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Denver’s 16th Street Reopens After $175 Million Overhaul as FreeRide Returns Sunday

Officials cite safety upgrades alongside higher foot traffic as signs the central corridor is rebounding.

The Downtown Denver Partnership, the City and County of Denver and RTD will celebrate the completion of the 16th Street revitalization project on October 4, 2025, exactly 43 years after its inaugural opening in 1982. (Photo courtesy of Nikki A. Rae Photography)
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Overview

  • A public celebration runs Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Market Street and Broadway, featuring a ribbon-cutting, a brass band parade, performances, scavenger hunts, and $16 promotions.
  • RTD’s 16th Street FreeRide restores full no-cost service Sunday between Union Station and Civic Center Station after operating on detours since 2022.
  • The reconstruction moved buses to center-running lanes, widened sidewalks, added mature trees, replaced pavers with more durable granite, and created over 400,000 square feet of programmable public space.
  • Usage indicators have climbed in 2025, with DDP reporting daily activity up 14% and unique visits up 11% year over year, while RTD tallied more than 1.2 million FreeRide boardings from January through July.
  • Economic recovery remains mixed, with ground-floor retail vacancy at 16% and office vacancy at 28%, even as downtown leaders highlight new and incoming businesses on 16th Street.