W Line (RTD)

Last updated

W Line
  W  
6th Avenue Freeway Bridge.jpg
W Line bridge over 6th Avenue near the Federal Center
Overview
Owner Regional Transportation District
Locale Denver Metropolitan Area
Termini
Stations15
Website Official website
Service
Type Light rail
System RTD Rail
Operator(s)Regional Transportation District
History
OpenedApril 26, 2013;10 years ago (2013-04-26)
Technical
Line length12.1 mi (19.47 km)
Number of tracks1–2
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification Overhead line,  750 V DC
Route diagram

Contents

BSicon CONTg.svg
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg   A    B    G    N  
BSicon lINT-Rq.svg
BSicon KINTe.svg
Union Station
BSicon lINT-Lq.svg
BSicon uKINTa.svg
  E  
BSicon uHST.svg
Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens
BSicon uHST.svg
Empower Field at Mile High
BSicon uHST.svg
Auraria West
BSicon uABZgl.svg
BSicon udCONTfq.svg
  E  
BSicon uSKRZ-G2u.svg
BSicon umKRZo.svg
BNSF/UP mainline
BSicon uSKRZ-G4u.svg
I-25.svgUS 87.svg I-25  / US 87
BSicon uhSTRae.svg
BSicon dWASSERq.svg
BSicon WABZq+r.svg
BSicon udHST.svg
BSicon dWASSER.svg
Decatur–Federal
BSicon udHST.svg
BSicon dWASSER.svg
Knox
BSicon udHST.svg
BSicon dWASSER.svg
Perry
BSicon udHST.svg
BSicon dWASSER.svg
Sheridan
BSicon udSTR.svg
BSicon dWASSER.svg
BSicon uHST.svg
Lamar
BSicon uHST.svg
Lakewood–Wadsworth
BSicon uHST.svg
Garrison
BSicon uHST.svg
Oak
BSicon uSKRZ-G4o.svg
US 6.svg US 6  / 6th Avenue
BSicon uBHF.svg
Federal Center
BSicon uKMW.svg
Arrow Blue Up 001.svgdouble track
Arrow Blue Down 001.svgsingle track
BSicon uHST.svg
Red Rocks College
BSicon uSKRZ-G4o.svg
US 6.svg US 6 (
6th Avenue/
Indiana Street Bridge
)
BSicon uSKRZ-G4u.svg
BSicon uSKRZ-G2o.svg
BSicon uKBHFe.svg
Jefferson County
Government Center–Golden

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]

History

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]

Route

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]

Stations

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]

StationMunicipalityOpenedMajor connections & notes
Union Station Denver April 5, 2002 Regional Transportation District logo.svg   A    B    E    G    N  
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg California Zephyr
Bus-logo.svg MallRide
BSicon BUS2.svg Flatiron Flyer
Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens Regional Transportation District logo.svg   E  
Empower Field at Mile High Regional Transportation District logo.svg   E  
Auraria West Regional Transportation District logo.svg   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

Related Research Articles

<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">C Line (RTD)</span> Former light rail line in the Denver metropolitan area

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.

<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">Lakewood Gulch</span> Lakewood Gulch

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."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auraria West station</span> Light rail station in Denver, Colorado

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.

<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">Jefferson County Government Center–Golden station</span> Light rail station in Golden, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Rocks College station</span> Light rail station in Lakewood, Colorado

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 12 mile (0.8 km) to the north of the Red Rocks Community College campus, after which the station is named.

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

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.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakewood–Wadsworth station</span> Light rail station 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamar station (RTD)</span> Light rail station in Lakewood, Colorado, United States

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.

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

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.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knox station</span> Light rail station 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decatur–Federal station</span> Light rail station in Denver, Colorado

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.

<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.

References

  1. "W Line Fact Sheet" (PDF). Regional Transportation District . January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  2. "See the history and diversity of the West Corridor, RTD's FasTracks first light rail line". Kevin Flynn's Inside Lane. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  3. 1 2 T.R. Witcher. "Denver Opens Long-Awaited Extension to Transit System". Civil Engineering Magazine. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  4. "Project History". Regional Transportation District . Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  5. "Project Background". Regional Transportation District . Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  6. "Transportation project more than a billion dollars over budget". 9 News. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  7. "RTD's West Rail Line sees glitches on first full test run". The Denver Post. January 3, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  8. "W Line Lessons Learned" (PDF). Regional Transportation District . December 31, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  9. "Auraria Campus Happenings". Auraria Higher Education Campus. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  10. "Auraria Station" (PDF). Regional Transportation District . Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  11. "West Line Operations Brochure" (PDF). Regional Transportation District . November 9, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
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