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.

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 will be expanded to include Gateway. The city is also expanding 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 sedan, the latter of which was purchased with money from the city’s new Climate Protection Fund. The GES service will use the three types of vehicles listed above.

2023/2024 Holiday Service Closures

There will be no service on the following days:

New Year's Day (January 1, 2023)
Independence Day (July 4, 2023)
Thanksgiving (November 23, 2023)
Christmas (December 25, 2023)
New Year's Day (January 1, 2024)

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 Gateway. As part of extension DOTI is also planning and launching the Globeville & Elyria-Swansea service area. The GES service is expected to launch late Fall, early Winter.

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 is being expanded into 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

A Montbello Connector free ride share vehicle

Downloading the Montbello Connector mobile app

Photo Credit: Matt Draper

Giving a tour of the ride share vehicle

Photo Credit: Matt Draper

Residents entering Montbello Connector free ride share vehicle

Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Councilwoman Gilmore

Photo Credit: Matt Draper

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock posing with Denver resident next to Montbello Connector vehicle

Hancock, Gilmore and community members sit inside

Photo Credit: Matt Draper

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock posing with Denver resident inside Montbello Connector vehicle

Ride share ADA accessible vehicle

Photo Credit: Matt Draper

Montbello Connector vehicle featuring handicap and wheelchair access

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.