Denver Passenger Rail Moving Forward

[Getting There]

This is a real success story for Light Rail. Ridership is exceeding all projections. The Southeast Light Rail opens very soon. The 19-mile line serves 13 stations, and was constructed at a cost of $880 million. However, despite the pricey investment, as Denver Post reporter Jeffrey Leib has related (11 November), "The southeast line was completed under budget and earlier than originally planned...".

Various lines are already in service, including the Southwest line, and the Central line. Other lines are in different phases of development. The Northeast line will present their plan to the public very soon. According to their website, they will connect the Civic Station with the Northeast corridor Light Rail line via a in-road trolley or single Light Rail unit with 7 stops. The Northeast Light Rail line will extend to Denver International Airport. This proposal is the best for constructing within budget.

The Northwest Line is in the "Community Involved Process" phase, with public meetings and environmental analysis. The Northwest Rail Corridor is a proposed 38.1-mile commuter rail corridor from Denver Union Station to Longmont via Boulder, passing through Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder, Niwot and Longmont.

Both the Northeast and Northwest lines could be diesel commuter rail lines, but the latest proposals appear to lean towards electric Light Rail.

There are a number of other planned routes, including a Northern leg to Thornton and Northglen, also in the "Community Involvement" phase.

This is all part of the FasTracks initiative that was "voted in" in 2005 by State voters. It passed with a 58% majority. FasTracks is RTD's voter-approved, $4.7 billion, 12-year program to build 119 miles of new commuter rail and light rail.

This project really demonstrates how a large community can get together and make things happen.
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Jim Gagnepain
http://home.comcast.net/~oil_free_and_happy/ (http://home.comcast.net/~oil_free_and_happy/)

[HemiAdda2d]

Very interesting! ANYthing that gets traffic off of I-25 *and a host of other Denver-area roads* will be a good thing indeed. The Boulderites will especially like the electric light rail, thanks to low emissions.... ;)

[Stourbridge Lion]

Absolutely and RTD Lightrail has rocked since it started...

:shade: :shade: :shade: :shade:

[coloradorailroads]

When I worked in downtown Denver, I was in heaven using the Light Rail everyday. I'd search the lines at Burnham, checking to see if any Grande units were there and which ones. I was riding when just the Central line between Mississippi and I-25 and 30th & Downing was running. I remember searching like mad trying to find a parking spot at the Mississippi station. Cars were parked everywhere they could be legally placed. They never would have dreamed at the wild success of Light Rail.

Here's the beauty and the beast of the whole thing though. RTD bought Union Station and plans to use it as their hub. While this ensures the station will enjoy renewed vitality, one can only hope that the changes to the interior will be in keeping with the historic nature of the building. Already there's a pad where people board the light rail line and a monstrous bus ramp on the west side. What other changes might happen? Who knows, but it's better than seeing it fall to a wrecking ball for some condos and relegating the Ski Train and Amtrak to an "Am-hut." Yikes. The plan also ties into access the 16th St Mall shuttle for access to the length of downtown, which is very good too.

The next decade or so is going to be very exciting as Denver grows it's rail network. :teeth:

For detailed information on what lines are going where, visit FasTracks (http://www.rtd-fastracks.com) (new address).