Peoria station, also known as Peoria/Smith station, is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) station in Aurora, Colorado. The station is served by the A Line, a commuter rail line from Union Station in Downtown Denver to Denver International Airport, and the R Line, a light rail line crossing through Aurora and South to Lone Tree. A Line travel times from the station to Downtown Denver and Denver International Airport are about 17 and 20 minutes, respectively. Peoria station is the northern terminus of the R Line with a travel time of 58 minutes to the southern terminus at Lincoln station.

Peoria
 A   R 
Peoria station A Line platforms
General information
Other namesPeoria/Smith
Location11501 East 33rd Avenue
Aurora, Colorado
Coordinates39°46′03.2″N 104°51′01.5″W / 39.767556°N 104.850417°W / 39.767556; -104.850417
Owned byRegional Transportation District
Line(s)East Line (A Line)
I-225 Corridor (R Line)[1]
Platforms4 side platforms
Tracks4
Connections
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Parking550 spaces
Bicycle facilities10 lockers, 10 racks
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedApril 22, 2016 (2016-04-22) (A Line)
February 24, 2017 (R Line)
Passengers
20197,233 (avg. weekday)[2]
Rank6 out of 69
Services
Preceding station RTD Following station
Central Park A Line 40th Ave & Airport Blvd–Gateway Park
Terminus R Line Fitzsimons
toward Lincoln
Location
Map
Peoria station R Line platforms

Peoria and Union Station are the two locations where RTD commuter rail and light rail meet, and Peoria is the only station facilitating a cross-platform transfer between the two systems.

Peoria station is also served by several TheRide bus routes and has a 550-space park-and-ride lot.[3]

The A Line began service at Peoria station on April 22, 2016.[4] The R Line began service on February 24, 2017.[5]

Station layout

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Side platform
Westbound ←  A  toward Union Station (Central Park)
Eastbound  A  toward Denver Airport (40th Ave & Airport Blvd–Gateway Park)
Island platform
Northbound ←  R  termination track
Southbound  R  toward Lincoln (Fitzsimons)
Side platform

Peoria station includes four tracks accessible through three platforms. The platform closest to the entrance is a side platform which allows for boarding southbound R Line trains. There is then an island platform which allows boarding on eastbound A Line trains and alighting from both A Line and northbound R Line trains. The third and final platform is for boarding and alighting from A Line trains bound for Union Station. The island platform and westbound A Line platform require crossing railroad tracks at-grade to access. Additionally, the island platform includes stairs and a ramp between the A Line and R Line sides, as the R Line uses low floor vehicles while the A Line uses high floor vehicles. The station can be accessed via North Newark Street and East 35th Place. There are direct connections into the station's park-n-ride and bus loop.

Public Art

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Peoria station features Biota, an illuminated sculpture created by Blessing Hancock. The art piece was installed in 2016 as a part of RTD's Art-n-Transit program and is located in the center of the station's bus bay. Biota contains LEDs which change color, representing the growth of a living organism.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ "East & I-225 Rail Corridors Preliminary Service Plan" (PDF). Regional Transportation District. June 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-02-27. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  2. ^ "Rail Station Activity Analyzed" (PDF). Regional Transportation District (RTD). September 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "University of Colorado A Line Stations & Parking". RTD. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  4. ^ Whaley, Monte; Aguilar, John (April 22, 2016). "A-train to Denver airport opens to public, hundreds wait to ride". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  5. ^ 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. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  6. ^ "Biota in Aurora, CO". Public Art Archive. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  7. ^ "Art-n-Transit". RTD. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2024.