We know that Denver is in desperate need of a transit revolution. We also know that bus rapid transit, or BRT, on East Colfax can help spark it.

What we don’t know is whether Denver Public Works and city transportation planners will have the guts to implement true BRT or if they’ll settle for a meeker version (see: the Flatiron Flyer).

True BRT would arrive every few minutes in a lane solely dedicated to buses, separate from general traffic. True BRT would be center-aligned, get priority at intersections, separate fare payment from the boarding process, and have platform-level boarding — these are the most important features according to the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

True BRT would dramatically improve transit for people who already ride the bus along Colfax, which has more than 22,000 boardings per weekday, according to the city. Colfax is a key east-west route along one of Denver’s most dangerous places to walk; A good BRT project should include new pedestrian safety infrastructure. Oh, and BRT done well can attract more jobs. Add it all up, and you get much faster and more reliable service that makes life better for current riders and lures more people to opt for transit instead of driving.

There’s no guarantee that any or all of these things will happen. But on Wednesday in Denver and Thursday in Aurora, you can tell decision makers that they’re necessary. That’s when transportation officials will share the results of an 18-month analysis of BRT along the East Colfax corridor (the study’s scope includes parallel streets from 13th to 18th).

Why is it so important for people who support better transit to turn out for these two meetings?

Street parking or travel lanes might get repurposed for BRT. That’ll probably rub some people the wrong way, which is why planners need to hear from people who get good transportation planning — a point that Denver Transportation Director Crissy Fanganello reiterated last week at a neighborhood meeting. There’s a lot at stake. Here’s the meeting info:

Denver
Wednesday, January 20
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (presentation at 6)
Knights of Columbus Hall
1555 Grant Street