Denver, Colorado has a light rail system with two lines currently in operation, both of which are run by the Regional Transportation District (RTD). In addition, as part of the FasTracks plan approved by voters in November 2004, more light rail lines, as well as the introduction of three commuter rail or DMU lines and enhancements to existing light rail lines, will be built.

History

The first line of the light rail system in Denver, known as the Central Corridor (see description below), opened from 30th & Downing Station to I-25/Broadway Station in October 1994. It is designated today as part of the D Line. In July 2000, an extension (the Southwest Corridor) from I-25/Broadway Station to Littleton/Mineral Station opened. The Central Platte Valley (CPV) spur, a part of the C Line, opened from Union Station/LoDo/Coors Field Station to 10th & Osage Station on the Central Corridor in April 2002.

Route Details

Among current routes, the C Line (orange) runs between Union Station/LoDo/Coors Field Station and Littleton/Mineral Station, and the D Line (green) runs between 30th & Downing Station and Littleton/Mineral Station. Transfers between the C Line and the D Line can be made at 10th & Osage, I-25/Broadway and Littleton/Mineral Stations.

Central Corridor (Light Rail)

The Central Corridor, a 5.3 mile (8.5 km) light rail line, opened in October 1994. It was built along Welton Street, through the Five Points district along Stout Street and California Street, and following a railroad right-of-way from Colfax Avenue down to the intersection of I-25 and Broadway. The line was a major success that it would pave the way for expansion. This line was successfully built without the aid of tax increases or federal funds, although the U.S. government funded the Southwest Corridor and tax increases will be used to fund other improvements as part of the FasTracks plan.

Southwest Corridor (Light Rail)

After the success of the Central Corridor, the Southwest Corridor light rail route opened in July 2000. An 8.7 mile (13.9 km) light rail line, the route runs from the terminus of the Central Corridor at I-25 & Broadway to Mineral Avenue in Littleton with 5 existing stations. The line has become very successful, with ridership doubling projections and park-n-Ride lots at stations experiencing parking shortages.

Central Platte Valley (CPV) (Light Rail)

In April 2002, the Central Platte Valley, or CPV, spur opened. It is a 1.8 mile (2.9 km) spur with four stations that provides light rail access to numerous venues like the Auraria Campus, Invesco Field at Mile High, the Pepsi Center, and Union Station.

Future lines

Seven new rail lines in the Denver area will be built due to the successful passing of two rail-related referendums in 1999 and 2004, the latter of which will involve a sales tax hike, and is one of the United States's most ambitious mass transportation projects in its history.

Southeast Corridor (Light Rail)

In November 1999, Denver area voters approved a project, known as the Transportation Expansion (T-REX) Project [1], which involves the reconstruction of I-25 between Broadway and Lincoln Avenue in Lone Tree, and I-225 between I-25 and Parker Road in Aurora, with widening of the road and light rail being built. Expected to be open in December 2006, the Southeast Corridor route is under construction by the RTD and the Colorado Department of Transportation, and as of 2005, construction continues to be done on budget and on time. The line in its whole will be 19.1 miles, or 30.6 km, when open. Thirteen new stations will open on the line.

West Corridor (Light Rail)

This will be a new light rail line between Union Station in Denver and Golden, going through Lakewood and Golden, via Lakewood. The line will be 12.1 miles, or 19.4 km, long, and will follow a former Associated Railroad right-of-way. It has been studied for over 25 years. The RTD began a major investment study in 1995 to evaluate alternatives for the corridor, and its board of directors recommended a light rail route for the corridor in 1997. The project is already in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. Eleven stations will be located on the line. It will open in 2013, as the first rail line to be built under the FasTracks plan.

US 36 Corridor/Longmont Extension (Commuter Rail/DMU)

The US 36 Corridor will be a commuter rail project between Denver, Boulder, and Longmont. The line will be 38.1 miles (61 km) and would entirely follow existing railroad right-of-way, with 7 stations on the route. The route will be double-tracked as far north as Boulder and single-tracked north of Boulder. It will also provide access to Broomfield, Westminster, Louisville, and the University of Colorado. It expected to be open in 2014.

East Corridor (Commuter Rail/DMU)

Another commuter rail line that is expected to open in 2014 is the East Corridor, a 23.6 mile (37.8 km) line between Denver, the eastern communities, and the Denver International Airport. The line will be single-tracked and will follow an existing railroad right-of-way, as well as Peña Boulevard, to the airport. Five new stations, including one that will act as a transfer with the I-225 Corridor light rail line, will open. It will also provide a link to the Stapleton redevelopment project on the site of the old Stapleton Airport.

North Metro Corridor (Commuter Rail/DMU)

The area along the I-25 North corridor is growing heavily, and is expected to continue to grow. A commuter rail line along an existing railroad right-of-way from Denver to 160th Avenue in Thornton, which will be 18 miles (28.8 km) long, will open, with eight new stations, and will open in 2015. Also included as part of this project will be contribution towards right-of-way preservation for transit service to Brighton.

I-225 Corridor (Light Rail)

Facilitating a suburb-to-suburb link between the Southeast Corridor and the East Corridor is the I-225 Corridor, a new 10.5 mile (16.8 km) light rail line through Aurora, which will include seven new light rail stations. The route would primarily run in the median of a rebuilt I-225 between Parker Road and Aurora City Center, go through the City Center, return to the median of I-225 up to Colfax Avenue to serve the Fitzsimmons redevelopment area, and follow Peoria Street to the East Corridor at Smith Road. This line will open in 2015.

Gold Line (Light Rail)

The Gold Line is a 11.2 mile (17.9 km) light rail line between Denver and Arvada, which would have seven stations, and also provide access to Wheat Ridge. The line primarily parallels I-70 and partially uses a railroad right-of-way. It is expected to be the last new line in the FasTracks plan to be built, which is planned to open in 2015.

Other future improvements

To support the expected ridership for buildout of the overall rapid transit system in the Denver area, existing lines, as well as the Southeast Corridor, will also be modified as part of the FasTracks plan. All existing light rail stations in the Central Corridor, CPV spur, and Southwest Corridor, as well as all the Southeast Corridor stations that will be open in 2006, will be modified to hold four-car trains. On the Southwest Corridor, a new infill station—Bates Station—will open between Evans Station and Englewood Station. The Central Corridor will be extended north from 30th & Downing Station by two stations to a new 40th & 40th station in2015, the Southwest Corridor will be extended by 2.5 miles (4 km) and one station south from Littleton/Mineral Station to C-470/Lucent Blvd. Station in Highlands Ranch in 2016, and the Southeast Corridor will be extended by three stations and 2.3 miles (3.8 km) south from Lincoln Station to RidgeGate Parkway in Lone Tree, with stops in between named Sky Ridge and Lone Tree Town Center, opening in 2016.

See also

• List of Denver rail transit stations

External links

• Official RTD site
• Official FasTracks Website, and map
• Light Rail advocacy group #1
• Light rail advocacy group #2