DENVER (KDVR) — Construction is underway on the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit project, aiming to add a bus lane in each direction along Colfax between Broadway and Yosemite. Along that route are dozens of local businesses set to face the impacts of the long-term project.
“We’re going on our fourth year on Colfax,” said Gio Alberico.
And in that time, Alberico and Bex Schimoler, owners of The Learned Lemur, have grown to love the area.
“The amount of tourist traffic we get on Colfax is crazy, it’s awesome,” said Schimoler.
While the orange barrels a few blocks down haven’t reached them yet, their arrival is unavoidable.
“We’re preparing for it, you know, financially the best we can,” said Alberico. “It’s, you know, always hit or miss with that kind of planning.”
As a business that supports dozens of local artists and provides a space for even smaller businesses within the shop, the owners have many counting on them to stay afloat amid worries from some businesses that construction will take away parking and visibility from the street.
“It would be a pretty serious impact on the community just as far as a financial game for them,” said Alberico.
Joining the lights of Colfax Avenue this week is a possible way to help, thanks to the Colfax Ave. Business Improvement District.
“What we plan to do every month for the duration of the construction is have one event,” said Frank Locantore, executive director of the BID.
This month’s event: A Christmas tree lighting at the intersection of Colfax and Franklin.
“Draw people from the surrounding area and elsewhere to come to the event and support the local businesses,” explained Locatore.
It’s outside help that The Learned Lemur is thankful for.
“We love that support and we love, yeah, all the stuff they to try and get people down here to visit us,” said Schimoler.
The Bus Rapid Transit project construction is expected to last into 2027.
