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Littleton–Downtown station

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Littleton–Downtown station (sometimes styled as Littleton•Downtown) is a RTD light rail station in Littleton, Colorado, United States. Operation as a light rail station began on July 14, 2000, with both bus and light rail run by the Regional Transportation District.[4][5] The station initially saw service on the C Line and D Line, however C Line service ended in 2021. Today the station is only served by the D Line.

Littleton–Downtown
 D 
The Littleton–Downtown station in Littleton, Colorado
General information
Other namesLittleton•Downtown
Location5777 South Prince Street
Littleton, Colorado
Coordinates39°36′43″N 105°00′54″W / 39.611993°N 105.014901°W / 39.611993; -105.014901
Owned byRegional Transportation District
Line(s)Southwest Corridor[1]
Platforms1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus transport RTD Bus: 29, 36, 59, 66, South Jeffco Flexride
Construction
Structure typeOpen cut
Parking361 spaces[2]
Bicycle facilities28 racks, 12 lockers
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedJanuary 1, 1872 (1872-01-01) (Royal Gorge Route)
July 14, 2000 (2000-07-14) (RTD light rail)
Passengers
20192,867 (avg. weekday)[3]
Rank24 out of 69
Services
Preceding station RTD Following station
Oxford–City of Sheridan
toward 18th & California
 D Line Littleton–Mineral
Terminus
Former services
Preceding station Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Following station
Castle Rock Depot
toward Ogden
 Royal Gorge Route Denver
Terminus
Preceding station RTD Following station
Oxford–City of Sheridan
toward Union Station
 C Line Littleton–Mineral
Terminus
Location
Map

History

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Littleton-Downtown station building as viewed from the station platform. It was originally used as a Denver & Rio Grande Deopt, then as a coffee shop from 2000-2020 and 2022-2024.

Denver & Rio Grande Depot

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Littleton-Downtown station's depot opened on January 1, 1872 as a flag stop on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad's Royal Gorge Route. A wooden frame was constructed at the stop in 1873, with the stone building that still stands today being built in 1875.[6] Regular scheduled railroad service to the Littleton depot would begin in 1889. A separate baggage room was added in 1906, which was then connected to the main building in 1942. Between the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, and the adjacent Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, downtown Littleton saw 24 daily intercity passenger trains at its peak.[7] Passenger service to the depot, and thus the entire city of Littleton, ended in 1967.[8]

The depot was then moved twice: first in 1984, and then again in 1998 to accommodate RTD service.[9] The station depot is historically significant as one of a few remaining examples of small stone Victorian era train depots in Colorado.[10] Additionally, it unique among RTD rail stations as most do not predate RTD passenger rail service. It is also unique as one of only a few RTD stations with a dedicated station building with heating and air conditioning.

Coffee shop

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The station building began use as a coffee shop in 2000, coinciding with the beginning of RTD service to the station. The first coffee shop to occupy the building, Romancing the Bean, closed in 2020 due to the COIVD-19 pandemic.[11] In 2022, Nook Coffee began using the building with support from Littleton's City Council, but shut down in March 2024.[6][12]

2009 BNSF derailment

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On January 16, 2009, a southbound BNSF freight train consisting of three locomotives and 68 train cars derailed on the freight tracks adjacent to the station. Three of the train cars were punctured, releasing roughly 100 US gallons (380 L) of liquid sulfur onto the tracks. The sulfur did not pose a health risk to the surrounding area but did release a strong "rotten egg" odor in the area. Light rail service to the station was suspended and replaced with bus shuttle to Englewood station.[13][14][15]

Station layout

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Side platform
Southbound ←  D  toward Littleton-Mineral (terminus)
Island platform
Northbound →  D  toward 18th & California (Oxford-City of Sheridan) →

Littleton-Downtown station has two platforms, one side platform for southbound service and an island platform for service in both directions. The station platform is located in the open cut Colorado Joint Line, necessitating the use of stairs or a ramp to access it. The station's park-n-ride, depot, and bus loop are located at street level and are accessible via South Prince Street. Additionally, the station is accessible to pedestrians and bicycles through the Little's Creek Trail.[16][17]

Location

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Littleton-Downtown station is located on the western edge of Downtown Littleton, with the Sterne park neighborhood directly to the south and east.[18] The Littleton Main Street Historic District is kitty-corner to the station's northwest, which also includes the Town Hall Arts Center.[19] The Geneva Home is then a few blocks further north. Acorss the Colorado Joint Line right of way to the east of the station is the Colorado Center for the Blind. Several blocks to the east are the Knight-Wood House and Littleton Public Schools headquarters. The Arapahoe Community College campus is located directly to the southeast of the station, with college's Art and Design Center facing the station.[20]

Transit oriented development

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Three developments have been constructed in the area around Littleton-Downtown station in cooperation with RTD.[21] The closest to the station and largest of these is the Vita apartment complex, which was completed in 2017 containing 11,000 square feet of retail and 159 apartment units marketed as for ages 55 and up. The building is located next to the Colorado Center for the Blind.[22] Nearby on Littleton Boulevard is the first transit oriented development around Littleton-Downtown station, the Littleton Station apartments. It consists of 37 residential units and 10,000 square feet of office space, having been opened in 2008. The furthest development from the station itself, roughly half a mile away, is the Nevada Place condominiums, which consist of 31 strictly residential units. Completed in 2011, they are located to the northeast of the station.

Services

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Littleton-Downtown station is served by the D Line, which runs from Littleton to Downtown Denver via Sheridan, Englewood, Overland, Baker, Lincoln Park, and Auraria. It is the first station on the D Line northbound from Littleton-Mineral and the tenth station on the D Line south from 18th & Stout, situated between Oxford-City of Sheridan to the north and Littleton-Mineral to the south.[23] D Line trains serve Littleton-Downtown station from 4:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday, however service lasts until 1:00 a.m. on Sundays and holidays, and until 2:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. During most hours of the day, the D line serves Littleton-Downtown station every 15 minutes, however headways become longer early in the morning and late at night. The stations is approximately 32 minutes from the 18th street stations in Downtown Denver and three minutes from Littleton-Mineral station.[24]

The station is also served by four RTD bus routes. Route 29 serves Littleton-Downtown every 60 minutes, running north from the station along Federal Boulevard to the Federal and Evans bus hub.[25] Route 36 travels on a 60 minute headway between the same termini as Route 29, however it runs primarily via Lowell Boulevard instead of Federal.[26] Route 59 runs west from the station to West Coal Mine Avenue, however it terminates at Southwest Plaza on Sundays.[27] Finally, Route 66 stops at Littleton-Downtown station in route between Arapahoe Community College and Arapahoe at Village Center station on an hourly frequency.[28]

RTD's on demand transit service, branded as FlexRide, also serves Littleton-Downtown station. The station is included in the South Jeffco service area, with on demand shuttles bookable to other places within that service area from 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. FlexRide does not serve the station on Sundays.[29]

Public art

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Littleton-Downtown station features a mural titled Seasons of Littleton. The art piece was created by Michelle Lamb and installed in 2000. At 40 feet wide and seven feet tall, the mural had to be installed on eight metal panels which are attached to the western platform wall of the station. The painting was inspired by the Robert McQuarie book Settlement to Centennial as well as photos from the Littleton Historical Museum. The mural depicts 50 historical structures, most of which are located near the station.[30][31]

References

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  1. ^ "Southwest Corridor Light Rail Line". Regional Transportation District. March 2018. Archived from the original on February 27, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Alphabetical park-n-Ride List". Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  3. ^ "Rail Station Activity Analyzed" (PDF). Regional Transportation District (RTD). September 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Medina, Jennifer (July 3, 2000). "Train lovers hop on board new light rail". The Denver Post. p. B1.
  5. ^ "RTD: Southwest Corridor Light Rail Line" (PDF). Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Depot". www.littletonco.gov. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  7. ^ "History of Transportation". Littleton Museum. May 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  8. ^ "Remembering Littleton's first railroad connection to Denver". KUSA.com. October 28, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  9. ^ "Photo Gallery: Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Depot". littletonco.gov. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  10. ^ "Littleton Denver & Rio Grande Western Depot, 2199 West Littleton Boulevard, Littleton, Arapahoe County, CO". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Medina, Jennifer (July 21, 2000). "Colorado News and Denver News: The Denver Post". extras.denverpost.com. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  12. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  13. ^ "Train crashes in Littleton". Colorado Community Media. January 19, 2009. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Mitchell, Kirk (January 17, 2009). "Derailment spews fumes, disrupts light rail". Denver Post. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "Train hauling sulfur derails in Littleton". Greeley Tribune. January 17, 2009. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "Getting Around Downtown Littleton", Littleton Downtown Development Authority, September 27, 2023, retrieved May 9, 2024
  17. ^ "What Makes a Successful Transit-Oriented Development". Kephart. November 7, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "City of Littleton Neighborhoods". littletongov.co. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Historic Districts Map". littletongov.co. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "Littleton Campus". Arapahoe Community College. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "RTD TOD Team Property Database". Regional Transportation District. February 2, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  22. ^ Stern, Kris Oppermann (May 27, 2018). "Zocalo completes Vita in downtown Littleton". Colorado Real Estate Journal. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  23. ^ "Rail Map" (PDF). Regional Transportation District. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  24. ^ "D Line Schedule". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  25. ^ "Route 29 Schedule". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  26. ^ "Route 36 Schedule". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  27. ^ "Route 59 Schedule". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  28. ^ "Route 66 Schedule". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  29. ^ "South Jeffco FlexRide Service Area". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  30. ^ "Untitled in Littleton, CO". Public Art Archive. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  31. ^ "Art-n-Transit". RTD. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
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