The Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates a mass transit network, serving portions of Denver, Colorado, United States, and its surrounding metropolitan area, with light rail and commuter rail services. As of December 2022[update], the 113-mile (182 km) urban rail transit system includes 77 stations on 10 lines: A, B, D, E, G, H, L, N, R, and W.[1] In first quarter of 2016, the six light rail lines served an average 79,600 passengers a day, making the RTD light rail the eighth-largest light rail system in the United States in terms of ridership.[2]
All of the stations are open-air structures featuring passenger canopies for protection from adverse weather conditions.[3] The RTD has established criteria for station design with the intention of incorporating each station effectively into its surrounding community.[4] All stations feature three elements according to the criteria: the platform, its transition plaza and the intermodal passenger transport available to and from the facility.[4] Platforms are generally designed to accommodate four-car trains and may be in either a side, island or side center style.[4][A 1] The transition plaza is the area where passenger services can be found between the platform and where intermodal access is available.[4] All stations are decorated with works of public art as part of the RTD's "Art-n-Transit" program.[5] They include independent works as well as pieces incorporated into the canopies, columns, pavers, windscreens, fencing and landscaping.[5]
Light rail service began on October 8, 1994, with the opening of the initial fourteen stations on the 5.3-mile (8.5 km) Central Corridor segment from 30th & Downing station to I-25 & Broadway station.[6][7] The first extension opened on July 14, 2000, and included the completion of an additional 8.7 miles (14.0 km) of rail and five stations through its present southern terminus at Littleton–Mineral station.[8][9] In 2002, a four station, 1.8-mile (2.9 km) spur through the Central Platte Valley opened between the 10th & Osage station and Union Station.[10][11] By November 2006, expansion to the southeast saw the completion of 19 miles (31 km) of rail and thirteen stations between I-25 & Broadway and both Nine Mile station in Aurora and Lincoln station in Lone Tree.[12][13] On April 26, 2013, the W Line was opened which added 12.1 miles (19.5 km) of rail and eleven stations between Auraria West station and the Jefferson County Government Center–Golden station in Golden.[14][15] The first commuter rail line, the A Line to Denver Airport station, opened on April 22, 2016.[16]
Rail services used a zone-based fare system until 2024, where passengers were charged based on the number of zones through which they traveled. Fare zones were noted A, B, and C, based on distance from Downtown Denver, with a separate airport zone for travel to and from Denver Airport station. Beginning January 1, 2024, all stations use a flat fare system, with the exception of Denver Airport station, which has a higher airport fare.[17][18]
Stations
edit* | Designated transfer stations |
† | Terminal stations |
*† | Transfer and terminal stations |
Station | Lines | Jurisdiction | Opened | Fare zone[19] | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd Avenue & Abilene | R R Line | Aurora | February 24, 2017 | Local | [20] |
10th & Osage * | D D Line E E Line H H Line |
Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
13th Avenue | R R Line | Aurora | February 24, 2017 | Local | [20] |
16th & California | D D Line H H Line L L Line |
Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
16th & Stout | D D Line H H Line L L Line |
Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
18th & California * | D D Line H H Line L L Line |
Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
18th & Stout * | D D Line H H Line L L Line |
Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
20th & Welton | L L Line | Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
25th & Welton | L L Line | Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
27th & Welton | L L Line | Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
30th & Downing † | L L Line | Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
38th & Blake | A A Line | Denver | April 22, 2016 | Local | [16] |
40th Ave & Airport Blvd–Gateway Park | A A Line | Aurora | April 22, 2016 | Local | [16] |
40th & Colorado | A A Line | Denver | April 22, 2016 | Local | [16] |
41st & Fox | B B Line G G Line |
Denver | April 26, 2019 | Local | [21] |
48th & Brighton/National Western Center | N N Line | Denver | September 21, 2020 | Local | [22][23] |
60th & Sheridan/Arvada Gold Strike | G G Line | Arvada | April 26, 2019 | Local | [21] |
61st & Peña | A A Line | Denver | April 22, 2016 | Local | [16] |
Alameda | D D Line E E Line H H Line |
Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
Arapahoe at Village Center | E E Line R R Line |
Greenwood Village | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Arvada Ridge | G G Line | Arvada | April 26, 2019 | Local | [21] |
Auraria West * | E E Line W W Line |
Denver | April 5, 2002 | Local | [10][11] |
Aurora Metro Center | R R Line | Aurora | February 24, 2017 | Local | [20] |
Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens | E E Line W W Line |
Denver | April 5, 2002 | Local | [10][11] |
Belleview | E E Line R R Line |
Denver | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Central Park | A A Line | Denver | April 22, 2016 | Local | [16] |
Clear Creek/Federal | G G Line | Berkley | April 26, 2019 | Local | [21] |
Colfax | R R Line | Aurora | February 24, 2017 | Local | [20] |
Colfax at Auraria | D D Line H H Line |
Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
Colorado | E E Line H H Line |
Denver | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Commerce City/72nd | N N Line | Commerce City | September 21, 2020 | Local | [22][23] |
County Line | E E Line R R Line |
Lone Tree | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Dayton | H H Line R R Line |
Aurora | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Decatur–Federal | W W Line | Denver | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
Denver Airport † | A A Line | Denver | April 22, 2016 | Airport | [16] |
Dry Creek | E E Line R R Line |
Centennial | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Eastlake/124th † | N N Line | Thornton | September 21, 2020 | Local | [22][23] |
Empower Field at Mile High | E E Line W W Line |
Denver | April 5, 2002 | Local | [10][11] |
Englewood | D D Line | Englewood | July 14, 2000 | Local | [8][9] |
Evans | D D Line | Denver | July 14, 2000 | Local | [8][9] |
Federal Center | W W Line | Lakewood | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
Fitzsimons | R R Line | Aurora | February 24, 2017 | Local | [20] |
Florida † | H H Line R R Line |
Aurora | February 24, 2017 | Local | [20] |
Garrison | W W Line | Lakewood | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
I-25 & Broadway * | D D Line E E Line H H Line |
Denver | October 8, 1994 | Local | [6][7] |
Iliff | H H Line R R Line |
Aurora | February 24, 2017 | Local | [20] |
Jefferson County Government Center–Golden † | W W Line | Golden | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
Knox | W W Line | Denver | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
Lakewood–Wadsworth | W W Line | Lakewood | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
Lamar | W W Line | Lakewood | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
Lincoln | E E Line R R Line |
Lone Tree | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Littleton–Downtown | D D Line | Littleton | July 14, 2000 | Local | [8][9] |
Littleton–Mineral † | D D Line | Littleton | July 14, 2000 | Local | [8][9] |
Lone Tree City Center | E E Line R R Line |
Lone Tree | May 17, 2019 | Local | [25] |
Louisiana–Pearl | E E Line H H Line |
Denver | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Nine Mile | H H Line R R Line |
Aurora | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Northglenn/112th | N N Line | Northglenn | September 21, 2020 | Local | [22][23] |
Oak | W W Line | Lakewood | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
Olde Town Arvada | G G Line | Arvada | April 26, 2019 | Local | [21] |
Orchard | E E Line R R Line |
Greenwood Village | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Original Thornton/88th | N N Line | Commerce City | September 21, 2020 | Local | [22][23] |
Oxford–City of Sheridan | D D Line | Sheridan | July 14, 2000 | Local | [8][9] |
Pecos Junction * | B B Line G G Line |
North Washington | April 26, 2019 | Local | [21] |
Peoria *† | A A Line R R Line |
Aurora | April 22, 2016 | Local | [16] |
Perry | W W Line | Denver | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
Red Rocks College | W W Line | Lakewood | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
RidgeGate Parkway † | E E Line R R Line |
Lone Tree | May 17, 2019 | Local | [25] |
Sheridan | W W Line | Denver | April 26, 2013 | Local | [24] |
Sky Ridge | E E Line R R Line |
Lone Tree | May 17, 2019 | Local | [25] |
Southmoor * | E E Line H H Line |
Denver | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Theatre District–Convention Center | D D Line H H Line |
Denver | December 6, 2004 | Local | [7][26] |
Thornton Crossroads/104th | N N Line | Thornton | September 21, 2020 | Local | [22][23] |
Union Station *† | A A Line B B Line E E Line G G Line N N Line W W Line |
Denver | April 5, 2002 | Local | [10][11] |
University of Denver | E E Line H H Line |
Denver | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Westminster † | B B Line | Westminster | July 25, 2016 | Local | [27] |
Wheat Ridge/Ward † | G G Line | Wheat Ridge | April 26, 2019 | Local | [21] |
Yale | E E Line H H Line |
Denver | November 17, 2006 | Local | [12][13] |
Future stations
editFasTracks is a twelve-year, $6.9 billion public transportation expansion developed by the Regional Transportation District and currently underway.[14][28] The plan called for six new lines: light rail, diesel commuter rail, and electric commuter rail lines with a combined length of 122 miles (196 km) to be opened between 2013 and 2017.[28] The first expansion undertaken was the West Corridor between Denver and Golden which opened April 26, 2013.[14][15] The second expansion and first commuter rail line to open was the University of Colorado A Line between Denver and Denver International Airport on April 22, 2016.[16] The G Line commenced service in April 2019. The North Metro Rail Line (N line) commenced service in September 2020.
Station | Lines | Jurisdiction |
---|---|---|
33rd & Downing | L L Line | Denver |
35th & Downing | L L Line | Denver |
York/144th | N N Line | Thornton |
North Thornton/Hwy 7 | N N Line | Thornton |
Bates[29] | D D Line | Englewood |
Boulder Junction | B B Line | Boulder |
C-470 & Lucent | D D Line | Littleton |
Church Ranch | B B Line | Westminster |
Downtown Longmont | B B Line | Longmont |
Flatiron | B B Line | Broomfield |
Gunbarrel | B B Line | Boulder |
Louisville | B B Line | Louisville |
Former stations
editAs of 2019[update], three RTD stations have been removed from the system: 29th & Welton, 14th & California, and 14th & Stout, all on the D Line in Downtown Denver.
Station | Line(s) | Jurisdiction | Opened | Closed |
---|---|---|---|---|
14th & California | D D Line | Denver | October 8, 1994[6] | October 2004[30] |
14th & Stout | D D Line | Denver | October 8, 1994[6] | October 2004 |
29th & Welton | D D Line | Denver | October 8, 1994[6] | January 6, 2013[31] |
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Rail System Map". Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report: First Quarter 2016" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association (APTA). May 19, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ National Research Council; Transportation Research Board (1995). Seventh National Conference on Light Rail Transit Vol. 2. National Academy Press. p. 83. ISBN 0-309-06152-0.
- ^ a b c d e "Station design criteria" (PDF). RTD Design Guidelines & Criteria, Light Rail Design Criteria. Regional Transportation District. November 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 14, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ a b "Art-n-Transit: A rider's guide to public art on RTD's transit system". Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Roberts, Jeffrey A. (October 9, 1994). "100,000 give light rail a heavy workout". The Denver Post. p. C1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "RTD: Central Corridor Light Rail Line" (PDF). Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Medina, Jennifer (July 3, 2000). "Train lovers hop on board new light rail". The Denver Post. p. B1.
- ^ a b c d e f "RTD: Southwest Corridor Light Rail Line" (PDF). Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Proctor, Cathy (March 22, 2002). "New light rail will provide a critical link". Denver Business Journal. Archived from the original on May 9, 2003. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "RTD: Central Platte Valley Light Rail Line" (PDF). Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Leib, Jeffrey (November 21, 2006). "A rail easy commute SE line's regular service debuts smoothly". The Denver Post. p. A1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "RTD: Southeast Corridor" (PDF). Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c Seward, Jennifer (December 1, 2009). "Heading West RTD's West Corridor FasTracks construction begins in earnest". Mountain States Construction. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ a b "RTD: West Corridor" (PDF). Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Whaley, Monte; Aguilar, John (April 22, 2016). "A-train to Denver airport opens to public, hundreds wait to ride". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ "Fares". Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ Cheshire, Catie (January 8, 2024). "RTD Fares Lower in 2024 for All Customers". Westword. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Fares — Rail Fare Zones". Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g 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. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g Aguilar, John (April 25, 2019). "G-Line opening day: A stop-by-stop guide to metro Denver's newest RTD rail line". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "RTD-Denver opens N commuter-rail line". Progressive Railroading. September 21, 2020. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "N Line". RTD. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "RTD - West Line Stations". Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c Rubino, Joe (May 15, 2019). "RTD's newest line in southeast Denver metro will power development for years to come". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
- ^ Hudson, Kris (December 7, 2004). "City unwraps expanded convention center". The Denver Post. p. B1.
- ^ Villanueva, Raquel; McGill, Nick (July 25, 2016). "RTD unveils B-Line in Westminster". TEGNA, NBC. 9News KUSA-TV. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- ^ a b "FasTracks FAQs". FasTracks Regional Transportation District of Denver. Archived from the original on October 19, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
- ^ "FasTracks Plan" (PDF). Denver Regional Council of Governments. April 22, 2004.
- ^ Old light rail map from September 2004 and another old light rail map from October 2004
- ^ "RTD Rider Alerts: Line D". Regional Transportation District. January 2013. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
External links
edit- Regional Transportation District Archived September 22, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
39°44′21″N 104°59′06″W / 39.7392°N 104.9850°W