G Line (RTD)

G Line
G Line
	G
	G Line train at 41st and Fox station
Overview
Owner	Regional Transportation District
Locale	Denver metropolitan area
Termini	Union Station ; Wheat Ridge/Ward ;
Stations	8
Website	RTD Denver - G Line
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	RTD Rail
Operator(s)	Denver Transit Partners
History
Opened	April 26, 2019
Technical
Line length	11.2 mi (18.0 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line, 25 kV 60 Hz AC
Route diagram
	Legend
	SH 121
	Wadsworth Bypass
	SH 95
	Sheridan Boulevard
	Amtrak
	to Emeryville
	US 287
	Federal Boulevard
	Amtrak
	to Chicago
	This diagram: view ; talk ; edit ;

Last updated March 19, 2024

The G Line, also known as the Gold Line during construction,^[1] is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) electric commuter rail line between Denver Union Station and Wheat Ridge, Colorado.^[2] Long scheduled to open in October 2016, the opening was delayed until mid-2019.^[3]^[4] The reason specified for the delay was timing issues experienced by the other commuter rail lines in the RTD system, which currently require a Federal Railroad Administration waiver to operate their grade crossings manually, and the wireless crossing system used by those lines.^[5]

History

The G Line was originally conceived in the 1990s as a rail line that would go from Denver Union Station to downtown Golden.^[6] But plans to build the line to Golden were split into two phases. The first phase was funded through FasTracks, and ended at the current terminus of Wheat Ridge/Ward. The second phase has yet to be funded, and RTD has no current plans to extend the G Line further. However, RTD owns the right-of-way out to Golden should it ever want to expand in the future.

The G Line uses the former Colorado and Southern Railway line which ran between Denver and Arvada until 1943.

The Gold Line is part of the RTD’s FasTracks expansion plan, and is operated by Denver Transit Partners as part of the Eagle P3 public–private partnership.^[7] The line received a Record of Decision approval from the Federal Transit Administration in November 2009 allowing the line to be developed.^[8] Groundbreaking for the line occurred on August 31, 2011, at a ceremony in Olde Town Arvada where US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the approval of a $1 billion grant to fund the project.^[9]

The line is 11.2 miles (18.0 km) in length,^[9] and was expected to cost $590.5 million.^[8] There are a total of eight stations: Union Station, 41st Avenue, Pecos, Federal, Sheridan, Olde Town, Arvada Ridge and Ward Road.^[8]

The project's nickname of the "Gold Line" refers to the June 1850 discovery of gold by Georgia prospector Lewis Ralston in Ralston Creek, which runs a few blocks from the Olde Town Station.^[10]

Delays

The G Line was originally scheduled to open in late 2016, but was delayed due to crossing gate issues with the RTD's A and B lines. The automated crossing gate system, unique to the RTD system, failed to receive federal and state approvals and relied on flaggers on a federal waiver for the first two lines. After RTD solved timing issues with the gates, subject to Federal Railroad Administration approval, the G Line opened without flaggers and quiet zones in place on April 26, 2019. Testing began in January 2018 and the state's Public Utilities Commission approved the automated gates in March.^[11]^[12] Pending FRA approval of the crossing systems in December 2018, the agency claimed it could begin operations as late as Q1 2019.^[13] On April 1, 2019, RTD announced the opening of the G Line on April 26 following approval from respective organizations.^[14]

Route

The G Line's southern terminus is at Union Station in Denver. It runs on a railroad right-of-way north sharing track with the B Line until Pecos Junction station after which the two routes diverge. The G Line continues west to its terminus in Wheat Ridge.^[15]

Stations

Station	Municipality	Opened	Major connections & notes
Union Station	Denver	April 22, 2016	A B E N W California Zephyr MallRide Flatiron Flyer
41st & Fox	Denver	April 26, 2019	B Park and ride: 500 spaces
Pecos Junction	North Washington		B Park and ride: 300 spaces
Clear Creek/Federal	Berkley		Park and ride: 280 spaces
60th & Sheridan/Arvada Gold Strike	Arvada		Park and ride: 330 spaces
Olde Town Arvada			Park and ride: 600 spaces
Arvada Ridge			Park and ride: 200 spaces
Wheat Ridge/Ward	Wheat Ridge		Park and ride: 290 spaces

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.

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.

The E Line is a light rail line which is part of the rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver metropolitan area in Colorado. The line was added to the system on November 17, 2006, with the completion of the Southeast Corridor as part of the T-REX Project. It is one of four routes that are part of the RTD's service plan for the corridor.

The F Line was a light rail line, part of the rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado.

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”.

RTD Bus and Rail is a transit system in the Denver, Colorado, metropolitan area. Operated by the Regional Transportation District (RTD), it currently runs 86 local, 23 regional, 14 limited, and 3 skyRide bus routes plus some special services. It also includes 6 light rail lines and an additional 4 commuter rail lines with 78 stations and 113.1 miles (182.0 km) of track.

Positive train control (PTC) is a family of automatic train protection systems deployed in the United States. Most of the United States' national rail network mileage has a form of PTC. These systems are generally designed to check that trains are moving safely and to stop them when they are not.

The W Line, also called the West Rail Line, is a light rail line in Denver, Lakewood, and Golden, Colorado, United States. The W Line was the first part of FasTracks to break ground, on May 16, 2007. The line, the only line to traverse the West Corridor, opened for service on Friday, April 26, 2013.

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.

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.

Eagle P3 is a public–private partnership (P3) involving the Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver, Colorado and Denver Transit Partners, a partnership of several private companies. Under the Eagle P3 signed in 2010, Denver Transit Partners holds a 34-year contract to design, build, finance, operate and maintain RTD commuter rail lines.

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.

Denver Airport is a commuter rail station on the A Line in Denver, Colorado, serving Denver International Airport. The A Line begins at the airport and travels west to Union Station in Downtown Denver in about 27 minutes via six intermediate stops. Trains run about every 15 minutes.

41st & Fox station is a commuter rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. It serves the Regional Transportation District's B Line and G Line and serves the Globeville and Sunnyside neighborhoods. It is the first station northbound on the route from Denver Union Station.

60th & Sheridan–Arvada Gold Strike station is a commuter rail station on the G Line of the Denver RTD system in Denver, Colorado. It is located in Arvada, Colorado and is the fourth northbound station from Denver Union Station. It opened on April 26, 2019.

Olde Town Arvada station is a commuter rail station on the G Line of the Denver RTD system in Denver, Colorado. It is located in downtown Arvada, Colorado and is the fifth stop from Denver Union Station. The station includes 600 parking spaces in a parking garage that is shared with local businesses. Construction on the station and garage began late 2014.

Clear Creek/Federal station is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) commuter rail station on the G Line located in the unincorporated community of Berkley, Colorado between Denver Union Station and Wheat Ridge, on an embanked section of track immediately east of Federal Boulevard. Clear Creek/Federal station is the third station outbound on the Gold Line from Denver Union Station and also includes three bus bays and a 283-stall park and ride facility. The station opened on April 26, 2019.

Arvada Ridge station is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) commuter rail station on the G Line between Denver Union Station and Wheat Ridge, Colorado. The station is located in western Arvada, Colorado, on the west side of Kipling Parkway and near Red Rocks Community College's Arvada campus. It includes bus bays, a 200-stall park and ride, and a pedestrian underpass connecting the platform to Ridge Road and the park and ride. Public art at the station includes "Chromatic Harvest", a kaleidoscopic mural wall with geometric imagery of agriculture. The station opened on April 26, 2019.

Wheat Ridge/Ward station is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) commuter rail station and terminus of the G Line. It opened on April 26, 2019, along with the rest of the G Line, after years of delays.

References

↑ "G Line".
↑ "RTD - G Line". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
↑ Paul, Jesse (November 18, 2016). "RTD will not open G-Line or R-Line before end of year as planned". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
↑ "FRA Approves Extended G Line Testing Period". RTD News. Regional Transportation District. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
↑ Baumann, Joella (June 29, 2017). "Passengers waiting for RTD G-Line to open may be waiting until 2018". Denver Post. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
↑ "RTD wanted the G Line to reach downtown Golden, but that didn't happen. Now a free shuttle is ending".
↑ "Eagle P3 Commuter Rail Project, Denver, USA". Railway Technology. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
1 2 3 "Fastracks Gold Line To Wheat Ridge Approved". The Denver Channel. November 3, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
1 2 "USDOT provides $1 billion for Denver RTD's Eagle P3 commuter-rail project". Progressive Railroading. September 1, 2011. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
↑ "Stories Along the Line: Gold Line carries a rich name". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
↑ Aguilar, John (January 2, 2018). "Full-day testing on G-Line raises hope that long-delayed service is now on track". Denver Post. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
↑ Worthington, Danika (March 28, 2018). "RTD wins state approval for G-Line start and eventual removal of costly A-Line flaggers". Denver Post. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
↑ Aguilar, John (December 17, 2018). "Denver's tall buildings partly to blame for A-Line, G-Line problems, RTD tells feds". Denver Post. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
↑ Wingerter, Meg (April 1, 2019). "RTD: Long-delayed G-Line from Denver to Wheat Ridge will open April 26". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
↑ "RTD - Northwest Rail Line - Project Map". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved February 11, 2015.

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[1] "G Line".

[g-line-2] "RTD - G Line". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 22, 2015.

[delay-3] Paul, Jesse (November 18, 2016). "RTD will not open G-Line or R-Line before end of year as planned". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 20, 2016.

[RTD_FRA_Extended-4] "FRA Approves Extended G Line Testing Period". RTD News. Regional Transportation District. Retrieved July 21, 2018.

[5] Baumann, Joella (June 29, 2017). "Passengers waiting for RTD G-Line to open may be waiting until 2018". Denver Post. Retrieved August 15, 2017.

[6] "RTD wanted the G Line to reach downtown Golden, but that didn't happen. Now a free shuttle is ending".

[rt-7] "Eagle P3 Commuter Rail Project, Denver, USA". Railway Technology. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.

[denver-8] 1 2 3 "Fastracks Gold Line To Wheat Ridge Approved". The Denver Channel. November 3, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2011.

[progressive-9] 1 2 "USDOT provides $1 billion for Denver RTD's Eagle P3 commuter-rail project". Progressive Railroading. September 1, 2011. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2011.

[10] "Stories Along the Line: Gold Line carries a rich name". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

[11] Aguilar, John (January 2, 2018). "Full-day testing on G-Line raises hope that long-delayed service is now on track". Denver Post. Retrieved May 22, 2018.

[12] Worthington, Danika (March 28, 2018). "RTD wins state approval for G-Line start and eventual removal of costly A-Line flaggers". Denver Post. Retrieved May 22, 2018.

[13] Aguilar, John (December 17, 2018). "Denver's tall buildings partly to blame for A-Line, G-Line problems, RTD tells feds". Denver Post. Retrieved December 18, 2018.

[14] Wingerter, Meg (April 1, 2019). "RTD: Long-delayed G-Line from Denver to Wheat Ridge will open April 26". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 1, 2019.

[15] "RTD - Northwest Rail Line - Project Map". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved February 11, 2015.

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v t e Public transit in Colorado
Statewide	Amtrak California Zephyr Southwest Chief Winter Park Express Burlington Trailways Bustang Express Arrow Flixbus Greyhound Lines
Denver	Denver AGTS Regional Transportation District Flatiron Flyer RTD bus and rail services A B D E G H L N R W
Front Range	City of Loveland Transit Greeley-Evans Transit Mountain Metropolitan Transit Pueblo Transit Transfort MAX
Outstate	Avon Transit Durango Transit Grand Valley Transit Roaring Fork Transportation Authority Summit Stage
Former	C Line F Line Front Range Express
Transportation in Colorado