Denver Light Rail Moving Forward

[Anonymous]

This is a real success story for Light Rail. Ridership is exceeding all projections. The Southeast Light Rail opens very soon. The 19-mile line serves 13 stations, and was constructed at a cost of $880 million. However, despite the pricey investment, as Denver Post reporter Jeffrey Leib has related (11 November), "The southeast line was completed under budget and earlier than originally planned...".

Various lines are already in service, including the Southwest line, and the Central line. Other lines are in different phases of development. The Northeast line will present their plan to the public very soon. According to their website, they will connect the Civic Station with the Northeast corridor Light Rail line via a in-road trolley or single Light Rail unit with 7 stops. The Northeast Light Rail line will extend to Denver International Airport. This proposal is the best for constructing within budget.

The Northwest Line is in the "Community Involved Process" phase, with public meetings and environmental analysis. The Northwest Rail Corridor is a proposed 38.1-mile commuter rail corridor from Denver Union Station to Longmont via Boulder, passing through Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder, Niwot and Longmont. 

Both the Northeast and Northwest lines could be diesel commuter rail lines, but the latest proposals appear to lean towards electric Light Rail.

There are a number of other planned routes, including a Northern leg to Thornton and Northglen, also in the "Community Involvement" phase.

This is all part of the FasTracks initiative that was "voted in" in 2005 by State voters. It passed with a 58% majority. FasTracks is RTD's voter-approved, $4.7 billion, 12-year program to build 119 miles of new commuter rail and light rail.

This project really demonstrates how a large community can come together and make things happen.