Reinventing Union Station Come see for yourself on May 9 A new city within a city is being constructed in LoDo and it’s never been a more exciting time to be in downtown Denver. What used to be a rarely used rail yard is now a bustling urban environment, bursting with new businesses, new buildings, and new transportation options. The heart of this urban transformation is RTD’s Union Station Transit Center, providing more transportation services, better connections, and easier access than ever before. A complete transit experience, and significant architectural icon, Union Station offers light rail, a new 22-gate bus concourse, the new Free MetroRide, Amtrak and, in 2016, commuter rail – under one roof. Union Station Transit Center Years of planning and building have gone into creating a world-class transportation hub, and a new epicenter for downtown travel, commerce, and entertainment. We’re reinventing Union Station with a whole lot of new: new transit facilities, new public spaces, new restaurants, and a new hotel. New underground bus concourse The new 22-gate underground bus concourse will replace Market Street Station as the LoDo bus hub, providing riders with a sleek, more efficient facility that offers easy connections to light rail and commuter rail (opening in 2016). Free MetroRide A brand new commuter option, the Free MetroRide will provide fast and frequent service through the bus concourse, connecting Union Station and Civic Center Station by way of 18th and 19th Street at 13 uniquely branded stops. It’s the perfect rush hour alternative to the 16th Street Free MallRide. Commuter rail tracks Though not opening until 2016, we’re preparing for commuter rail with 8 new tracks. In 2016, lines will run between Union Station and Denver International Airport, Arvada/Wheat Ridge, and Westminster, making Denver’s transit system even more global and accessible. Retail, offices, and apartments galore Union Station will truly become an urban lifestyle center. More than 100,000 square feet of new retail, including restaurants, boutiques, and a brand new King Soopers, 750,000 square feet of office space, 2,000 new apartments, and 400 new hotel rooms are being constructed within or around the station areas by various partners. This includes the luxurious Crawford Hotel in the historic Union Station building, opening July 12. In addition, we’re building more than 15 acres of plazas, parks, and public spaces to better connect all of the elements in a pedestrian-friendly environment. 1600 Blake Street, Denver, Colorado 80202 • 303.299.6000 • rtd-denver.com Regional Transportation District Union Station Bus Concourse As a part of the world-class Union Station Transit Center, the Union Station Bus Concourse is a brand new 22-gate underground bus facility that will serve 16 distinct bus routes, and the new Free MetroRide, providing easy connections to all the transportation options available downtown. The Union Station Bus Concourse is a sleek and modern transit facility that stretches nearly 1,000 feet underground beneath 17th Street, between Chestnut Place and Wewatta Street. The new facility was built with an eye towards sustainability and is in the process of being certified as a LEED Silver building. By 2030, the Union Station Transit Center, including the bus concourse and the new train hall, is projected to serve 200,000 passengers in and out of the station, with 500 trains per day. Bus concourse facts and figures • 22 bus bays – More than double the amount at the bus facility located at Market Street • 12 bays dedicated to Regional and Express buses • 8 bays dedicated to the new Free MetroRide • 2 bays available for other commercial services • 1,000 feet – Length of the entire bus concourse, including the drive lanes • 800 feet – Length of the pedestrian concourse, inside the bus concourse • 1,113 – Number of buses scheduled to run through the bus concourse on an average weekday • 428 – Number of buses that will enter/exit through the Chestnut Street entrance • 427 – Number of buses that will enter/exit through the 18th and Wynkoop Street entrance • 267 – Number of buses that will enter/exit on the HOV lane Bus routes in the concourse There are 16 bus routes that will pass through the Union Station Bus Concourse. Easy connections can be made to light rail, the Free MallRide, and the Free MetroRide. AF to the airport 86X to Westminster 0 local service south 31X to Federal Heights 104X to Commerce City on Broadway 40X to Thornton 120X to Thornton 20 local service east to 55X to Olde Town Arvada B to Boulder Anschutz Medical Campus 72X to Arvada West L to Longmont 32 to City Park 80X to Arvada North S to east Boulder Free MetroRide Closing of Market Street Station With the grand opening of the new Union Station Bus Concourse on May 9, the current downtown bus facility at Market Street Station will close. All buses that currently route through Market Street Station will utilize Union Station instead. Market Street Station will no longer be in operation as of May 11, 2014. 1600 Blake Street, Denver, Colorado 80202 • 303.299.6000 • rtd-denver.com Regional Transportation District Free MetroRide With limited stops between the new Union Station Bus Concourse and Civic Center Station along 18th and 19th streets, the Free MetroRide is the perfect option for downtown commuters. This free bus service will run during weekday rush hours (M-F, 6-9 a.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m.) and will provide convenient connections to bus, light rail and future commuter rail lines. The Free MetroRide is a fast, reliable alternative and convenient companion service to the 16th Street Free MallRide. The Free MetroRide will be easy to pick out on the street because of its distinctive color scheme. The teal and silver color palette will distinguish the Free MetroRide from other RTD buses that may run along 18th Street, 19th Street, and through Union Station. Schedule The Free MetroRide will provide frequent service during morning and evening rush hours only. Service to run Monday – Friday, between 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Stops Union Station to Civic Center Station Civic Center Station to Union Station • Union Station Bus Concourse • Lincoln St & 17th Ave • 19th St & Blake St • 18th St & Glenarm Pl • 19th St & Lawrence St • 18th St & California St Park Ave • 19th St & Curtis St • 18th St & Curtis St • 19th St & Stout St • 18th St & Lawrence St 22nd St • Broadway & 18th St • 18th & Market St (future) • 16th Ave & Broadway • 18th St & Wazee St 21st St Amtrak 20th Ave Broadway 20th St D Sherman St Coors Field Grant St Lincoln St 19th St 19th St 19th St 19th Ave 18th Ave Wewatta St 17th Ave Chestnut Pl Chestnut 18th St 18th St 17th St Stout St UNION 16th Ave E STATION Arapahoe St Curtis St Champa St Blake St Market St Larimer St St Lawrence Wynkoop St St Wazee Welton St Welton Tremont Pl Tremont Glenarm Pl C California St W 16th St Skyline Denver CIVIC CENTER Park Pavilions STATION Court Pl 15th St H H Free MetroRide Larimer F F Cleveland Pl Square D D Free MetroRide, underground Civic Center 14th St Cherry Creek Free MallRide Denver Performing MetroRide stop Colorado Speer Blvd Arts Complex Convention Bus station 13th St Center Light rail station Colfax Ave U.S. Mint Future stop St Bannock 14th Ave Pepsi Center Cherokee St Cherokee Cherry Creek Cherry Auraria Parkway 1600 Blake Street, Denver, Colorado 80202 • 303.299.6000 • rtd-denver.com Regional Transportation District The Free MetroRide Bus Bus • Length: 61 ft. • Capacity: 95 (including seated • Height: 10 ft, 6 in and standing passengers) • Weight: 42,000 lbs (empty) • Seats: 47 • Maximum speed: 65 m.p.h. • Wheelchair spaces: 2 • Fleet: 12 vehicles • Engine type: Ultra-low emission diesel History 2004 RTD approves plan for a downtown circulator bus to relieve projected congestion on the Free MallRide due to incoming rail lines as a part of RTD’ FasTracks program 2005 City and County of Denver Downtown Multi-modal Access Plan (DMAP) identifi ed the 18th/19th Street route for the service 2010 RTD completed a study further defi ning the route, stop locations, and operating details 2012 RTD announced that the downtown circulator project will open as a peak period only service 2013 RTD breaks ground at 17th Ave and Lincoln 2014 Free MetroRide opens on May 12 2016 Free MetroRide will accommodate additional downtown ridership demands based on the opening of the East Rail Line, Gold Line, and Northwest Rail Line operating out of Union Station Commuter Rail at Union Station Coming in 2016 Completion of the Union Station Transit Center is the first step toward bringing commuter rail to the RTD system. In 2016, the East Rail Line will open and begin running trains through Union Station to Denver International Airport. The Gold Line to Arvada/Wheat Ridge and Northwest Rail Line to Westminster also open at this time with stops at Union Station, expanding the RTD service area, and creating important connections with bus, light rail, and DIA. To the west of the historic Union Station sits the iconic train hall with the bold arching white canopy. The train canopy is designed with a stunning oculus in the center to maintain the view down 17th Street and of the historic Union Station building. The train hall includes eight ground level tracks to accommodate passenger rail service, and Amtrak trains, which began operating within the train hall in March 2014. The train hall sits above the brand new underground bus concourse, with 22 bus gates and service plans to accommodate RTD’s local, regional, and express bus system passing through downtown.