
  • The program is a free, on-demand microtransit service operating within defined neighborhoods to fill gaps in RTD fixed-route transit. Rides can be booked via a phone app or call center. Trips are shared and typically under 10 minutes.
  • Existing services:
    • North Denver zone: 60,000 trips since inception; average wait times ~20 minutes; 2–4 vehicles in operation.
    • Northeast zone (Montbello/GES): 161,000 trips since inception; 2–4 vehicles; high usage noted at schools and the Montbello Recreation Center.
  • West Side launch: Planned for December 2024. Two service zone alternatives under consideration: a smaller zone with lower wait times (serving central Westside) and a larger zone including Ruby Hill and Westwood but with slightly higher wait times. The final zone will be decided after a focus group meeting in late October. The West Side is identified as an equity priority area with limited transit access.
  • RTD grant funding: An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with RTD provides $1.5 million over three years ($300,000 in 2024 for a half-year, then $600,000 per year in 2025 and 2026) to supplement city special revenue funds. The city’s total budget for the three service zones is $2 million per year for 2025–2026. The IGA requires that 50% of trips have a response time under 30 minutes.
  • Cost efficiency: Per-ride cost is approximately $10, which is low compared to the industry average of $20–30 for microtransit. Projected annual ridership for 2025: approximately 150,000 trips across all zones.
  • Vehicle fleet: A third of vehicles are fully electric, a third are hybrid, and larger vehicles are gas-powered. DOTI is working to increase electric capacity.
• Council questions and comments:
  • Councilmember Torres: Expressed strong support, noting the program aligns with DOTI’s mission to fill transit gaps. Asked about mid-year adjustments to service zones; confirmed modifications are possible after six months of data. Expressed desire to eventually include all of Westwood and suggested exploring a community-owned driver cooperative model for future implementation.
  • Councilmember Alvidras: Raised concerns about community engagement—only one focus group meeting occurred, and some constituents did not receive the link. Questioned the exclusion of Overland and Ruby Hill. Noted the Westside is a food desert and asked about grocery store access (currently a Safeway is accessible via the proposed zone; Walmart at Evans is not due to distance). Inquired about inclusion of the animal shelter (not planned).
  • Councilmember Parody: Requested a follow-up analysis of other city areas for potential connector expansion, including circulator or loop models connecting to RTD.
  • Councilmember Romero-Campbell: Asked about demographic data of riders; learned that in Montbello, youth are the primary users (school trips), and in North Denver, trips to Walmart and apartment complexes are common. DOTI is conducting a rider survey.
  • Councilmember Watson: Acknowledged the service’s value in Gateway/Green Valley Ranch. Asked about load balancing and wait times—DOTI uses shared trips and dynamic scheduling. Requested data sharing with his office to help manage community expectations. Mentioned interest in a Five Points connector.
  • Council President: Suggested expanding service to connect neighborhoods to Auraria Campus, noting that current RTD passes are underutilized and that a connector could boost downtown economic activity. Also noted that she voted for the DOTI restructuring to enable such municipal transit initiatives.
  • Councilmember Lewis: Asked about capacity in existing zones—DOTI will add one vehicle in Montbello/GES to reduce wait times. Queried about advocating RTD for dedicated shopper routes; DOTI is in ongoing discussions with RTD about service improvements.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or decisions were made; the briefing was for informational purposes and to seek council input.
• The West Side connector launch timeline remains: final focus group in late October, transition to preparation in November, and service launch in December 2024.
• DOTI will consider council feedback on the service zone alternatives (e.g., inclusion of Ruby Hill, focus on grocery access) in its final planning.
• The RTD grant agreements (IGAs) are expected to be executed to secure funding for existing and new services.
• Councilmembers will receive follow-up data on rider demographics and a list of analyzed areas for potential future expansion.