First and Final Mile Studies

First and Final Mile Studies

Why the First and Final Mile Matters

The First and Final Mile gap makes it hard for many people to reach transit from home, work, or other destinations. Long walking distances, car-oriented street design, and limited travel options often create the biggest barriers—especially in suburban areas.

Commuting Solutions is working with local jurisdictions and transportation partners to close this gap. Through two major studies in the northwest metro region, we’re identifying what prevents people from accessing transit and implementing strategies that make connections easier, faster, and more sustainable.

CO 119 First and Final Mile Study

CO 119 is an essential regional corridor that provides an important connection between the City of Boulder and the City of Longmont and to a number of key destinations. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and a regional bikeway are planned for the corridor.

The CO 119 First and Final Mile Study identifies phased strategies to create safe, comfortable, and convenient connections to existing and future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations and a planned direct bikeway along the corridor. Building on previous investments in BRT and bikeway planning, the study focuses on improving multimodal access so more people can reach transit and use it confidently.

Using a community-based, data-driven approach, the study analyzed station-area conditions, land use, street networks, and user needs to pinpoint key access gaps. The resulting recommendations fall into five categories and are designed to expand access through both infrastructure and supportive programs.

Recommendations include:

  • Low-stress bicycle and pedestrian connections

  • Wayfinding signage

  • Shared parking (Gunbarrel station only)

  • Microtransit (Gunbarrel station only)

  • Transportation Demand Management strategies

  • New supportive programs

Together, these improvements strengthen multimodal connectivity, enhance safety, and support increased transit ridership along the CO 119 corridor.

CO Hwy 119 First and Final Mile Study
CO Hwy 119 Fact Sheet
First and last mile graphic showing home and bike in first mile, followed by bus, then walking to work last mile.
US 36 Bikeway Sign

US 36 First and Final Mile Study

The main objective of the US 36 First and Final Mile Study, released in 2013, was to identify solutions to better connect transit riders to the six US 36 RTD stations and surrounding activity centers.  The study resulted in nine corridor-wide recommendations, and Commuting Solutions is focused on implementing and sustaining these recommendations.

First and Final Mile Study

Nine Corridor-Wide Recommendations

  • Bike-n-Ride shelters. There are currently eight Bike-n-Ride shelters along US 36 and twelve in the northwest metro region.  Commuting Solutions continues to advocate for additional shelters.
  • Rendering of US 36 Bikeway SignageBranded wayfinding signs for all communities along the US 36 corridor and at the Westminster Station. Signage was installed along the US 36 corridor in December 2018.
  • EcoPasses for individuals and businesses within close proximity to one of the six US 36 RTD stations. Commuting Solutions works actively with our partners and employers throughout the northwest metro region to help increase EcoPass distribution in our region.
  • Private carshare and taxi services at each US 36 RTD stations.
  • Bike share memberships. Currently, memberships to bike share program are valid in Denver and Boulder, with regional bike share coming soon to communities throughout the northwest metro region.
  • Transit-supportive land use policies.
  • Real-time US 36 bus tracker. Commuting Solutions recently partnered with Boulder County to share information about Transit, a smartphone app that allows users to track their bus in real time.
  • Bike share services at each station, including B-cycle, station-less bikeshare, and/or bike libraries.
  • Secure scooter parking.

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