Community-Based Transportation Planning program
The Community-Based Transportation Planning Program is a Denver Regional Council of Governments-led technical assistance program intended to support member jurisdictions in addressing mobility challenges for historically marginalized communities in the region.
Through this program, DRCOG staff lead studies or planning efforts, in close partnership with local governments and community organizations, that identify the specific mobility needs of historically marginalized communities, develop community-informed solutions and map out a path to fund and implement recommendations.
Program goals
- Expand access to opportunities for residents of all ages, incomes and abilities.
- Support member governments in their efforts to improve mobility within their communities.
- Support livable communities by recommending improvements for transportation infrastructure and services.
- Center voices of the community in transportation planning.
- Develop innovative engagement methods to center hard to reach voices, including partnering with respected community-based organizations.
2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program Community-Based Transportation Planning Program set-aside
Funding for the Community-Based Transportation Planning Program is included in a new set-aside budget in the 2024–2027 Transportation Improvement Program. An estimated $2.5 million will be available for the entire four-year set-aside. There is no local match required. Details about the set-aside program are also included in the 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program set-aside policies.
2025 Call for projects
DRCOG staff will solicit project proposals in October 2025 through a letter of interest form. There will be a joint call for letters of interest for the Community-Based Transportation Planning program, as well as the Innovative Mobility and Livable Centers programs. Proposals will be accepted from October 1 through November 15 at 5 p.m. During the call for proposals, DRCOG staff will host an informational webinar and be available for proposal-specific consultations with project sponsors.
Who can submit letters of interest?
Eligible partners that may submit project proposals including local governments, regional agencies, transportation management organizations/associations, nonprofits, and State of Colorado offices and agencies, including Colorado public colleges and universities. If you have a question about eligibility, please reach out to staff.
What projects are eligible?
Any transportation study, analysis, or plan that focuses on improving transportation for hard to reach communities within the DRCOG metropolitan planning organization area is eligible. These projects cannot include design, infrastructure or construction. Project types could include:
- Subarea transportation plans.
- Corridor plans.
- Multimodal, bicycle and/or pedestrian plans.
- Safety or vision zero plans.
- Transit or microtransit studies.
- First/last mile studies.
- School transportation plans.
- Conceptual design (planning level only).
- Other transportation or mobility related studies.
How to participate?
- Join the informational webinar: DRCOG staff will host an informational webinar at 1 p.m. on October 14.
- Reach out to DRCOG staff to discuss project ideas: Interested parties may reach out to RDCOG staff to discuss eligibility or potential project ideas ahead of submitting a letter of interest. To ensure adequate time to schedule a call and prepare materials, please reach out well in advance of the deadline.
- Submit a litter of interest for your project: Submit a letter of interest between October 1 and November 15 at 5 p.m.
- Stay tuned for project approvals: Projects will be scored by an evaluation panel using criteria outlined in the Policies for Fiscal Year 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program Set-Aside Programs. After the evaluation process, projects will be recommended through DRCOG's Transportation Advisory Committee, Regional Transportation Committee and approved by the DRCOG Board of Directors.
Additional information
If you are interested in submitting a letter of interest, please review the call for letters of interest overview document.
2024-2025 set-aside projects
DRCOG staff conducted a call for letters of interest to select projects for the first half of the 2024-2027 Community-Based Transportation Planning Program set-aside at the end of 2023. The DRCOG Board of Directors approved five projects in March 2024.
Selected projects are:
- Montbello Loop and 303 Artway Implementation Plan.
- Brighton Core City Circulation Plan.
- 92nd Avenue Corridor Study, from Federal to Pecos.
- Pecos Corridor Study, from 62nd to 84th.
- Commerce City Microtransit Study.
Pilot Community-Based Transportation Planning Program
In 2022, DRCOG staff launched a pilot version of this program and selected two projects. You can learn more about each project on the project websites:
Contact
Subarea and project planning program manager