The Denver City Council will consider approving a contract, not to exceed roughly $200 million, for construction of the Colfax Bus Rapid Transit line Monday night. The contract with Kraemer North America makes up the bulk of the anticipated cost for the dramatic reshaping of Colfax Avenue.

In total, the project will cost $280.5 million, according to city estimates. It will be funded through a variety of sources, including $150 million in federal grants, $28.5 million from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), $14 million from Aurora, $65 million from the Elevate Denver bond and $22.5 million from other sources.

The project is part of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s 10-year plan to improve sustainability. Colfax Avenue is currently a four-lane arterial with center turn lanes and parking on both sides in most stretches. It serves as a major connection between Denver and Aurora and is home to bus line 15 and the 15L express line, which are consistently the most ridden buses in RTD’s network.

But cars also use the road. It serves Denver’s historic East High School, the Convention Center and countless businesses along the nearly 10-mile corridor. By halving the available lanes of traffic, city officials previously acknowledged there may be outsized impacts on surrounding streets like 13th, 14th and 17th Avenues.

And businesses along the “longest commercial street in the country” may look wearily to the languishing 16th Street Mall, which has been inundated with a refurbishing construction project for years. Also served by a bus rapid transit line, businesses along the mall have worried about continuing impacts of construction, even as segments of the mall continue to open and the City Council diverts money to the Downtown Denver Partnership to support them.

Officials maintain the planned high frequency bus service will spur development on Colfax Avenue, rather than stifle it, according to previous coverage by the Denver Gazette.

The contract is a major step in making the vision of Colfax BRT a reality, but there are still hurdles the city, CDOT and RTD must overcome before groundbreaking can begin. The trio of stakeholders hope to see ground broken on the project before the end of this year.

Here are other major items facing the Denver City Council Monday afternoon:

Contracts and Resolutions:

24-1078: A resolution approving a contract with Kraemer North America for a guaranteed maximum of $197.3 million and through 8-30-2028 to build the East Colfax Avenue BRT Project.

24-1032: Approves a contract with The Salvation Army for a total of $1.25 million and an end term of 5-31-2025 to support housing navigation, case management and rental assistance for families experiencing literal homelessness, citywide.

24-0900: Approves a contract with Haven of Hope for $6 million and a term of one year to administer enrollment in the Denver Asylum Seeker Program (DASP) as well as communication with people seeking DASP enrollment, including waitlist management and providing food and personal items assistance to DASP participants, citywide.

Bills:

24-1061: A bill on final consideration amending a contract with the Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver by adding $800,000 for a new total of $1,930,000 and 2 years for a new ending date of 12-31-2026 to increase the number of units in the existing West Denver Renaissance Collaborative Single Family Plus ADU Pilot program agreement, citywide.

24-1063: A bill on final consideration approving the adoption of Parks Legacy Fund Five Year Plan setting planned revenue uses from 2025-2029 for Denver Parks and Recreation including re-investing in our systems, adapting for resilience, expanding the system, creating unique places, fostering connections & partnerships, broadening offerings, and enhancing mountain destinations, citywide.

24-1102: A bill on final consideration approving an appropriation of $3,500,517 from General Fund Reserves to make a cash transfer to and an appropriation in the Liability Claims Special Revenue Fund.

24-1108: A bill being introduced approving an amendment to the Welton Corridor Urban Redevelopment Plan for the 29th and Welton Project and authorizing the creation of the 29th and Welton property tax and sales tax increment areas, in Council District 9.

Public Hearings:

24-0916: A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 1920 South King Street in Harvey Park to allow an accessory dwelling unit.

24-0983: A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 4050 North Colorado Boulevard and associated properties in Northeast Park Hill, allowing building construction of five and eight stories tall.

24-0878: A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 3801 East Florida Avenue in Cory–Merrill, allowing a building of up to five stories.