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, Transit Partners (DTP), closer to opening the 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. The gate-crossing technology in place along the G Line is the same as that used on the University of A Line, to Denver International Airport, and the B Line, to Westminster.

“We are excited to see G Line testing ramping up,” said RTD CEO and General Manager Dave Genova. “Safety remains crucial during this time, and while we know that people are as excited as we are to see many trains on the alignment, we ask that they keep an appropriate distance and respect the work taking place on their behalf.”

The public should abide by all safety signage, heed potential closures of railroad or at-grade crossings, and not attempt to view the work by accessing construction areas at stations and various locations along the tracks.

During testing, train operators will continue to sound their horns when passing through intersections. Until quiet zones have been approved by the FRA, the use of train horns and other safety measures are important to make drivers and pedestrians aware of train movements. RTD will announce the start of quiet zones for the G Line once such approvals from the FRA have been secured.

When the G Line officially opens, trains will run from 4 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., with 15-minute frequency between 6 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and every 30 minutes during off-peak hours.

Crossing gates may stay down for extended periods of time during testing. Attendants will continue to be stationed at all G Line grade crossings until RTD receives the necessary state and federal approvals to remove them. In case of an emergency, the public can call 720-460- 5955, the grade-crossing hotline, or 303-299-3911 after hours.

The G Line is a segment of RTD’s FasTracks program, a voter-approved transit expansion initiative to build new commuter rail and , bus rapid transit service and new parking spaces; redevelop ; and redirect bus service to better connect the eight- county district.

ABOUT RTD The Regional Transportation District develops, operates and maintains a public transportation system that meets the transit needs of close to 3 million people within an eight-county service area in the Denver Metro region. The agency’s buses, rail lines, shuttles and additional services provide approximately 100 million annual passenger trips. For more information, visit rtd- denver.com, call 303-299-6000 and follow along on social media: www.facebook.com/RideRTD, @RideRTD on Twitter, @ridertd on Instagram and rideRTDco on YouTube.

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