For immediate release Friday, Feb. 17, 2016 RTD commemorates the R Line with grand opening ceremony and celebration RTD’s train through Aurora opens Friday, Feb. 24 DENVER, Feb. 15, 2017 – The Regional Transportation District (RTD) will kick off the R Line celebrations with a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony at the Iliff Station on Friday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. RTD’s newest light rail line, the R Line, brings light rail service through the heart of Aurora. The 10.5 miles of new light rail extends existing track at Nine Mile Station up I- 225 to the Peoria Station. The new R Line provides easy connections to the University of Colorado A Line and the H Line, making it easier than ever to get to the airport, the Denver Tech Center or downtown Denver. The ceremony will include remarks from RTD General Manager and CEO Dave Genova, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan and RTD Chair Larry Hoy, Kiewit Infrastructure Co. Company Senior Vice President and District Manager Craig Briggs and Aurora City Manager Skip Noe. WHAT: A ribbon cutting will take place at the grand opening ceremony to denote the completion of construction and the start of service on the R Line. This formal ceremony officially commemorates the historic day. WHEN AND WHERE: • Grand Opening Ceremony, 10 a.m. o Iliff Station Parking Garage (top level), Cross streets: E. Iliff Ave & S. Blackhawk St. Page 1 of 2 • Free rides on the R Line, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. o Trains designated with R signage • Station celebrations, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. o Aurora Metro Center Station, 14555 E Centrepoint Dr., Aurora, CO 80012 o Iliff Station, 13905 E Wesley Ave., Aurora, CO 80014 SPEAKERS: • Mayor Steve Hogan, City of Aurora • Mayor Michael Hancock, City of Denver • Craig Briggs, Kiewit Infrastructure Co. Company Senior Vice President and District Manager • Skip Noe, Aurora City Manager • RTD Chair Larry Hoy, Regional Transportation District Board of Directors • General Manager and CEO Dave Genova, Regional Transportation District Following the ceremony, there will be free rides for the public on the R Line starting from Lincoln Station to Peoria Station until 9 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 25, the R Line will be open for the first day of revenue service with fares being charged. To help passengers navigate the light rail system, RTD ambassadors will be at all R Line stations to answer questions during the first week of regular service. For graphics, news and photos, please visit our media page. For route and schedule information, please call RTD’s Customer Care Center at 303.299.6000 or call 303.299.6089 for the speech and hearing impaired. Visit RTD’s website at www.rtd-denver.com. Page 2 of 2 .