Colorado 119
About CO 119
CO 119, locally known as the Diagonal, connects Boulder to Longmont and travels through Gunbarrel and Niwot. Currently, there are 45,000 vehicles a day that travel along the corridor. There is a projected 25% increase in traffic by the year 2040.
To address growing travel demand and provide improved mobility in the northwest region, RTD, along with the Northwest Mayors & Commissioners Coalition, completed the Northwest Area Mobility Study (NAMS) in 2014. The study determined a prioritized list of mobility improvements for the region. Implementing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along CO 119 was identified as a high-priority project.
In 2018, CO 119 carried 1,500 transit riders a day. Boardings are expected to increase by 33% with proposed multimodal improvements such as BRT.
Design for the CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Project is ongoing and the first and final plans are expected at the end of May 2024, with construction beginning in 2024.
🚧 Construction Updates 🚧
As of September 23, 2024, construction on the Colorado Highway 119 Safety, Mobility, and Bikeway Project is underway! The upgrades will improve safety, ease traffic, and boost transportation options for all. You can find construction updates with links to specific intersections and elements of the project below.
Road Closures and Detours
RTD will temporarily close the Niwot Park-n-Ride lot and permanently close the north- and southbound CO 119 bus stops at CO 52 beginning Sept. 29. The bus stops at the Niwot Park-n-Ride will remain open. The next closest bus stops served by the BOLT bus are at 63rd Street to the south of CO 52 and Monarch or Niwot to the north. (read more from RTD)
7-day full closures planned for underpass construction
• Jay Rd and Niwot Rd
• Accelerated construction planned to limit impactsand reduce closure times
• Early 2025 (date TBD)
• Detours to be provided
Closure of IBM Drive at CO 52
• Longer duration ~ 15 months
• Needed to construct new alignment of southbound CO 119 and new alignment of CO 52
• Detours to be provided
Feasibility Studies and Results
In 2019, RTD completed the CO 119 Multi-Modal Planning and Environmental Linkages Study (PEL) to determine the feasibility of implementing BRT along CO 119. At the same time, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) completed a Bikeway Study that resulted in preliminary bikeway concepts. During this process, RTD gathered public input through open houses, online comments and surveys. Three alternatives were proposed for BRT on the corridor: bus on the outside shoulder, bus queue bypass lanes and signal priority, and an inside managed lane. Following the Traffic Alternatives Analysis Study in 2021, CDOT decided to construct bus queue bypass lanes and intersection improvements at CO 52, Airport Road, and Hover Street.
CDOT and RTD CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Improvements Project – Constuction Phase
The CO 119 Safety and Mobility Project is implementing queue bypass lanes, intersection improvements, new BRT stations and park-n-rides. Coupled with new RTD BRT service, these improvements will:
- Cut bus travel times by nearly half
- Support greater travel flexibility by providing more frequent bus service
- Provide a safer and more comfortable experience accessing the corridor on foot
- Reduce fender benders and crashes
- Enable vehicles to move through the corridor faster, with shorter wait times at traffic lights
- Integrate BRT, Park-n-Rides, pedestrian crossings, and Boulder County’s Commuter Bikeway so commuters can switch travel modes safely and reliably.
CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Improvements Project Cost and Funding
Funding has been secured for implementation of the $162M project. CDOT, RTD, Boulder County, City of Longmont, and the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) have committed $137M. In addition, project was awarded a $25M RAISE grant in 2023. The project was one of 162 infrastructure projects across the country to be awarded a grant.
CO 119 Branding & Wayfinding Project
The CO 119 Branding & Wayfinding Project is an effort to create a unique corridor brand accompanying the future Bus Rapid Transit route connecting Boulder and Longmont. The brand will be applied to first and final mile wayfinding signs, BRT station architecture and amenities, and other critical elements along the CO 119 corridor during design and implementation phases. The project will define the core brand attributes (fonts, layout, colors, graphics, and messaging typology) to inform a visual identity and locations where the brand will be integrated, such as wayfinding, stations, and materials. The project will result in construction-ready wayfinding plans and signs that are ready for the local governments to fabricate and install.
Boulder County CO 119 Bikeway Project
Boulder County has started constructing a paved, off-street, multi-use path along CO 119 between Boulder and Longmont. The CO 119 Bikeway project will optimize regional mobility between Boulder and Longmont by providing multimodal bicycle and pedestrian improvements that result in safer, more reliable, more comfortable, and more appealing travel options.
The bikeway will provide a year-round, safe, direct, accessible and comfortable bike facility with seamless connections to transit, neighborhoods, businesses and local walking and bicycling paths.
The vision for the bikeway was first conceived in the Northwest Area Mobility Study and later studied in the 2019 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL). The overall corridor vision includes:
- Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
- Intersection Improvements
- Separated Bikeway Multi-Use Path
Related Projects
City of Boulder 28th Street Improvements Project
City of Longmont Coffman Street Busway Project
The Coffman Street Busway project seeks to make Coffman Street, from 1st Avenue to 9th Avenue, a world-class, multimodal corridor to support residents, businesses, visitors, cyclists and pedestrians, commuters, the environment and the city.
The final design and coordination with adjacent projects have been completed. Primary construction is expected to begin in March 2024.
The project will have protected bike lands for safe bicycle travel, transit for less congestion, parking for local businesses and sidewalks and trees for a walkabout and vibrant community.
Resources
- CO 119 Fact Sheet 2024
- CO 119 Fact Sheet 2023
- CO 119 Project Description 2023
- CO 119 First and Final Mile Study
- City of Longmont – Coffman Street Busway
- Boulder County – CO 119 Bikeway
- City of Boulder – 28th Street Improvements Project
- SH 119 Multi-Modal Planning and Environmental Linkages Study
- CO Highway 119 Multi-Modal Planning and Environmental Linkage Study Report Part 1
- CO Highway 119 Multi-Modal Planning and Environmental Linkage Study Report Part 2
- CO Highway 119 Multi-Modal Planning and Environmental Linkage Study Report Part 3
- CO Highway 119 Multi-Modal Planning and Environmental Linkage Study Report Part 4
