Colorado Department of Transportation

History

• 1909: The first highway bill was passed by forming a three-member Highway Commission to approve work and allocate funds. The Commission first took their post on January 1, 1910.
• 1917 – The State Highway Fund was created and the State Highway Department was formed.
• 1935: Highway Department employees were joined by 44 new co-workers selected from among 7,500 applicants to become the first members of the Colorado State Highway Courtesy Patrol. The Patrol became a division of the Highway Department.
• 1947: The first National System of Interstate and Defense Highways was approved by the federal works administrator. In Colorado, approved routes included all of I-25 from the Wyoming border to Raton Pass; all of I-80S ; and I-70 from Denver to the Kansas border.
• 1953: The state legislature passed a new law reorganizing the Highway Department and renaming it the Colorado Department of Highways.
• 1956: Congress passed the Federal Interstate Highways Act. Among the approvals was the section of I-70 from Denver to the Utah border.
• 1968 – The legislation reorganized highway matters and created the Colorado Department of Highways with 3 main divisions: Division of Highways, Division of Planning and Research, and Division of Patrol
• 1991 – CDOH became CDOT to better align its functions and budgets with Federal Highway Administration / U.S. Department of Transportation
• 2010: CDOT celebrates its 100-year anniversary

  Highways

Aviation

Division

Rail Transit

Amtrak Passenger Railroad Routes through Colorado

• California Zephyr: Chicago, Galesburg, Omaha, Fort Morgan, Denver, Winter Park, Granby, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Salt Lake City, Reno, Sacramento, and Emeryville
• Southwest Chief: Chicago, Galesburg, Kansas City, Topeka, Lamar, La Junta, Trinidad, Albuquerque, Gallup, Flagstaff, Needles, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles

  Commuter Rail and Light Rail

• Regional Transportation District

  Tourist Rail

• Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
• Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad
• Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
• Georgetown Loop Railroad
• Rio Grande Scenic Railroad

  Intercity Bus Transit (Bustang)

Communities in Colorado with Regional Bus Service