2014 Fastracks Baseline Report to DRCOG and RTP Submittal

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

2014 Fastracks Baseline Report to DRCOG and RTP Submittal 2014 FasTracks Baseline Report to DRCOG and RTP Submittal August 2014 2014 FasTracks Baseline Report to DRCOG and RTP Submittal Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 11 1.0 Project Definition: Scope and Costs ......................................................... 11 1.1 Current Plan and Costs ....................................................................................... 14 1.2 2014 Annual Program Evaluation (APE) ............................................................. 20 1.2.1 Efforts Towards Completion of FasTracks .................................................. 21 1.2.1.1 RAM/FISA .............................................................................................. 21 1.2.1.2 Southeast Rail Extention New Starts...................................................... 22 1.2.1.3 Public-Private Partnerships .................................................................... 23 1.2.1.4 Northwest Area Mobility Study ............................................................... 25 1.3 Status of FasTracks Lines ................................................................................... 28 1.3.1 Central Rail Extension ................................................................................ 28 1.3.2 Denver Union Station ................................................................................. 30 1.3.3 Eagle Project ............................................................................................. 32 1.4.3.1 East Rail Line ......................................................................................... 34 1.4.3.2 Gold Line ............................................................................................... 35 1.4.3.3 Northwest Rail Line – Phase 1 ............................................................... 36 1.4.3.4 Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility ...................................................... 38 1.3.4 Free MetroRide .......................................................................................... 40 1.3.5 I-225 Rail Line ............................................................................................ 42 1.3.6 Maintenance Facilities ................................................................................ 44 1.4.5.1 Light Rail Maintenance Facility ............................................................... 44 1.3.7 North Metro Rail Line ................................................................................. 46 1.3.8 Northwest Rail Line – Phase 2 ................................................................... 48 1.3.9 Southeast Rail Extension ........................................................................... 50 1.3.10 Southwest Rail Extension......................................................................... 52 1.3.11 US 36 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line ........................................................ 55 1.3.12 West Rail Line .......................................................................................... 58 2.0 Summary of Financial Plan ....................................................................... 59 3.0 Implementation Schedule .......................................................................... 62 4.0 Bus Service Levels ..................................................................................... 62 5.0 Operating Characteristics ......................................................................... 63 TOC i 2014 FasTracks Baseline Report to DRCOG and RTP Submittal List of Figures Figure 1: FasTracks Plan - Rapid Transit Lines ............................................. 13 Figure 2: Central Rail Extension ...................................................................... 29 Figure 3: Denver Union Station Transit Improvements ................................. 30 Figure 4: Eagle Project ..................................................................................... 33 Figure 5: East Rail Line .................................................................................... 34 Figure 6: Gold Line ........................................................................................... 35 Figure 7: Northwest Rail Line .......................................................................... 37 Figure 8: Rendering of CRMF .......................................................................... 38 Figure 9: CRMF Site Location .......................................................................... 39 Figure 10: Free MetroRide ................................................................................ 41 Figure 11: I-225 Rail Line .................................................................................. 43 Figure 12: Light Rail Maintenance Facility ..................................................... 44 Figure 13: North Metro Rail Line ...................................................................... 47 Figure 14: Northwest Rail Line ........................................................................ 49 Figure 15: Southeast Line ................................................................................ 51 Figure 16: Southwest Rail Line ........................................................................ 53 Figure 17: US 36 BRT Line ............................................................................... 57 Figure 18: West Rail Line ................................................................................. 58 Figure 19: 2020 FasTracks Operations Assumptions .................................... 64 Figure 20: Horizon Year FasTracks Operations Assumptions...................... 65 List of Tables Table 1: 2014 FasTracks Project Characteristics ........................................... 15 Table 2: Opening Day Parking by Line ............................................................ 19 Table 3: FasTracks Program APE Results ...................................................... 20 Table 4: Southeast Rail Extension Revenues and Costs .............................. 23 Table 5: FasTracks Estimated Capital Sources of Funds through 2040 ...... 60 Table 6: FasTracks Projected Capital Costs by Project (Millions of YOE Dollars) .............................................................................................................. 61 Table 7: FasTracks Implementation Schedule ............................................... 62 Table 8: FasTracks Plan Bus Service Levels ................................................. 63 TOC ii 2014 FasTracks Baseline Report to DRCOG and RTP Submittal Appendices Appendix A: SB 208 Legislation and DRCOG Resolutions Appendix B: 2014 Financial Plan TOC iii 2014 FasTracks Baseline Report to DRCOG and RTP Submittal ACRONYMS ADA Americans with Disabilities Act APE Annual Program Evaluation BE Basic Engineering BNSF Burlington Northern Santa Fe BRT Bus Rapid Transit CCD City and County of Denver CDOT Colorado Department of Transportation CM/GC Construction Manager/General Contractor CMAQ Congestion Management Air Quality CPI Consumer Price Index CPV Central Platte Valley CRMF Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility D/B Design-Build DIA Denver International Airport DMAP Denver Multimodal Access Plan DMU Diesel Multiple Unit DRCOG Denver Regional Council of Governments DTP Denver Transit Partners DUS Denver Union Station DUSPA Denver Union Station Project Authority EA Environmental Assessment EE Environmental Evaluation EIS Environmental Impact Statement EMI Electromagnetic Interference EMU Electric Multiple Unit FEIS Final Environmental Impact Statement FFGA Full Funding Grant Agreement FISA FasTracks Internal Savings Account FTA Federal Transit Administration GBBH Graham, Balfour Beatty, Hammon Contractors HPTE High-Performance Transportation Enterprise HTF Highway Trust Fund MOU Memorandum of Understanding MOW Maintenance-of-Way MPO Metropolitan Planning Organization NAMS Northwest Area Mobility Study NATA North Area Transportation Alliance TOC iv 2014 FasTracks Baseline Report to DRCOG and RTP Submittal NTP Notice to Proceed NWSS National Western Stock Show O&M Operations & Maintenance PAC Policy Advisory Committee RAM Risk Allocation Matrix RFP Request for Proposal ROD Record of Decision ROW Right-of-Way RRIF Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing RRP Regional Rail Partners RTP Regional Transportation Plan SB Senate Bill SBP Strategic Budget Plan T3 Transformation through Transportation TABOR Taxpayer Bill of Rights TAC Technical Advisory Committee Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of TIFIA 1998 TIGER Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery TIP Transportation Improvement Program TOFC Trailer On Freight Car UPRR Union Pacific Railroad USNC Union Station Neighborhood Company YOE Year-of-Expenditure TOC v 2014 FasTracks Baseline Report to DRCOG and RTP Submittal Page left intentionally blank TOC vi 2014 FasTracks Baseline Report to DRCOG and RTP Submittal EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 1990, the Colorado Legislature approved C.R.S. 32-9-107.7 (Senate Bill [SB] 208), which requires that the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), approve the technology and the method of financing for all RTD fixed guideway projects. Therefore, SB 208 applies to FasTracks and RTD has submitted reports on FasTracks to DRCOG since 2004. On September 18, 2013, the DRCOG Board passed
Recommended publications
  • Equity Analysis: January 2018 Service Change
    EQUITY ANALYSIS September 2017 January 2018 Service Change Equitable distribution of transit service is a core principle of the Regional Transportation District. This document details the measures taken to ensure major service changes do not result in a disparity in impacts absorbed by populations protected under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice). Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 SERVICE CHANGE PHILOSOPHY ......................................................................................... 2 ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................ 2 Equity Analysis Policies ........................................................................................................................ 2 Service Change Overview .................................................................................................................. 3 Route 89 and Route 34 .................................................................................................................... 3 C, D, and L Line Proposal ................................................................................................................. 3 Equity Analysis Methodology ............................................................................................................. 4 C, D, and L Line Analysis ....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Designated Urban Centers
    Designated Urban Centers Within 1/4 Mile of Served by Transit Served by Transit Urban Center Name Community Rapid Transit with 15 Min. with 30 Min. System Station Headways or Less Headways or Less Candelas ArvadaNoNoNo Olde Town/New Town Arvada Yes No Yes Ralston Fields Arvada Yes No Yes 1st Avenue Center Aurora No Yes Yes 56th Avenue Aurora No No No Airport Gateway Aurora Yes No Yes Aurora City Center Aurora Yes Yes Yes Buckingham Center Aurora No Yes Yes Colfax Avenue Aurora No Yes Yes E‐470 / I‐70 Aurora No No No Fitzsimons Aurora Yes Yes Yes Hampden Town Center Aurora Yes No No I‐225/Parker Road Aurora Yes Yes Yes Iliff Avenue Center Aurora No Yes Yes Jewell Avenue Aurora No No No Smoky Hill Aurora No No No 28th/30th Streets (BVRC) Boulder Yes Yes Yes Downtown Boulder Boulder No Yes Yes Gunbarrel Activity Center Boulder No No Yes University Hill Boulder No Yes Yes Adams Crossing Activity Center Brighton No No No Bromley Park Activity Center Brighton No No Yes Downtown Brighton Activity Ctr Brighton No No Yes Prairie Center Activity Center Brighton No No No 1‐25 & SH 7 Activity Center Broomfield No No Yes Interlocken Loopp Activityy Center Broomfield Yes Yes Yes Original Broomfield TODBroomfieldNoNoNo Urban Transit Village Broomfield Yes Yes Yes 10th & Osage Station Denver Yes No Yes 29th Ave. Town Center Denver No Yes Yes 38th and Blake TOD Denver Yes No Yes 41st and Fox TOD Denver Yes No Yes 62nd and Pena TODDenverNoNoNo Alameda Station Denver Yes Yes Yes Bear Valley Denver No Yes Yes Bellview Station Denver Yes No Yes Broadway Station
    [Show full text]
  • Next Steps Study
    Prepared for: City of Englewood 1000 Englewood Parkway Englewood, CO 80110-2373 City of Sheridan 4101 S. Federal Boulevard Sheridan, CO 80110-5399 Prepared by: Felsburg Holt & Ullevig 6300 S. Syracuse Way, Suite 600 Centennial, CO 80111 In Association With: ArLand LLC Bachman PR Design Workshop Toole Design Group Table of Contents Page Executive Summary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ES-1 Acknowledgements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ES-18 1.0 Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.1 Study Location and Description -------------------------------------------------2 1.2 Vision ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 1.3 Objectives ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 1.4 Planning Context ---------------------------------------------------------------- 5 1.4.1 South Santa Fe Drive Corridor Improvements Study ------------------- 6 1.4.2 North Englewood Small Area Plan -------------------------------------- 6 1.4.3 CityCenter Englewood: Redevelopment of the Cinderella City Mall -- 6 1.4.4 Englewood Industrial Urban Renewal Plan and the General Ironworks Development Plan ------------------------------------------- 7 1.4.5 Southwest Light Rail Transit Line Major Investment Study ------------- 7 1.4.6 Englewood Civic Center Pedestrian Underpass Feasibility Study ----- 7
    [Show full text]
  • Enter Presentation Title Title Case COVID-19 Service Plan Changes Proposed for January 2021 MAKING THIS MEETING MOST EFFECTIVE
    Enter Presentation Title Title Case COVID-19 Service Plan Changes Proposed for January 2021 MAKING THIS MEETING MOST EFFECTIVE • Please hold your comments • To use live captions, click until the end. More Options > Turn on live captions (only available on desktop and mobile apps) • Keep your electronic device muted o On the phone: Press *6 mutes/unmutes Entero Online: Click Presentation the Microphone icon Title Title Case Regional Transportation District RTD GENERAL MANAGER & CEO Debra Johnson, first woman to lead RTD as General Manager/CEO in its history • Transit executive with over 25 years of diversified, progressively responsible experience leading and managing business processes for public transit agencies • Held executive positions at Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA); Enter PresentationSan Francisco MunicipalTitle Transportation Agency (SFMTA); Los Angeles County Metropolitan Title Case Transportation Authority (LA Metro); and Long Beach Transit • Ms. Johnson starts at RTD Nov. 9 Regional Transportation District COVID-19 EFFECTS • Ridership dropped 70% initially, still down about 60% • Pre-COVID, about 350,000 boardings per day • Currently about 148,000 boardings per day • In April, cut service 40%, fares suspended until July 1 • Masks required while riding • EnterCapacity loads Presentation on buses and trains to maintain social Title distancing • TitleCleaning and Case sanitizing increased • Reports out of Japan, New York, France, Spain and other places indicate public transit not a big transmitter of COVID-19
    [Show full text]
  • May 2019 Proposed Service Changes
    May 2019 Proposed Service Changes BUS Route 0 – South Broadway Running time analysis resulting in schedule adjustments. Route 1 – 1st Avenue Move east terminal from Birch/Virginia to Virginia/Cherry, immediately behind King Soopers at Leetsdale/Cherry for operator restroom and customer convenience. Route 15 – East Colfax This proposal is an effort to relieve passenger overloads east of Monaco to VA Hospital by adding selected trips between 9:00am and 1:00pm. Move short turn recovery location from Oneida/Colfax to Leyden/Colfax, for operator restroom access. Close to Walgreens, McDonalds, 7-11. Add weekday bus for recovery and on-time performance. 16/16L – West Colfax Running time analyses on weekend services. Route 33 – Platte Valley Due to low ridership performance, it proposed that this route service be discontinued. Current ridership performance stands at 10.3 passenger per hour, which falls below the Urban Local ridership standard. This proposal would impact approximately 55 weekday passengers. Alternative service to the Route 33 can be found in using combinations of Central and West Light Rail corridors, Routes 4, 9, 30 and 30Limited. Route 36L – Fort Logan Limited Running time analysis, for operator recovery and on-time performance. No cost impacts are anticipated. Route 44 – 44th Avenue Reroute eastbound buses via Larimer Street instead of Lawrence, between Broadway and Downing. This change consolidates service onto the historic transit corridor, instead of being split between two streets. Bus stop improvement along northbound Larimer are currently underway in support of this reroute. No cost impacts are anticipated. Route 51 – Sheridan Boulevard This proposal would, formalize the current 4-block route detour in Englewood, which was put into effect due to the City having converted a part of Elati Street into a one-way operation.
    [Show full text]
  • City of Littleton 2255 West Berry Avenue Littleton, CO 80120 Meeting Agenda
    Littleton Center City of Littleton 2255 West Berry Avenue Littleton, CO 80120 Meeting Agenda Planning Commission Monday, January 9, 2017 6:30 PM Community Room Study Session 1. RTD and Southwest Rail Extension Updates a. ID# 17-10 Kent Bagley, Regional Transportation District, Board of Directors, District H Attachments: RTD Directors Map - District H 2. Board and Staff Updates The public is invited to attend all regular meetings or study sessions of the City Council or any City Board or Commission. Please call 303-795-3780 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting if you believe you will need special assistance or any reasonable accommodation in order to be in attendance at or participate in any such meeting. For any additional information concerning City meetings, please call the above referenced number. City of Littleton Page 1 Printed on 1/5/2017 Littleton Center City of Littleton 2255 West Berry Avenue Littleton, CO 80120 Staff Communication File #: ID# 17-10, Version: 1 City of Littleton Page 1 of 1 Printed on 1/5/2017 powered by Legistar™ College View / South Platte Englewood Station Nine Mile Station 95 391 UV Harvey Park South FLOYD AV Wellshire 2 University Hills Hampden UV LAKEWOOD Bear Valley UV88 UV Nine Mile Station ZUNI ST HAMPDEN AV 285 30 Kennedy AURORA UV391 9E Wadsworth / Hampden UV95 Englewood Station ¤£285 ¤£285 E HAPPY CANYON RD¤£ UV I Southmoor Station S LOWELLS BLVD 225 0 0.5 1 KENYON AV AURORA ¨¦§ 83 ELATI ST ELATI UV Southmoor Station YOSEMITES ST Miles CLARKSONST Southmoor Park SHERIDAN DENVER Dayton
    [Show full text]
  • Board Briefing
    Board Briefing TO: Board of Directors FROM: Debra A. Johnson, General Manager and CEO DATE: March 11, 2021 SUBJECT: Board Briefing Documents As you are aware, all formerly referenced “information/update” materials (i.e., agency/departmental statistics, quarterly reports) are now provided in a uniformed manner that is referenced as “Board Briefings.” These Board Meeting Briefing documents reside on its own public transparency landing page called “Board Briefing” website: https://www.rtd-denver.com/board-briefing-documents and will be posted when the monthly Board Meeting packet is published. Once reviewed, should Board members have questions regarding the subject matter or information items, a detailed inquiry should be sent to [email protected]. Listed below are the Board Briefing documents by department and date: Department Updates Bus Operations • Service Availability – February 2021 • Lost Service Hours Review – February 2021 Competitive and Special Services • Q4 Competitive Service Briefing 2020 • Q4 Customer Comment Briefing 2020 • Q4 Special Services Briefing 2020 Communications • Communications Department Board Briefing of Highlights • N Line Survey Results Finance • Q4 2020 Investment Report • LiVE March 2021 Board Briefing • March 2021 Board Briefing of January 2021 Monthly Financial Statement Operations Paratransit Services • Q4 Access-a-Ride/Cab 2020 Briefing Rail Operations • Rail Operations Briefing Other Updates Materials Management • Contract Awards/Current Solicitations/Solicitations In Process – March 2021 •
    [Show full text]
  • AGENCY PROFILE and FACTS RTD Services at a Glance
    AGENCY PROFILE AND FACTS RTD Services at a Glance Buses & Rail SeniorRide SportsRides Buses and trains connect SeniorRide buses provide Take RTD to a local the metro area and offer an essential service to our sporting event, Eldora an easy RTDway to Denver services senior citizen at community. a glanceMountain Resort, or the International Airport. BolderBoulder. Buses and trains connect and the metro trainsarea and offer an easy way to Denver International Airport. Access-a-Ride Free MallRide Access-a-RideAccess-a-Ride helps meet the Freetravel MallRideneeds of passengers buses with disabilities.Park-n-Rides Access-a-RideFlexRide helps connect the entire length Make connections with meet theFlexRide travel needsbuses travel of within selectof downtown’s RTD service areas.16th Catch FlexRideour to connect buses toand other trains RTD at bus or passengerstrain with servies disabilities. or get direct accessStreet to shopping Mall. malls, schools, and more.89 Park-n-Rides. SeniorRide SeniorRide buses serve our senior community. Free MallRide FlexRideFree MallRide buses stop everyFree block onMetroRide downtown’s 16th Street Mall.Bike-n-Ride FlexRideFree buses MetroRide travel within Free MetroRide buses Bring your bike with you select RTDFree service MetroRide areas. buses offer convenientoffer convenient connections rush-hour for downtown commuterson the bus along and 18th train. and 19th Connectstreets. to other RTD connections for downtown SportsRides buses or trains or get direct commuters along 18th and Take RTD to a local sporting event, Eldora Mountain Resort, or the BolderBoulder. access toPark-n-Rides shopping malls, 19th streets. schools, Makeand more.connections with our buses and trains at more than 89 Park-n-Rides.
    [Show full text]
  • RTD, DTP to Increase Number of Trains Being Tested on G Line
    RTD, DTP to increase number of trains being tested on G Line As many as six trains will be on the alignment starting Thursday; opening date is not yet known DENVER (July 31, 2018) – Starting Thursday, testing on the forthcoming G Line to Arvada, Wheat Ridge and Adams County will take a notable step forward with the addition of more trains on the alignment at more frequent intervals, moving the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and its contractor, Denver Transit Partners (DTP), closer to opening the commuter rail line for passenger service. The ability granted this week to run as many as six trains on the G Line for 10 hours each day – every 15 minutes, between 3 a.m. and 1 p.m. – advances testing toward simulating the full daily service schedule of nearly 21 consecutive hours. The official start to that next phase of testing has not been announced. An opening date for the G Line has not yet been determined. Limited testing along the forthcoming 11.2-mile line between Union Station and Wheat Ridge began last fall and, until earlier this month, had been underway between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays since the start of this year. Starting July 20, up to three trains have been tested every day at half-hour intervals starting as early as 3:30 a.m. and extending through 1 a.m. the following day. The testing process has examined the communication signaling along the G Line, as well as the effectiveness of the communication technology in place at each of its 16 at-grade railroad crossings.
    [Show full text]
  • I-25 Central Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study
    Existing Conditions Assessment I-25 Central Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study 2829 W. Howard Pl. Denver, CO 80204 [email protected] i25centralpel.codot.us This page intentionally left blank. Existing Conditions Assessment Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Study Location and Description ........................................................................................................ 1 Public and Stakeholder Engagement ............................................................................................... 3 Feedback Received To-Date ...................................................................................................... 5 Transportation Planning Context ....................................................................................................... 7 The History of I-25 Central ............................................................................................................... 7 Existing Land Use Context ............................................................................................................... 7 Section 1: 20th Street to Colfax Avenue ..................................................................................... 8 Section 2: Colfax Avenue to US 6/6th Avenue ............................................................................ 8 Section 3: US 6/6th Avenue to Santa Fe Drive/US 85 .............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Hyatt House Brochure LP.Indd
    LOCATION HYATT HOUSE SColfax Avenue & Peoria Street • Aurora, CO 80011 RETAIL SPACE 270 FOR LEASE 25 A I D O 40th/Colorado T Station 70 225,000 vpd 38th/Blake Station 40th Ave Central Park Station Peoria Station 70 101,000 vpd 158,000 vpd COORS FIELD Fitzsimons Station ppd UNIONON d STATION ANSCHUTZ MEDICAL CAMPUS Colfax Station DOWNTOWN 134 Stops Per Day DENVER 33,000 vpd E Colfax Ave 47,999 vpd SITE 1,812,809 Riders Per Year E Colfax Ave 6,000 vpd 13th Avenue Station 17,000 vpd 6 CHERRY 2nd Avenue CREEK 26,995 vpd Abeline Station BUCKLEY Aurora Metro AIR FORCE GLENDALE Center Station BASE Peoria St Peoria Mississippi Ave E 470 Havana St University Blvd Buckley Rd Chambers Rd Hampden Ave 225 Iliff Ave HIGHLIGHTS 85 Iliff Station 25 ACROSS FROM THE NEWLY ANNOUNCED 650,000 235,000 vpd Colorado Blvd Nine Mile Station Sam Zaitz SF, 11 STORY UC HEALTH MEDICAL 285 225 720.529.2888 | [email protected] BUILDING DELIVERING 2022 Dayton Station Jeffery Feldman 8,160 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL DENVER 720.529.2991 | [email protected] AVAILABLE, ACROSS FROM ANSCHUTZ MEDICAL Belleview Station TECH CENTER CAMPUS DELIVERING Q1 2021 DEMOGRAPHICS TRAFFIC 50,000+ DAYTIME EMPLOYEES AND 100,000+ DAILY VISITORS 1 MILE 3 MILE 5 MILE COLFAX AVENUE 2019 EST. POPULATION 24,218 159,614 394,657 47,999 VEHICLES PER DAY 2024 PROJECTED POPULATION 25,895 169,239 417,293 2019 EST. DAYTIME POPULATION 24,013 80,279 177,838 PEORIA STREET FIRST FLOOR OF THE NEW 140 ROOM HYATT 26,995 VEHICLES PER DAY HOUSE HOTEL OPENING 2020 2019 EST.
    [Show full text]
  • For Immediate Release
    RTD receives approval to begin limited testing on the G Line Commuter rail testing to begin June 14, 2017 DENVER (June 13, 2017) —The Regional Transportation District (RTD) and its contractor, Denver Transit Partners (DTP), have been given regulatory approval to begin testing along the G Line. Commuter rail trains will begin moving along the corridor from Wheat Ridge through Arvada and into unincorporated Adams County on June 14, 2017. The initial phase of testing on the G Line will be limited, with only a few test trains running Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The number of trains and frequency will increase as testing progresses toward the fully published G Line schedule. Once full schedule testing is completed the G Line is expected to open to passengers in the second half of 2017. “We are excited to be bringing commuter rail service to the communities along the G line. Authorization to perform testing on the G Line is evidence of the dedication RTD and DTP have in working with the regulatory agencies to ensure a safe system for our riders,” General Manager and CEO Dave Genova said. “Safety is RTD’s top priority, and it is important for the public to be aware and exercise caution when walking, biking or driving near the commuter rail alignment.” Train horns will be used during testing leading up to the opening of the G Line. Train operators are required to sound horns along the line until quiet zones at the crossings have been established by rail regulatory agencies.
    [Show full text]