Nathan Ross

Transportation reporter

CDOT, highways, transit, the I-70 corridor, mountain passes

Stories by Nathan Ross

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport and its runway cross the valley floor below Aspen Highlands, in a file photograph. The airport closes on April 4, 2027, for 229 days while the runway is rebuilt 80 feet west of its current line.

Transportation

Aspen will close its airport for 229 days to rebuild a failing runway

The Roaring Fork Valley's only commercial airport shuts down on April 4, 2027, and does not reopen until November 19. The pavement is failing from below, the FAA has stopped paying for patches, and an 80-foot move west is the price of keeping federal money.

Nathan Ross · 2026-10-18

An RTD commuter rail train at Denver Union Station. The agency presented a proposed $1.34 billion expense budget for 2027 to its board's Finance and Planning Committee on Tuesday night, Oct. 13.

Transportation

RTD brings a $1.34 billion proposed 2027 budget to its board, with the deficit down to $148 million

The transit agency says cost cutting has cut its structural deficit nearly in half since 2024. Public comment runs through Dec. 1, when the board holds a hearing and considers adoption.

Nathan Ross · 2026-10-14

Interstate 70 curves along Clear Creek below Floyd Hill, with the Veterans Memorial Tunnels in the distance. Overnight closures Oct. 18-20 will move eastbound traffic onto a new bridge over the creek and pause westbound traffic at U.S. 6.

Transportation

I-70 at Floyd Hill closes overnight Oct. 18-20 as traffic shifts onto the new Clear Creek bridge

Eastbound traffic moves onto a newly completed bridge over Clear Creek on Sunday night, and westbound lanes close two more nights while crews grout the segmental bridge overhead.

Nathan Ross · 2026-10-13

Front Range

Justice Department sues Denver over ordinance banning masks for federal officers

The complaint names Mayor Mike Johnston, the city attorney and the police chief, arguing the mask ban and identification rules violate the Supremacy Clause. Denver calls the law a commonsense transparency measure and says it will defend it in court.

Nathan Ross · 2026-10-09

An RTD articulated bus in Denver. Routes 15 and 15L began running in center bus-only lanes on East Colfax Avenue on September 27.

Transportation

East Colfax BRT's first section opens as RTD buses move into center lanes

Routes 15 and 15L began running in dedicated center lanes between Broadway and Colorado Boulevard on September 27. The full 8.5-mile line to I-225 is expected in late 2027 or early 2028.

Nathan Ross · 2026-09-29

An RTD commuter train at the Commerce City and 72nd station. Voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to fund a separate Front Range passenger line, the Colorado Connector.

Transportation

Voters to decide fate of Front Range passenger rail tax

Ballot Issue 7A asks district voters to approve a 0.333 percent sales tax, about $295 million a year, to build the Colorado Connector from Fort Collins to Pueblo.

Nathan Ross · 2026-09-28

Denver International Airport's main terminal at dusk. DEN served 82,427,962 passengers in 2025, a record, up 0.1 percent from 2024.

Transportation

DIA sets passenger record in 2025, barely topping 2024

82.4 million travelers passed through Denver International Airport last year, up 0.1 percent, with international traffic setting records every month.

Nathan Ross · 2026-09-17