Overview

Plenary Roads Denver (PRD) is a Denver-based consortium of industry leading firms established to build, deliver and manage improvements to US 36 between Denver and Boulder in Colorado, a highway connecting the rapidly growing cities of Boulder, Louisville, Broomfield, Westminster, Denver and the communities in between.

PRD helped finance and build Phase 2 of the US 36 Express Lanes project, from 88th Street in Louisville, to Foothills Parkway in Boulder. PRD was not involved in the design and construction of Phase 1 from Denver to 88th Street. Phase 1 design and construction was managed by CDOT and another private-sector partner.

PRD has a 50-year contract to operate and maintain US 36 and US 36 Express Lanes, as well as I-25 Central Express Lanes. PRD’s obligations include routine and lifecycle maintenance (replacement and rehabilitation) of US 36 Express Lanes and the existing I-25 Central Express Lanes as well as routine maintenance in the four general purpose lanes and the Bus on Shoulder lanes. Get more information.

The US 36 Express Lanes project is a multi-modal, public-private partnership led by the Colorado Transportation Investment Office (CTIO) , the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Regional Transportation District and PRD. By creating a team of experts from each part of the infrastructure industry, PRD is able to ensure an integrated roadway, bus rapid transit system and bikeway that serve the needs of all residents and communities along the corridor.

PRD is led by Plenary Group, a long-term investor, developer and operator of public infrastructure projects in the United States and Canada. Plenary’s U.S. headquarters is located in Los Angeles. It has additional offices in Denver and Tampa, Fla.

Express Lanes

Using the US 36 Express Lanes is easy and provides travelers more reliable, predictable travel times. Travelers are never forced to pay a toll and can always choose to travel in the adjacent free general-purpose lanes. Please remember to be safe and aware that law enforcement is patrolling the roadway.

Weaving in and out of the Express Lanes and crossing the double white line is dangerous and could result in a violation and up to $1,000 fine, and violations for improperly using transponders could cost up to $250.

Find out more about the many ways a traveler can use the roadway, from HOV3+, to carpool, to rapid transit, to motorcycles to tolled driving.

Toll Rates

In partnership with CTIO, PRD is transitioning the US 36 and I-25 Central (I-25 from downtown Denver to US 36) Express Lanes corridors from fixed time-of-day pricing to dynamic pricing. Express Lanes rates will be adjusted according to real-time traffic conditions to maintain free-flowing levels of traffic. Overhead signs will tell you exactly how much your trip will cost if you choose to use the express lanes and pay a toll.

To use any Colorado Express Lanes, you will need an ExpressToll account and pass to avoid paying a higher toll. The switchable HOV transponder is the only pass that allows you to choose the carpool option and save money. If drivers choose not to use a pass, they will be billed through a License Plate Toll. A bill will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle and they will pay a higher toll rate based on how far they traveled in the Express Lane.

Remember, travelers are never forced to pay a toll and can always choose to travel in the adjacent free general purpose lanes.