Denver Connector Microtransit Program
Riders should download the Denver Connector mobile app to request rides using their smart phone or call (720) 905-4438 to request rides in English and Spanish. For Denver Connector app support, please take the short survey below.
Denver Connector App Support
NEW West Denver Connector Service Area Available to Book Rides Starting Monday, December 2!
Starting Monday, December 2, the City and County of Denver will expand the FREE Denver Connector service into the Southwest part of the City. The new west Connector service area will include the neighborhoods of Villa Park and portions of Sun Valley, Westwood, Athmar Park, Ruby Hill and Valverde. The on-demand rideshare service will operate Mondays through Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Once the service launches, download the app or use the phone number to book any trip that begins and ends in the service area shown below.
Service Area for Denver Connector in West Denver
Overview
In October 2021, the City and County of Denver began the Denver Connector Pilot, a free ride-share for Montbello to use to commute to local neighborhood destinations and transit stations. After a successful year and a high demand for the service, the city extended the pilot for another two years. As part of the extension, the Montbello service area was expanded to include the Gateway neighborhood. The city also expanded the Denver Connector to provide service in the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea (GES) neighborhoods.
All rides are currently free and available weekdays from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. The service provides on-demand trips anywhere within either of the two service areas - view maps on our sidebar. The Montbello/Gateway service utilizes four vehicles: a wheelchair accessible van, two plug-in hybrid minivans, and an all-electric crossover, the latter of which was purchased with money from the city’s new Climate Protection Fund. The GES service also uses these three types of vehicles.
Service Map and Points of Interest
2025/2026 Holiday Service Closures
There will be no service on the following days:
- New Year's Day (January 1, 2025)
- Independence Day (July 4, 2025)
- Thanksgiving (November 27, 2025)
- Christmas (December 25, 2025)
- New Year's Day (January 1, 2026)
Recent History of Denver Transit Service Development
- October 2018 – Denver partners with Transportation Management Agency (TMA), Transportation Solutions and Chariot, a private microtransit service provider to launch a pilot of ‘City Shuttle’, a free-to-ride City transit service between downtown and the Cherry Creek area to help service, retail, and hospitality workers with the commutes.
- January 2019 – Denver Adopts its First Major Transit Plan, ‘Denver Moves: Transit’. This first of its kind study recommends development of a Citywide frequent transit network as well as to "conduct pilot programs in partnership with on-demand/ shared-ride service providers to supplement RTD service".
- November 2019 – Denver residents vote to create a City Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI), which will act as a modern agency focused on increasing mobility and safety while reducing congestion and fighting climate change.
- September 2020 – The City and County of Denver kicks off a planning study to lead to a community based pilot service as a follow up to the City Shuttle.
- October 2021 – The City and County of Denver launches pilot ride-share service that Montbello residents can use to commute to local neighborhood destinations.
- September 2022 – The City and County of Denver extends pilot in Montbello for two years and expands service to include the Gateway neighborhood. As part of extension, DOTI also planned the Globeville & Elyria-Swansea (GES) service area. The GES service is expected to launch late Fall, early Winter.
- November 2022 – Globeville Elyria-Swansea (GES) Connector launches.
Denver Connector Microtransit Service
In September 2020, the City and County of Denver initiated a planning study to discover where a neighborhood transit service should be operated to serve community needs and improve mobility for its residents. Following a thorough review backed by community engagement and in coordination with RTD, Denver chose Montbello as the first neighborhood to pilot this service.
As part of that process, we led several meetings with stakeholders as well as RTD to better understand what was important to the community when it comes to public transportation. What we learned is that a ride-share program could fill transportation needs of youth, older adults, and people who don’t own vehicles in this community.
This pilot originally was intended to run for 12 months and, due to its success, has now been extended for another two years and was expanded to serve additional neighborhoods. This pilot will help inform DOTI's future efforts to provide local transit services to Denver's residents and visitors. This ride-share service aims to make it easier for residents to reach neighborhood destinations and connect to regional transit services provided by RTD.
Ride share minivan
Photo Credit: DOTI
Downloading the Montbello Connector mobile app
Photo Credit: Matt Draper
Giving a tour of the ride share vehicle
Photo Credit: Matt Draper
Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Councilwoman Gilmore
Photo Credit: Matt Draper
Hancock, Gilmore and community members sit inside
Photo Credit: Matt Draper
Ride share ADA accessible vehicle
Photo Credit: Matt Draper
What is Microtransit?
Microtransit is defined as: "a privately or publicly operated, technology-enabled transit service that typically uses multi-passenger/pooled shuttles or vans to provide on-demand or fixed-schedule services with either dynamic or fixed routing."
This means that microtransit vehicles are often smaller than full sized buses, use an app-based or call-in reservation system for on-demand trips and often serve a smaller geographic area vs. regional fixed-route transit.
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