Fitzsimons station

Last updated
Fitzsimons
  R  
Fitzsimons Station.JPG
The station in February 2017.
General information
Location2550 North Fitzsimons Parkway
Aurora, Colorado
Coordinates 39°45′17.9″N104°50′25.7″W / 39.754972°N 104.840472°W / 39.754972; -104.840472
Owned by Regional Transportation District
Line(s)I-225 Corridor [1]
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsAiga bus trans.svg RTD Bus: Anschutz Shuttle
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Bicycle facilities12 racks
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedFebruary 24, 2017 (2017-02-24)
Services
Preceding station Regional Transportation District logo.svg RTD Following station
Peoria
Terminus
 R Line Colfax
toward RidgeGate Parkway

Fitzsimons station is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) light rail station on the R Line in Aurora, Colorado. The station is located along the north side of Fitzsimons Parkway along Sand Creek Park and serves the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus via a free shuttle bus. [2]

Contents

The station opened on February 24, 2017, along with the rest of the R Line. [3] It was originally planned to be located further south on Montview Boulevard, closer to the campus, but was moved in 2013 to prevent vibrations from affecting research equipment. [4]

History

The station was one of two planned in 2001 on the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, an area that Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority developed into a campus anchored by the then University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. The second planned for the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center became Colfax station. [5]

The R Line was approved as part of the 2004 FasTracks ballot measure, which planned to build a light rail line along Interstate 225 in Aurora. [6] As part of the light rail line, a station at Fitzimons Commons near the Anschutz Medical Campus was planned along Montview Boulevard at Uvalda Street, and was initially named Montview. [7] [8]

In May 2013, the University of Colorado requested that the light rail station be moved off of its campus due to concerns that vibrations and electromagnetic interference generated by trains would interfere with research equipment. [9] The proposed $20 million in mitigation would have included construction of a floating rail bed and replacement of new equipment in the research labs. [10] On June 25, 2013, the RTD Board of Directors approved the realignment of the light rail line onto Fitzsimons Boulevard, with a new station north of the campus connected via a shuttle bus. [4] The relocated station required the acquisition of land from Sand Creek Park, which underwent $3 million in renovations alongside light rail construction in 2015. [11]

The station opened along with the rest of the R Line on February 24, 2017, several months after its scheduled opening due to construction delays. [3]

Transit-oriented development

Fitzsimons station is located to the north of the Fitzsimons Life Science District and Fitzsimons Innovation District, a 150-acre (61 ha) transit-oriented development that surrounds the Anschutz Medical Campus. The city of Aurora plans to build housing, hotels and office space on the land between the station and medical campus, including redevelopment of the Fitzsimons Golf Course. [12] [13]

A park-and-ride garage was proposed at the station in 2013, [14] but was not built with the station. [2]

Related Research Articles

FasTracks is a multibillion-dollar public transportation expansion plan under construction in metropolitan Denver, Colorado, United States. Developed by the Regional Transportation District (RTD), the plan consists of new commuter rail, light rail, and express bus services. Six new light rail, electric commuter rail and diesel commuter rail lines with a combined length of 122 miles (196 km) will be constructed under the plan. It expands on previous transportation projects, notably T-REX, and includes 57 new transit stations and stops, 21,000 new parking spaces, 18 miles (29 km) of a bus service between Denver and Boulder and the renovation of Denver Union Station as a multi-modal transportation hub.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 225</span> Highway in Colorado

Interstate 225 (I-225) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Colorado. The freeway is a 11.959-mile-long (19.246 km) connector spur route of I-25 that acts as an eastern bypass in the Denver metropolitan area and serves Aurora. It also provides direct access to Denver International Airport for the Denver Tech Center and the southern suburbs of Denver. I-225 is one of the two existing auxiliary Interstate Highways in Colorado and it is the only auxiliary route of I-25, as there are no auxiliary routes for I-25 in New Mexico and Wyoming. The route begins at I-25 in the Denver Tech Center and runs north to I-70 north of Aurora. It interchanges with State Highway 83 (SH 83), SH 30 and I-70 Business/US 40/US 287, known locally as Colfax Avenue. The freeway was first proposed in the 1950s along with the first Interstate Highways within Denver. Construction did not begin until 1964 at the I-70 interchange and proceeded south through Aurora until final completion in early 1976 with the final link to I-25 opening to traffic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regional Transportation District</span> Public transport agency in Denver, Colorado

The Regional Transportation District, more commonly referred to as RTD, is the regional agency operating public transit services in eight out of the twelve counties in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area in the U.S. state of Colorado. It operates over a 2,342-square-mile (6,070 km2) area, serving 3.08 million people. RTD was organized in 1969 and is governed by a 15-member, publicly elected Board of Directors. Directors are elected to a four-year term and represent a specific district of about 180,000 constituents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D Line (RTD)</span> Light rail line in the Denver metropolitan area

The D Line is a light rail line which is part of the rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver–Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The D line was the first line in the system when it opened in 1994, traveling from downtown Denver to I-25 and Broadway as the Central Corridor. It was extended along the Southwest Corridor in July 2000. Because it was the first and only line in the system it had no letter or color designation until the Central Platte Valley Spur opened on April 5, 2002, although on maps it was designated as Route 101.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R Line (RTD)</span> Light rail line in the Denver metropolitan area

The R Line or Aurora Line/I-225 Rail is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) light rail line that serves stations in Aurora, Denver, Greenwood Village, Centennial and Lone Tree. Opening on February 24, 2017, the line was designated as the “R” line, reflecting the letter R’s in “Aurora” and “Ridgegate”.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H Line (RTD)</span> Light rail line in the Denver metropolitan area

The H Line, part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado, was added to the system on November 17, 2006, with the completion of the Southeast Corridor project. It is one of four routes that are part of the RTD's service plan for the corridor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RTD bus and rail services</span> Transit system in Denver, Colorado

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Line (RTD)</span> Commuter rail line in the Denver metropolitan area

The A Line is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) commuter rail line serving Denver and Aurora, Colorado, operating between downtown Denver and Denver International Airport (DIA). During planning and construction, it was also known as the East Rail Line, but most locals refer to it as the A Line. Despite its former title, the line does not serve the campuses of the University of Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B Line (RTD)</span> Commuter rail line in the Denver metropolitan area

The B Line, also known as the Northwest Rail Line during construction, is a commuter rail line which is part of the commuter and light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver metropolitan area in Colorado. Part of the FasTracks project, the first 6.2-mile (10 km) section from downtown Denver to south Westminster opened on July 25, 2016. If fully built out, estimated around 2042, the B Line will be a 41-mile (66 km) high-capacity route from Denver Union Station to Longmont, passing through North Denver, Adams County, Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville and Boulder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N Line (RTD)</span> Commuter rail line in the Denver metropolitan area

The N Line, also known as the North Metro Rail Line during construction, is a commuter rail line which is part of the commuter and light rail system owned by the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in the Denver metropolitan area in Colorado. The first 13 miles (21 km) from downtown Denver to 124th Avenue in Thornton opened as part of the FasTracks expansion plan on September 21, 2020. When fully built out the line will be 18.5 miles (29.8 km) long and pass through Denver, Commerce City, Northglenn, and Thornton. The N Line features Colorado's longest bridge at 9,533 feet called the Skyway Bridge. While other RTD commuter lines are operated by Denver Transit Partners for RTD, this is the only line operated by RTD itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flatiron Flyer</span> Express bus system in Colorado, USA

Flatiron Flyer is an 18-mile (29 km) express bus system between Denver, Aurora, and Boulder, Colorado, traveling along U.S. Route 36. Different levels of service are available, including a non-stop from Boulder to Union Station in high-occupancy toll lanes, and all-stop, which serves six park-and-rides along U.S. Route 36 in normal highway lanes. The line branches out to different destinations in Denver, Aurora and Boulder. The Regional Transportation District operates the line, opened on January 3, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denver Airport station</span> Commuter rail station in Denver, Colorado

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peoria station</span> Commuter and light rail station in Aurora, Colorado

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">40th Ave & Airport Blvd–Gateway Park station</span> Commuter rail station in Aurora, Colorado

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida station (RTD)</span> Light rail station in Aurora, Colorado

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aurora Metro Center station</span> Light rail station in Aurora, Colorado

Aurora Metro Center station is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) light rail station on the R Line in Aurora, Colorado. The station is located at Centrepoint Drive and Sable Boulevard and has a 145-stall park-and-ride lot. The station is between the Town Center at Aurora shopping center and the Aurora Municipal Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colfax station (RTD)</span> Light rail station in Aurora, Colorado

Colfax station is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) light rail station on the R Line in Aurora, Colorado. The station is located on the light rail bridge elevated above Colfax Avenue between Fitzsimons Parkway and Interstate 225.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th Avenue station (RTD)</span> Light rail station in Aurora, Colorado

13th Avenue station is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) light rail station on the R Line in Aurora, Colorado. The station is located alongside Interstate 225, a few blocks west of intersection of 13th Avenue and Sable Boulevard. It has a 262-stall park-and-ride lot and is planned to be the center of a transit-oriented development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Avenue & Abilene station</span> Light rail station in Aurora, Colorado

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References

  1. ↑ "East & I-225 Rail Corridors Preliminary Service Plan" (PDF). Regional Transportation District . June 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-02-27. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  2. 1 2 "R Line Stations". Regional Transportation District . Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Paul, Jesse (February 23, 2017). "RTD R-Line begins service Friday to Aurora, Denver and Lone Tree — and you can ride for free". The Denver Post . Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "RTD Board Approves Moving Planned I-225 Rail Station from Montview to Fitzsimons Parkway" (PDF) (Press release). Regional Transportation District. June 25, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  5. ↑ Leib, Jeffrey (January 7, 2001). "Planners outline I-225 light rail". The Denver Post. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  6. ↑ Whaley, Monte (July 24, 2012). "RTD approves plan to complete I-225 FasTracks by 2015". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  7. ↑ "I-225 Corridor". RTD FasTracks. Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Executive Summary". I-225 Light Rail Transit Environmental Evaluation (Report). Regional Transportation District. September 2009. p. ES-15. Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  9. ↑ Whaley, Monte (May 30, 2013). "CU's Bruce Benson wants I-225 light rail to move to protect equipment". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  10. ↑ Whaley, Monte (June 9, 2013). "Proposed RTD route puts touchy equipment — and development — at risk". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  11. ↑ Mitchell, Megan (September 29, 2015). "Sand Creek Park sees changes in response to R Line stop at Fitzsimons". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  12. ↑ Johansson, Brandon (May 13, 2016). "Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority in Aurora eyes housing, hotels in place of bioscience, golf course". Aurora Sentinel . Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  13. ↑ "TOD: Fitzsimons Station". RTD FasTracks. Regional Transportation District. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  14. ↑ Castellanos, Sara (September 19, 2013). "Aurora, CU talking parking around Fitzsimons light rail stop". Aurora Sentinel. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
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