Fort Collins City Council Tackles Housing, Transit, and Parking Challenges

March council meetings focused on addressing the city's affordable housing shortage, optimizing the public transit system, and moving toward a paid downtown parking model.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:05am

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A serene, painterly scene of a deserted downtown Fort Collins street, with sunlight casting long shadows across the pavement and buildings, conveying a mood of quiet introspection as the city considers major policy decisions.As Fort Collins weighs the future of its housing, transit, and parking policies, a sense of civic contemplation settles over the city's historic downtown.Fort Collins Today

Fort Collins City Council spent March tackling several key issues facing the growing city, including a detailed assessment of the local housing affordability gap, plans to overhaul the Transfort bus network, and ongoing discussions around implementing a paid parking system downtown. Councilmembers acknowledged the tradeoffs involved in these complex decisions, but expressed optimism that the city is making progress on addressing critical infrastructure and development needs.

Why it matters

As Fort Collins continues to grapple with rapid population growth and rising costs of living, the city's policy decisions around housing, transportation, and parking will have major impacts on residents' quality of life and the overall livability of the community. These March council discussions highlight the city's efforts to find balanced solutions that support affordability, sustainability, and equitable access to key resources.

The details

The Larimer County Regional Housing Needs Assessment found that Fort Collins needs to build over 7,000 new housing units in the next decade to keep up with demand, with a particular shortage of homes affordable to those earning 50% or less of the area median income. To address this, the council discussed deploying the city's Affordable Housing Capital Fund, which currently has over $13 million available. They also established an ad hoc committee to examine fee structures, potential code changes, and ways to make development more predictable and cost-effective for builders. On the transportation front, the council received an update on the Transfort Optimization Plan, a redesigned bus network aimed at improving frequency and reliability on high-demand corridors while keeping the system fare-free. The plan factors in feedback from Colorado State University students, who will see changes to key routes serving the campus. Regarding downtown parking, the council reviewed an implementation roadmap for a paid on-street parking system, targeting around 800 spaces at $2 per hour. This shift is intended to help the parking system become self-sustaining without relying on general fund contributions.

  • The Larimer County Regional Housing Needs Assessment was presented to the council in March 2026.
  • The Transfort Optimization Plan is set to take effect in August 2026, timed to coincide with the start of the new academic year at CSU and Poudre School District.
  • A soft launch of the paid downtown parking system is now being eyed for summer or fall 2027, with full enforcement beginning shortly after. A January 2028 soft start is also under consideration to avoid the holiday shopping season.

The players

Amy Hoeven

District 5 Councilmember for the City of Fort Collins.

Andrew Boesenecker

Colorado state representative who successfully passed the HOME Act and a lot-splitting bill, measures that align with the city's housing goals.

CSU Alternative Transportation Fee Advisory Board

Provided feedback to Transfort staff that influenced changes to bus routes serving the Colorado State University campus.

Associated Students of CSU

Gave feedback to Transfort staff that influenced changes to bus routes serving the Colorado State University campus.

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What they’re saying

“'I was actually thinking it was going to be higher. It doesn't seem insurmountable, but it's still a lot.'”

— Amy Hoeven, District 5 Councilmember

“'It's a bummer because we've had to make some changes that impact a few people significantly. But they've done a really good job creating a system that works for now. Hopefully funding can be restored.'”

— Amy Hoeven, District 5 Councilmember

“'Students who don't have vehicles have expressed that paid parking will be helpful to address traffic congestion and generate needed revenue. Let's put the dollars towards the way we travel.'”

— Amy Hoeven, District 5 Councilmember

What’s next

Hoeven said she is planning a listening session on the CSU campus within the next two weeks to gather further student input on housing, transit, and parking issues. The council will also receive updated financial and capacity reports on the downtown parking plan in June before making a formal decision.

The takeaway

Fort Collins is tackling its most pressing infrastructure and development challenges head-on, seeking balanced solutions that address affordability, sustainability, and equitable access for all residents. While tough tradeoffs are involved, the city appears committed to making progress on these critical issues through collaborative policymaking and community engagement.