Light rail alternatives on track for Gold Line
RTD favoring larger commuter cars or streetcars
Kevin Flynn, Rocky Mountain News
Published January 31, 2007 at midnight
Light rail, no; big electric commuter cars or small streetcars, yes.
FasTracks planners are recommending the elimination of two possible light rail alternatives for the Gold Line that will serve Arvada and Wheat Ridge. That would leave two on the table, unless there's a public outcry for light rail.
One alternative is for electrified commuter rail cars along existing tracks from Denver Union Station through Olde Town to Ward Road. The other is a streetcar system running in traffic through northwest Denver, Arvada and Wheat Ridge.
"It's really because of cost, ridership and community impact that the (electric commuter rail) on the Burlington Northern and Union Pacific tracks and the streetcar on 38th Avenue and Harlan Street are being recommended," said Liz Telford, RTD's Gold Line project manager.
The proposals will be available for public viewing next week at two open houses. Public reaction will help determine which alternative will be chosen.
Planners originally called for light rail on the Gold Line, using the railroads' right of way. But the railroads later decided that only federally certified crash- worthy passenger cars could operate on their property.
Light rail didn't meet the requirement, so RTD considered shifting light rail routes to city streets. Two routes were mapped, one using Sheridan Boulevard and one using Harlan Street. They would have required the taking of 45 to 80 properties, a controversial option.
The streetcar plan is less expensive by far. The Gold Line's budget is $462 million, and the basic streetcar system is estimated at $291 million.
But using streetcars would double the travel time from Ward Road to downtown - 50 minutes compared with 25 minutes for commuter rail. Ridership on streetcars is projected at up to 13,000, compared with up to 17,000 on commuter rail.
Planners say a streetcar system would be more convenient because it would run through neighborhoods. There are 34,573 people living within a half mile of the proposed streetcar layout. Fewer than 10 properties would have to be purchased.
The electrified commuter rail cars are rated crash-worthy and could run along the freight tracks, as envisioned in the original FasTracks plan.
But just 18,535 people live within a half mile of the commuter rail route, mostly because a significant portion of the alignment goes through rail yards and industrial areas. About 18 properties would have to be purchased.
RTD intends to select one alternative this spring. It then goes to the Federal Transit Administration, which is funding a good part of FasTracks.
FasTracks Gold Line public workshops
• Denver
6 p.m. Monday
Highlands Masonic Center
3550 Federal Blvd.
• Arvada
6 p.m. Feb. 7
Arvada Center
6901 Wadsworth Blvd.
flynnk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5247
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