W Line | |||
---|---|---|---|
W | |||
Overview | |||
Owner | Regional Transportation District | ||
Locale | Denver Metropolitan Area | ||
Termini | |||
Stations | 15 | ||
Website | Official website | ||
Service | |||
Type | Light rail | ||
System | RTD Rail | ||
Operator(s) | Regional Transportation District | ||
History | |||
Opened | April 26, 2013 | ||
Technical | |||
Line length | 12.1 mi (19.47 km) | ||
Number of tracks | 1–2 | ||
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
Electrification | Overhead line, 750 V DC | ||
|
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. [1]
The Denver, Lakewood and Golden Railroad started operations in the area in 1893, switching to electric traction by 1909 as the Denver and Intermountain Railroad. The route ran from the downtown Denver interurban loop, along Lakewood Gulch and 13th Avenue, continuing out to Golden. Interurban service continued until 1950, when all Denver area trolley and interurban service ceased. [2]
Plans to resurrect a railway line from Denver to Golden were advanced in the mid-1970s and in the 1980s RTD purchased the right-of-way to an unused rail corridor between the two cities. [3] A study conducted in 1997 stated the need for a rapid transit corridor through the region, and settled on 13th Avenue as the locally preferred alternative. An environmental impact statement was started in 2001 and finished with a record of decision in 2004. [4] A "rail-pulling" ceremony was held on the 13th Avenue corridor on May 16, 2007, and construction started in earnest in early 2008. [5]
As project costs climbed above the initial estimates, cuts were made, including reducing the line from a double track to a single-track operation from west of the Federal Center Station to the end of the line at the Jefferson County Government Center. [6]
The first full test run of the line happened on January 3, 2013, in anticipation of the official opening, April 26, 2013, eight months ahead of schedule. [7]
The W Line follows the Central Platte Valley Corridor (CPV) from Union Station, stopping at Ball Arena-Elitch Gardens, Empower Field at Mile High station and a relocated Auraria West Campus station. It then leaves the CPV corridor, traveling under U.S. Route 40/U.S. Route 287, crosses over the UP/BNSF consolidated mainline on a new bridge, travels under Interstate 25, and then over the South Platte River. The corridor then travels west along the Lakewood Gulch until Lamar station, where it begins to follow 13th Avenue until it reaches the Lakewood Industrial Park at Oak station. From there, the line turns south along the Remington spur to reach the Denver Federal Center. From the Federal Center, the line narrows to a single-track line and travels west along U.S. Route 6 to the western terminus at Jefferson County Government Center in Golden. The single-track section limits headways to no better than every 15 minutes over that section of the line. [8]
The W Line is the first light rail route in metro Denver to make extensive use of gated grade crossings within its right-of-way (there were only four such grade crossings on the previously existing network). Some of the route goes through residential areas and concerns about noise led to an innovative solution for the warning system at crossing gates. The warning bells will adjust their volume in response to the ambient noise resulting in 50-70 dB during the evening hours compared to the standard volume of 90-100 dB. [3]
Four stations along the route were in use previously, including the Auraria West station which was relocated approximately 300 feet (91 m) to the north, and eleven new stations were built for the line. [9] [10] Three different fare zones exist along the W Line. [11]
Station | Municipality | Opened | Major connections & notes |
---|---|---|---|
Union Station | Denver | April 5, 2002 | A B E G N California Zephyr MallRide Flatiron Flyer |
Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens | E | ||
Empower Field at Mile High | E | ||
Auraria West | E | ||
Decatur–Federal | April 26, 2013 | Park and ride: 1,900 spaces | |
Knox | |||
Perry | |||
Sheridan | Park and ride: 800 spaces | ||
Denver/Lakewood | |||
Lamar | Lakewood | ||
Lakewood–Wadsworth | Park and ride: 1,000 spaces | ||
Garrison | |||
Oak | Park and ride: 200 spaces | ||
Federal Center | Park and ride: 1,000 spaces | ||
Red Rocks College | |||
Jefferson County Government Center–Golden | Golden | Park and ride: 705 spaces |
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 C 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 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.
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”.
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.
Lakewood Gulch drains a section of Lakewood and west Denver, Colorado into the South Platte River. It is the historic location of the old Interurban Shortline Railway and, in 2008, is a greenbelt that includes Rude Park, Sanchez Park and Lakewood Gulch Park. The gulch passes through Lakewood from west to east before entering the Denver neighborhoods of Sun Valley and Villa Park. It contains a part of the route of the (current) heritage streetcar Platte Valley Trolley and the Denver sections of the creek have an adjacent bike path. According to the Jefferson County Colorado Place Names Directory, "Lakewood Gulch originates on the north east foot of Green Mountain in Lakewood, flows east through Sixth Avenue West Park and Red Rocks Community College and continues east through Lakewood into Denver, where it joins the South Platte River southwest of the intersection of I-25 and Colfax Avenue."
Auraria West station is an RTD light rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the E and W Lines, the station opened on April 5, 2002, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District. It primarily serves the adjacent Auraria academic campus, home to Metropolitan State University of Denver, the Community College of Denver, and the University of Colorado Denver.
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.
Jefferson County Government Center–Golden station is an at-grade light rail station on the W Line of the RTD Rail system. It is located near the intersection of 6th Avenue and Johnson Road, on grounds of the Jefferson County Government Center in Golden, Colorado, after which the station is named.
Red Rocks College is an at-grade light rail station on the W Line of the RTD Rail system. It is located alongside 6th Avenue at its intersection with Arbutus Drive in Lakewood, Colorado. The station is located approximately 1⁄2 mile (0.8 km) to the north of the Red Rocks Community College campus, after which the station is named.
Oak is an at-grade light rail station on the W Line of the RTD Rail system. It is located near the intersection of West Colfax Avenue and Oak Street, after which the station is named, in Lakewood, Colorado. The station is located within the Lakewood Industrial Park.
Garrison is an at-grade light rail station on the W Line of the RTD Rail system. It is located near the intersection of West 13th Avenue and Garrison Street, after which the station is named, in Lakewood, Colorado.
Lakewood–Wadsworth is an elevated light rail station on the W Line of the RTD Rail system. It is located alongside West 13th Avenue on a bridge over Wadsworth Boulevard, in Lakewood, Colorado, after which the station is named.
Lamar is an at-grade light rail station on the W Line of the RTD Rail system. It is located near the intersection of West 13th Avenue and Lamar Street, after which the station is named, in Lakewood, Colorado. The station is located within Lakewood's 40 West Arts District, not far from the businesses on West Colfax Avenue and about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from the campus of the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.
Sheridan is a below grade light rail station on the W Line of the RTD Rail system. It is located alongside the banks of the Lakewood Gulch under Sheridan Boulevard, after which the station is named. The station straddles the border between Denver and Lakewood, Colorado, but RTD lists the station as being in the city of Denver. A marking etched into the platform indicates the border location.
Perry is an at-grade light rail station on the W Line of the RTD Rail system. It is located alongside the banks of the Lakewood Gulch at its intersection with Perry Street, after which the station is named, in Denver, Colorado.
Knox is an at-grade light rail station on the W Line of the RTD Rail system. It is located alongside the banks of the Lakewood Gulch at its intersection with Knox Court, after which the station is named.
Decatur–Federal is an at-grade light rail station on the W Line of the RTD Rail system. It is located alongside the banks of the Lakewood Gulch between its intersections with Decatur Street and Federal Boulevard, after which the station is named, in Denver, Colorado. The station is located in the Sun Valley neighborhood, near the point where Lakewood Gulch meets the South Platte River. It is one of two light rail stops that serve Empower Field at Mile High, the home stadium of the Denver Broncos. The stop is adjacent to Rude Park.
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.