The decision, announced Thursday, delays the BRT project until at least 2028, when CDOT officials say they will resume their review. The agency did not provide a detailed timeline for the safety improvements or specify which stretches of the boulevard would be addressed first.

The proposed BRT line had been intended to speed up bus service and encourage more riders to use public transit along one of the metro area’s busiest and most congested streets. But the plan drew opposition from Glendale leaders, who argued that dedicating lanes to buses could worsen traffic congestion and harm local businesses. The city, which borders Denver along a stretch of Colorado Boulevard, had urged CDOT not to build the project as designed.

CDOT’s decision to pause the BRT line reflects a broader recalibration of priorities as the state balances long-term transit goals with pressing safety concerns. Colorado Boulevard has long been identified as a high-crash corridor, with pedestrians and cyclists particularly vulnerable. The safety fixes are expected to target intersections and other trouble spots, though specific measures have not yet been detailed.

For transit advocates, the delay is a setback for efforts to expand reliable, car-free options in the Denver region. For local officials in Glendale and some nearby neighborhoods, the pause offers relief from fears of increased congestion. CDOT officials said the 2028 review will allow the agency to reassess the project in light of new data and community feedback.

The agency has not said whether the safety work will be funded through existing budgets or require new appropriations. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about the cost or scope of the planned improvements.