Aurora, CO – The Community College of Aurora (CCA), in partnership with the Regional Transportation District (RTD), hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, September 4, to celebrate the reinstatement of a critical RTD bus stop at CCA’s CentreTech Campus.
The bus stop, which had been discontinued in 2020 due to the impacts of COVID-19 on ridership, is officially back in service as of September 1, 2025. Its return marks a significant milestone in expanding access to higher education for students and employees who rely on public transportation.
“Today, we’re celebrating the removal of a barrier, one that has stood in the way of too many students for too long: reliable and affordable transportation,” said CCA President Dr. Mordecai Brownlee. “This RTD bus stop is a powerful example of what happens when partners come together for the good of the community. With its reinstatement, we are ensuring that students have one less obstacle on their path to success.”
The reinstated stop comes after nearly two years of collaboration between CCA and RTD leadership. The project responds to ongoing transportation challenges faced by students, who previously walked nearly three-quarters of a mile uphill from the nearest bus stop to reach campus.
“This project represents connection; connecting our students to opportunity, connecting our community to education, and connecting our campus to the wider region,” said Clair Collins, CCA’s Vice President of Enrollment Success and Completion, who welcomed guests to the event.
The celebration featured remarks from Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson, RTD Director Kathleen Chandler, and CCA Student Government Association President Samantha Anfield, who highlighted the importance of accessible transit for students.
“The reinstatement of the bus stop at Community College of Aurora’s CentreTech campus has taken place based on public input and the potential for greater transit utilization,” said RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson. “RTD relies on customer and community feedback to ensure it is providing customers with bus, rail and paratransit service that is equitable, accessible and reliable. This is more than just a bus stop – it represents a means to improved opportunity for all who access the campus.”
“Public transit is about more than moving from point A to point B. It’s about freedom — the freedom to reach your goals, your job, your education,” said RTD Director Kathleen Chandler, whose district includes CCA’s CentreTech campus. “Because if your world only extends as far as your feet can take you, you won’t get very far.”
“With our Connecting Aurora multimodal transportation master plan in progress, we are working hard to make sure it’s convenient for people to move around our city in the future,” Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman said. “I appreciate the work that has been done to restore this vital transportation connection to higher education.”
The reinstated bus stop is expected to serve thousands of riders in the years ahead, strengthening connections between the college and the community.
“Transportation challenges can limit a student’s ability to enroll, persist, and graduate,” added Dr. Brownlee. “This partnership is an investment in access, equity, and the future of our students.”
To learn more about the Community College of Aurora and its commitment to student success, please visit www.ccaurora.edu.
To learn more about the Community College of Aurora and its commitment to student success, please visit www.ccaurora.edu. You can also view highlights from the event in our photo gallery.
About the Community College of Aurora
The Community College of Aurora (CCA) provides high-quality instruction and student support services to Aurora, Centennial, and Denver, Colorado. With a vision to aspire to be a college where every student succeeds, CCA is the most diverse college in the State of Colorado. Focused on creating social and economic mobility for its students, the college offers courses on three (3) campuses, online, and through its high school concurrent-enrollment programs. For more information, visit www.ccaurora.edu.
About RTD
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) was created in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly to develop, operate, and maintain a mass transportation system that now benefits more than 3.1 million people in the Denver metro area. The transportation agency is governed by a 15-member publicly elected Board of Directors and has a service area of 2,345 square miles. RTD provides transit services via 126 bus routes, six light rail lines, four commuter rail lines, and paratransit options. For more information, visit rtd-denver.com/about-rtd or call 303.299.6000.