| June 2016 |
Welcome to Inside RTD FasTracks--your monthly update about FasTracks news, progress and people
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FasTracks News
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B Line opens July 25
The second of four new rail lines scheduled to
open this year will soon offer commuter rail service to Westminster
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Rendering of the Westminster Station, which will serve the
new B Line commuter rail service when it opens July 25 The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has announced that the B Line from downtown Denver’s Union Station to Westminster will open for service July 25.
The new Westminster Station is located at West 69th Avenue (future Westminster Station Drive) and Grove Street. A station grand-opening party is scheduled for July 30.
"RTD staff, our contractors as well as our federal, state and local partners have put in a remarkable effort to complete the B Line's first segment," RTD Board Chair Tom Tobiassen said. "This rail line will be the third project this year the agency opens to the public with the G and R lines coming later in 2016. This many major transit line openings in one year are unprecedented in public transportation and the region should be proud of the collaboration that is making it happen."
When the B Line opens, commuter trains will run on the first six miles of the proposed 41-mile rail line that eventually will serve Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder and Longmont. Construction of the remaining line from Westminster to Longmont will begin when funding becomes available.
The ride from Union Station to Westminster will take 11 minutes. Trains will run every 30 minutes during peak hours (6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m., Monday through Friday) and every 60 minutes during non-peak hours every day.
The B Line to Westminster will be the second electric commuter rail line to operate in Denver, the first being the University of Colorado A Line to Denver International Airport, which began service on April 22. Additionally, the Flatiron Flyer, RTD’s bus rapid transit line, opened in January.
The B Line is part of the Eagle P3 project, the nation's first full public-private partnership for transit. Eagle P3 is a $2.2 billion project, which includes local RTD taxes combined with a $1.03 billion federal grant and $450 million from DTP. As concessionaire, DTP’s contract to build, operate and maintain the trains runs for 34 years.
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Civic
Center Station rehab project begins July 1
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Rendering of proposed Civic Center redevelopment
While not a FasTracks project, RTD’s Civic Center Station is an integral part of the region’s transit system, and the 30-year-old structure will get a major facelift beginning July 1.
The station at Colfax and Broadway currently functions as one of RTD’s busiest regional bus transit centers, serving 18 routes and an average of 15,000 daily passengers. It is also the turnaround point for RTD’s free 16th Street MallRide and Free MetroRide downtown shuttle.
Construction will take approximately 12 months. Details about the station closure and route detours are available here. The building design includes:
- Nine bus bays
- Glass-enclosed terminal building
- Bus concourse rebuild
- Bus ramp extension connecting Broadway to Lincoln
- Open view from 16th Street Mall to the State Capital
- Building structure that is easier to maintain and repair long-term
- New design providing an open and welcoming environment
- Land parcel preserved for future development opportunities
The renovated Civic Center Station will be a state-of-the-art transit hub to complement Union Station and will provide improved connections and convenience for RTD passengers.
RTD and the City and County of Denver, in collaboration with the Downtown Denver Partnership and Downtown Denver Business Improvement District are sponsoring the Civic Center Transit District Plan.
The Plan is RTD’s latest in a series of investments in downtown Denver. With the transformation of Denver Union Station now complete, focus is shifting to the other end of the 16th Street Mall. The Plan will establish a long-term vision for the new transit district that includes transit operations, multi-modal mobility and connectivity, public realm planning and economic development opportunities within the transit district area.
| | Celebration held for completion of U.S. 36 Express Lanes Project |
Speakers at the news conference included (left to right) HPTE Board Chair and CDOT Transportation Commissioner Kathy Gilliland; CDOT Transportation Commissioner Heather Barry; HPTE Director David Spector; Boulder County Commissioner Elise Jones; State Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp; Boulder City Councilman Matt Appelbaum; Boulder County Commissioner Deb Gardner; Superior Mayor Clint Folsom; Louisville Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Lipton; RTD Director Chuck Sisk; and Plenary Group Chair Dale Bonne
Stakeholders along the U.S. 36 corridor celebrated the completion of the U.S. 36 Express Lanes Project, which made RTD’s Flatiron Flyer bus rapid transit (BRT) service possible.
Officials from RTD, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE) and area elected officials held a news conference June 13 at the Davidson Mesa scenic overlook along U.S. 36 to commemorate the local, state and federal collaboration that resulted in the construction and completion of the project. RTD Director Chuck Sisk spoke at the event, highlighting the success of the Flatiron Flyer.
The U.S. 36 Express Lanes Project is a multi-modal project that built an express lane in each direction on the highway, in addition to rebuilding the two free general purpose lanes and widening the shoulder to accommodate bus-on-shoulder operations. In addition, the project replaced several bridges, built an 18-mile commuter bikeway, added BRT improvements, and installed Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) for tolling, transit and traveler information, and incident management. Phase 1, from Federal Boulevard to 88th Street in Louisville/Superior, opened in July 2015. Phase 2, from 88th Street to Table Mesa Drive in Boulder, opened in March 2016. |
Bridges are integral part of North Metro Line
currently under construction
|  | Girders are being set along the Skyway Bridge,
soon to be the state’s longest Laying down steel track is just one aspect of building out a rail line. Trains also need bridges—bridges that span rivers, creeks, valleys, roadways and other train tracks. These structures are critical links in RTD’s FasTracks system.
One example is best highlighted by the 10 bridges under construction on the North Metro Rail Line. The first 13 miles of the proposed 18.5-mile electric commuter rail line are currently under construction and will carry passengers from Union Station through Commerce City, Thornton and Northglenn, and eventually to Highway 7 in north Adams County.
The most spectacular of these bridges is the Skyway Bridge, which will be Colorado’s longest. At nearly two miles long, this bridge will span 9,500 feet over York Street, BNSF and Union Pacific railway tracks and spurs, Brighton Boulevard, the Farmers Reservoir & Irrigation Company ditch, Sand Creek and I-270.
Nine of the bridges are new, one is being refurbished. Most will carry commuter rail trains, vehicles, and some will be double-track while others single-track bridges.
Civil construction on most of the bridges began in early 2016. Bridges over 120th Avenue and 104th Avenue will be the first to have structures completed followed by tracks on top. | | For your planning calendars… | June 18 is R Line’s Community Open House
The public is invited to
learn more about the Aurora Line/I-225 Rail—RTD’s future R Line.
The project is hosting a community open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 18,
at the new Iliff parking garage adjacent to the Iliff Station. Enjoy food and
kid-friendly activities for the whole family.
Meet team members from RTD,
Kiewit (the light rail line contractor) and city of Aurora. Learn how to
navigate light rail crossings and take a pledge to be safe around trains. A mock railroad crossing will be at the event. In addition, attendees can learn more about rail safety, fares and schedules, bikes and
trails, transit-oriented development, parking and mobility at light rail
stations and more.
For more information, contact Lisa Trujillo at 303-299-2673 or lisa.t...@rtd-denver.com. June 22 is Bike to Work Day 
Every registration helps raise
awareness, generate momentum and secure funding for bike-friendly streets and
trails as well as improved biking infrastructure. Check out the registration information.
Riders, who register, can take
advantage of any one of 200+ stations throughout the region serving food, drinks and
cool (free!) stuff.
Keep
checking the website for updates as new
stations come on board daily. Plus everyone who registers is entered into a
drawing to win bicycles, gear, tickets to concerts and sporting events and
more. Questions? Call 303-458-7665, or email bt...@drcog.org. May the wind be at your back and your route all downhill.
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Transit Lines Opening in 2016
Stay tuned for more information on the exciting opening of these transit lines.
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Project Updates
Read the latest news and updates about the
RTD FasTracks
rail and bus rapid transit projects:
Central Rail Extension
Denver Union Station
Eagle P3 Project
East Rail Line
Flatiron Flyer (U.S. 36 Bus Rapid Transit)
Free MetroRide
Gold Line
I-225 Rail Line
Maintenance Facilities
North Metro Rail Line
Northwest Rail Line
Southeast Rail Extension
Southwest Rail Extension
West Rail Line
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RTD Board Meetings
The RTD Board holds regular meetings most Tuesdays.
Learn more
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Calendar of Events
For a complete listing of upcoming events and activities,
click here
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Now Presenting
To schedule a FasTracks presentation for your group or organization, contact the FasTracks Public Information Team today at 303-299-6990.
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FasTracks is RTD's voter-approved transit expansion program to build 122 miles of commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service, add 21,000 new parking spaces, redevelop Denver's historic Union Station and redirect bus service to better connect the eight-county district. For more information about FasTracks, visit
www.rtd-fastracks.com.
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