Trump’s chaos threatens these bus rapid transit projects in Denver (Opinion)

Recently, Elon Musk stood on stage at a conservative conference just outside of Washington, D.C., waving a chainsaw in the air, claiming he would take the chainsaw to the federal bureaucracy. In reality, Elon and President Donald Trump have just created chaos. And now, that chaos and confusion may cut off access to economic opportunity here in Colorado.

For some time now, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the City of Denver, and the Regional Transportation District have been planning a bus rapid transit project on Federal Boulevard — one of four corridors in the Denver region planned to have bus rapid transit service up and running by 2030. Enhancing the bus service on roads like Federal Boulevard stands to offer a tremendous economic boost for the area, leading to greater access to jobs and moving us closer towards our state and regional safety, equity, and climate goals.

But now, thanks to Trump’s and Musk’s chaos, it is not clear that the funding that states typically rely on for these types of projects will come through, jeopardizing the full vision and scope of the project. That’s a big problem because, in communities throughout the country and here in Denver, transit is essential for the affordability and economic vitality of our community.

According to a 2024 poll by the Colorado Health Foundation, “cost of living/inflation” is the top issue facing Colorado. Transportation is the second-highest cost, behind housing, and these costs are particularly burdensome for low-income households, which spend about 30% of their incomes on transportation. Riding public transit is nearly ten times cheaper than owning a car, and low-income households without a car spend just 5% of their incomes on transportation.

Further, a 2024 analysis found that reducing daily driving by 10% could save Coloradans $25.3 billion by 2035, primarily through reduced spending on vehicle operations like fuel, insurance, repairs, and parking. Fewer vehicles on our roads also lessen the need for costly and harmful highway expansions, which consistently fail to reduce traffic. This frees up money to maintain and repair our existing system and provide safer travel options.

Nationally, tens of millions of people in the U.S. — from small rural towns to major urban centers — rely on public transit to get to work every day, generating trillions of dollars in economic activity. Every dollar invested in transit offers a 5-to-1 return, and every $1 billion invested in public transit produces 50,000 jobs. Transit agencies are often among the largest employers in their cities.

And that is what this project is about. Expanding access to jobs and economic opportunity, while increasing access to clean, affordable transportation options.

Investing in public transportation is not just about moving people from point A to point B; it’s about ensuring that Denver remains competitive, accessible, and sustainable in an ever-evolving economy. The more robust the transit system, the more opportunities we have to grow, innovate, and thrive. A healthy public transit system helps the community, the environment, and, yes, the bottom line. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Which is why the current chaos in Washington is so troubling. To fund projects like the Federal Boulevard bus rapid transit we need both federal and state dollars. And we need to know those funds won’t be pulled back or disrupted due to political games.

Without certainty of funding, the project may not advance as originally planned and Denverites will pay the price.

Jill Locantore is the executive director of the Denver Streets Partnership, a coalition of community organizations advocating for people-friendly streets in Denver.

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