A network of transportation options provides metro Denver residents with an easy commute to their place of employment, and a vast system of roadways offers easy access to shopping, entertainment, recreational activities and service providers located across the region, the state and the nation. The Regional Transportation District offers more than 1,071 buses on 174 fixed routes and light rail service on 35 miles of track. Travel to work, home or to cultural and sporting events is quick with RTD’s light rail services.
Located centrally in the United States, Denver is a hub for business, distribution of goods and services, travel and leisure. By air, the state-of-the-art Denver International Airport is Denver’s link to destinations across the globe.
Air
Boulder Municipal Airport
3300 Airport Road Boulder, 80301
303-404-3108
Located three miles northeast of Boulder’s central business district, Boulder Municipal Airport serves the general aviation needs of the community. No commercial aircraft operate at the airport, which offers business-related and recreational flying, mail and newspaper transport, flight training, and support services for medical, law enforcement, and fire and rescue.
Centennial Airport
7800 S. Peoria St. Englewood, 80112
303-790-0598
www.centennialairport.com
Centennial Airport ranks second in the nation among airports not certified for airline service and ranks 25th among all U.S. airports. It serves as a major local reliever airport for Denver International Airport, which means it accepts smaller, private aircraft. A major hub for corporate aircraft, Centennial offers charter, air ambulance, check transport and air cargo services.
Denver International Airport (DIA)
8500 Peña Blvd. Denver, 80249
303-342-2000
www.flydenver.com
With the capacity to serve 50 million passengers per year, DIA is the fifth busiest airport in the country and the 10th busiest airport in the world. One of the world’s largest,most technologically advanced airports, DIA encompasses 53 square miles and has six runways and 89 gates.Currently, 23 airlines offer nonstop daily service to more than 130 domestic and international destinations. In a J.D. Power and Associates’ 2003 passenger-satisfaction survey, travelers ranked DIA the number one airport in the United States and the number two airport in the world, behind Frankfurt Airport.
Front Range Airport
5200 Front Range Pkwy. Watkins, 80137
303-261-9103
www.ftg-airport.com
Adams County’s Front Range Airport lies six miles southeast of Denver International Airport and has three runways for general aviation aircraft and a railway track operated by Union Pacific.The airport’s 190-foot air traffic control tower is the nation’s tallest general aviation control tower.
Jefferson County Airport
11755 Airport Way Broomfield, 80021
303-271-4850
Jeffco County Airport is situated between Boulder and Denver and offers services for charter and private planes. Owned and operated by Jefferson County, this airport provides 24-hour customs service. The airport employs approximately 300 people.
Bus
Greyhound Bus Lines
1055 19th St. Denver, 80202
303-293-6555
www.greyhound.com
Just a few blocks from the Regional Transportation District’s Market Street Station, the terminal for Greyhound and other private bus lines is located at 20th and Curtis Streets.
SuperShuttle Denver
4929 Ironton St. Denver, 80239
303-370-1300
www.supershuttledenver.com
SuperShuttle Denver provides residential and office pick-up and drop-off service to and from the Denver International Airport.
Public Transport
Regional Transportation District (RTD)
1600 Blake St. Denver, 80202
303-299-6000
www.rtd-denver.com
RTD provides transit service throughout metro Denver. RTD operates 1,071 buses on 174 fixed routes and 49 light rail vehicles on 16 miles of track. Other programs include skyRide shuttle service to and from Denver International Airport, Light Rail, Park-n-Ride and special services for kids, seniors, the handicapped, business commuters and for recreational purposes. In 2003, RTD was named the number one transit agency in North America by the American Public Transportation Association. The agency employs 2,300 people. In November 2004,metro Denver voters approved FasTracks—RTD’s 12-year, $4.7 billion comprehensive plan to build and operate high-speed rail lines and expand and improve bus services and park-n-rides throughout the region. FasTracks includes 119 miles of new light rail and commuter rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service,21,000 new parking spaces at rail and bus stations, and expanded bus service in all areas.
Taxi Services
Taxi services are an alternative to Denver’s public transportation system. A quick search for “Taxicabs & Other Transportation” at Qwest’s online yellow pages (www.dexonline.com) will reveal numerous taxi services. If flying into Denver International Airport, taxis representing numerous businesses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some reputable taxi service companies in the area include:
Metro Taxi
303-333-3333
Yellow Cab
303-777-7777
www.denveryellowcab.com
Rail
Amtrak
Union Station
800-872-7245
www.amtrak.com
Denver Union Station is a vital link in getting people to where they want to go in metro Denver.Amtrak has daily departures with connections in Chicago, Omaha, Salt Lake City and Emeryville/ San Francisco.
Denver Union Station
1701 Wynkoop St. Denver, 80202
303-534-6333
www.denverunionstation.org
The city plans to transform the station into a 24-hour hub for all forms of transportation, including commuter and light rails, buses, taxis, shuttles, vans, limos, bicycles and pedestrians.
Roadways
From the construction of the area’s first beltway and toll road system to the completion of the T-REX project in 2006 and the start of planning and design for FasTracks, metro Denver is continually working to develop and expand its transportation system to move people and goods.
Interstates/Highways: Metro Denver provides an efficient network of streets, freeways and highways. Metro Denver is at the crossroads of three major interstates—I-25 is the north-south route, while both I-70 and I-76 provide east-west access. In addition, I-225 serves the southeast quadrant of metro Denver. U.S. 36, also known as the Boulder Turnpike, provides quick northwest access between downtown Denver and Boulder. U.S. 285 and U.S. 6 connect the western foothills and metro Denver.
Beltway: Roughly three-quarters of the beltway around metro Denver has been completed.The beltway consists of: C-470 (26 miles) extends from I-25 in the southern metro area to I-70 near Golden. The C-470 Corridor has emerged as one of metro Denver’s major economic corridors, providing a vital connection between the mountains and the southern suburbs and Front Range. E-470 (toll road, 47 miles) runs along the eastern perimeter of the metro area and extends from C-470 at I-25 (south of Denver) runs east and then north through Aurora, passes along the western edge of the Denver International Airport, and turns west, terminating at I-25 on the north end of the metro area. Northwest Parkway (toll road, 11 miles) connects with E-470 and I-25 at 157th Avenue in metro Denver. An EIS study is currently underway, studying options for constructing the last beltway portion in northwestern Jefferson County.
T-REX: The Transportation Expansion (T-REX) Project was completed on November 17, 2006 with the opening of the Southeast Light Rail. This $1.67 billion venture is transforming the way people in the metro Denver area travel along the southeast corridor of Interstates 25 and 225. The T-REX project added 19 miles of light rail and improving 17 miles of highway through southeast Denver, Aurora, Greenwood Village,Centennial and Lone Tree.The project is the result of a unique collaboration between the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation District. T-REX leapt ahead of schedule with its “Last Big Step,” in which the finishing touches were put on this, the most ambitious and largest-scale multi-modal construction project in the country. The Last Big Step included expert landscaping and artwork as well as extensive technical testing.
