New bus lanes on Colorado Avenue

The city of Boulder has implemented changes to the lanes on Colorado Avenue that may affect your daily commute. These improvements are part of a broader effort to create a safer and more efficient transportation system for our entire community, and they are expected to strengthen the connection between Main Campus and East Campus.

What’s happening?

In June, the city converted the outside vehicle lanes on Colorado Avenue to bus and right-turn lanes between Folsom Street and 30th Street. This change, which includes the use of signage and red street markings to designate the bus lanes, aligns with the recommendations of the 2019 30th Street and Colorado Avenue Corridors Study.

How will this affect you?

• For bus riders: If you ride the bus, these changes are designed to shorten your travel times by reducing delays due to traffic congestion. This improvement benefits nearly 12,000 daily bus riders who use Buff Bus service along the Colorado Avenue corridor.
• For drivers: Please use the inside lanes for through traffic on Colorado Avenue, as the outside lanes are now designated for buses only. Right turns at side streets and driveways are still permitted from the bus lanes.
• During events: Please follow instructions provided by those directing traffic at large events on campus, including concerts, football games and conferences.

Future plans and ongoing efforts

CU Boulder remains committed to collaborating on further improvements in the future, including potential changes between 30th Street and Discovery Drive. The city’s 30th Street Multimodal Improvements Project, expected to be completed in early 2025, will enhance the area between Colorado Avenue and Arapahoe Avenue with protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks and new landscaping. In summer 2025, Boulder’s Pavement Management Program will repave Colorado Avenue between Folsom Street and 30th Street.  

For more information, visit the city of Boulder’s 28th Street and Colorado Avenue Protected Intersection Improvements Project page and the 30th Street and Colorado Avenue Corridors Study page.