Denver Union Station & FasTracks

[Octavian]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Fare Gates like used on the Sydney City Rail or the Hong Kong system would work well for this system. A proof of payment system will fail and hard... A Real commuter Rail system has some sort of checking.... So all ic out of these lines so far is a Diesel and Electric Light Rail system that goes out into the suburbs.

In answer to the "which lines are being built question." Short answer, 3 lines are being built, West, Gold, and East. From RTD:



The Southeast & Southwest light rail corridors are done, completed as part of earlier projects. Short (approx 2 mile) extensions of each are unfunded.

The West Corridor light rail is under construction (>50% complete) and will be done 2013.

The East Corridor Commuter Rail line is fully funded and will begin construction probably this summer. The best way to think about this is really like a Commuter Rail line like NJ Transit or SEPTA. It will use the same vehicles SEPTA uses.

The Gold Corridor is fully funded and will also begin construction soon. It also uses the same SEPTA commuter rail vehicles.

The North Corridor is unfunded beyond 1 station at the National Western Stock Show Complex and will use the SEPTA commuter rail vehicles. The reason RTD is building this short segment is to improve the New Starts score for the rest of the corridor.

The NW Corridor is unfunded beyond the first station, and would be the only line to use diesel commuter rail vehicles.

The I-225 Light rail corridor is a branch off of the SE light rail corridor and is unfunded beyond 1 new station at Iliff Ave.

The US-36 BRT corridor is partially funded.

With respect to fares, the current system at light rail stations is you pay at a kiosk, and take a ticket. RTD has random ticket checks. They have done studies to ascertain what percentage of people are not paying and I think decided that the cost of building the stations to include turnstiles was not practical or worth the cost. Some of the existing stations (especially in Central Denver) are on the street. In the suburbs, the existing light rail tracks are grade separated and for many of those stations, adding turnstiles might be more feasible.

[Octavian]

Originally Posted by Octavian

In answer to the "which lines are being built question." Short answer, 3 lines are being built, West, Gold, and East.

The Denver Post published this handy map today:



Large:

[Brian.]

Originally Posted by DenverInfill

Stack 1 is for air intake for the entire underground bus facility.

Stack 2 is for regular ongoing exhaust from the underground bus facility operations. Before air goes out the stack, however, it will have gone through a series of scrubbers so that there will be no odor or visible evidence of fumes exiting the stack.

Stack 3 is for fire safety. Big exhaust fans will kick on in the event of a fire in the underground bus facility and exhaust the smoke out this stack so, hopefully, one will never see anything coming out this third stack.

They're actually more attractive that what you see in those images. They'll be wrapped in a concrete/stainless steel mesh with up-lighting to appear quite artistic.

They are actually being fabricated out of precast, which i know will make some of you cringe, but they are turing out to be very impressive. I will try to get some pictures and post them up soon.

[SnyderBock]

Rick's Union Station Update #57 is up, click here!

Construction of the Light Rail Terminal and the first half of the underground Bus Terminal, is entering final stages. It's on pace for a mid-July completion. At which point, Light Rail service will be transfered to the new Light Rail Terminal, the 16th Street Mall shuttle bus will be extended to the new Light Rail Terminal.

Then they will immediately begin construction of the second half of the underground Bus Terminal and the Commuter Rail Terminal. The Bus Terminal will be fully constructed in 2012. The station will be fully operational in 2014.

Here you can see in Rick's photo, they have begun water-proofing the roof and backfilling it with dirt. You can see the sky lights and the place where the elevators/escalators will be:

Photo courtesy: Rick at Denverinfill.com/blog

Here is a photo of the ramp down into the Bus Terminal (there will be another one of these on the other end, when they construct the second half). This ramp has a heating system embedded in the concrete, so that it will not ice up and become slick:

Photo courtesy: Rick at Denverinfill.com/blog

[SnyderBock]

Fluor Team on Denver’s Eagle P3 Transit Project Recognized by Project Finance Magazine for Deal of the Year

Denver Transit Partners Receives Award for Landmark Public-Private Partnership in North America

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that Denver Transit Partners (DTP), a Fluor-led team, was recognized by Project Finance Magazine as its 2010 recipient of the Transportation Deal of the Year Award. The award acknowledged the team’s work to reach financial close on Denver’s Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) Eagle P3 commuter rail project (Eagle P3 Project). DTP is designing, building, operating, maintaining and financing the Eagle P3 Project in the Denver metropolitan area. The team reached financial close on the project in August 2010.

Fluor and the DTP team were recently honored for their work on the Eagle P3 Project with the 2010 Deal of the Year Award in the North America Transport sector at a ceremony held in New York City last month.

"We are honored to have Fluor and our other partners recognized by our colleagues in the industry. This is a first-of-its-kind transit project to be financed employing the availability structure in conjunction with Private Activity Bonds," said Patrick Flaherty, head of Fluor's Infrastructure business. "Our entire team is proud to have worked in such a cooperative and collaborative manner with the RTD to bring this landmark project to financial close. We look forward to helping the greater Denver region realize its vision for rail transit service."

“The significance of a transit project being designed, built, financed, operated and maintained outside the public sector in the U.S. cannot be overstated,” said Edward Russell, Americas Editor for Project Finance Magazine. “Transit agencies from Washington D.C. to Charlotte and Los Angeles are already looking to RTD’s example for their own burgeoning transit systems.”...

Continue reading Here

Fluor

[SnyderBock]

View Left:
The Light Rail Terminal is coming along nicely and you can see the 16th Street mall free bus shuttle station next to the LRT platforms in lower left corner, is also taking shape.



View Middle:
Backfilling is well underway. You can see where Chestnut Street will cross over the Bus Terminal.
You can really see some of the TOD potential, with this angle.



View Right:
To the far right, demolition of the old platforms continues. Once LRT service is switched to the new LRT Terminal, they will demolish the existing LRT platforms seen on bottom right. Then they will begin construction of the second half of the underground Bus Terminal.
The Bus Terminal will continue right up to the Historic Denver Union Station (DUS) building. Then the Commuter Rail and AmTrak train shed will be built over this second half of the Bus terminal, in front of Historic DUS.

The photos, I captured from Kiewit's live construction cam found here:
http://www.earthcam.com/client/kiewit/?cam=pano

[SnyderBock]

Here is Rick's Union Station Update #59 on Denverinfill.com/blog. Just click link and view the latest progress on this exciting transportation hub in the making.

[llamaorama]

As far as the NW line is concerned, how will it operate as nothing more than a 1 stop branch redheaded stepchild with DMU's in an all electric system for the beginning of its existence, which, to be pessimistic, might be a long time?

[SnyderBock]

The branch of the NW corridor under contract for construction along with the east and Gold EMU corridors, will also be EMU up to that one station. So it will operate as a branch of the Gold line, kind of like how RTD currently operates the I-225 LRT line as a branch of the I-25 LRT line.

When the line is later extended up to Boulder and beyond, DMU's will share the track with the EMUs up to that first station, but only the DMUs will continue on beyond that (of course, as it wont be electrified). So that first station will essentially have higher frequency, as it will be served as end-of-line for the EMUs and also be served by the DMUs.

RTD had looked into electrifying more of the line, but as of now, BNSF will not allow it, as it is their ROW beyond that station.

[Beta_Magellan]

Ironic, given that BNSF is usually assumed to be the most electrification-curious railroad.

[ardecila]

Yeah, but if BNSF has a derailment, it's really expensive to rebuild catenary systems, while it's pretty cheap to reset some dumb passenger tracks.

Why should BNSF assume the risk with no benefit to them? (I do hope they warm up to it; the BNSF line in Chicago is an excellent candidate for electrification.)

[SnyderBock]

The fact is, it doesn't mater, as there is funds available for electrifying more of this route right now. By getting the line electrified up to the first station, it sets up for the potential of extending that electrification (perhaps one station at a time, as funds permit), in the future. If fuel prices continue to rise, BNSF may consider allowing this at some point in time, they just won't allow it right now.

[SnyderBock]

The DMU Commuter Rail line which will be built from downtown Denver Union Station to Boulder, is currently planned and budgeted to be a fairly plain at-grade station with surface parking and some TOD lots around it to be developed privately. However, now Boulder is saying it's too suburban-like. Which it is. Now Boulder has a PPP in place to bring these enhancements to reality. Here's the story:

New Boulder Junction plan calls for hotel, underground RTD station
Planning Board to consider concept plan Thursday
By Heath Urie Camera Staff Writer
Posted: 04/19/2011 06:16:43 PM MDT


This artist's rendering of the planned Boulder Junction development shows a 3.2-acre corner of the site along Pearl Parkway. The developer of the project wants to build a 101-room hotel, a five-story parking garage, an underground bus station and 80 apartment units. The Boulder Planning Board will consider the concept plan Thursday night.

Boulder's vision for a key component of the planned "Boulder Junction" development has changed significantly, adding a 101-room hotel, a five-story parking garage with room for nearly 400 cars and a possible commercial use for the city's historic train depot...

..."The fundamental criticism of the original concept plan was that it was too suburban," said Randall Rutsch, a Boulder transportation planner.

But neither the city nor the Regional Transportation District, which owns the 3.2-acre site, had the money to further develop the site. So the decision was made to send the project out for a "design-build" bidding process that allowed for a totally new approach to the property.

Pedersen won the contract with a design for a 101-room hotel at the corner of Pearl Parkway and Junction Place, a large parking structure and 80 permanently affordable apartment units that wrap around the property.

An underground bus station -- the third RTD station in Boulder -- would feature seven bus bays serving local and regional routes. The design also would include better access from a pedestrian plaza to the historic train depot. The depot, which was moved to the property in 2008, could be used for a commercial purpose such as a restaurant.

"It just makes it a much better project," Pedersen said of the new plan. "It's better for the city."...


Read more: New Boulder Junction plan calls for hotel, underground RTD station - Boulder Daily Camera http://www.dailycamera.com/news/ci_17884735#ixzz1KrUCugt2
DailyCamera.com

^That's only the actual transit station. Surrounding the station are plans for massive TOD. Here's a blog on that:

A Thousand New Condos in Boulder? Yes, It's Possible. [Video]
by Osman Parvez

Boulder Junction will be a hot spot for development in Boulder over the next decade. Have you heard of it?

Maybe you know of it as Transit Village. Its new name, blessed by Boulder planners and marketing wonks, is Boulder Junction.

Plans for this major development include a bus rapid transit station, commuter rail station, restaurants, hotel, and perhaps even a brew pub. The hope is that it will provide both workforce housing (to entice a few of the thousands of commuters who work here, but live elsewhere) and a transit hub to Denver and points beyond.

When fully developed, Boulder Junction has the potential to add a thousand or more new housing units to the Boulder market. Have I got your attention yet?

At our last Boulder Real Estate Meetup, we invited Scott Pederson to help up understand development plans for Boulder Junction. As the owner of Pederson Development Company, Scott is helping lead the charge at Boulder Junction. His company is not only building the new RTD bus rapid transit station, it's planning new condo buildings on the south side of Pearl Parkway, a development called Junction Place.

Scott's plans are refreshingly forward thinking, focused on creating sustainable housing that leverages the benefits of higher density with close proximity to public transportation. We found his talk deeply informative. It's clear that he is taking a leading role in development at this critical location.

Click here to watch video presentation

[SnyderBock]

RTD Denver has about $3.5 billion of FasTracks funded and either under-construction or scheduled to begin construction in the near future. Unfortunately, that leaves $2.5 billion of the FasTracks plan, unfunded at this point in time. The $2.5 billion isn't actually "unfunded," as the existing sales tax passed by voters will cover those elements of FasTracks, but these "under-funded" portions will have to be built little by little, over a long period of time, not fully being completed until the year 2042. A 2012 ballot measure will seek another sales tax increase, to greatly accelerate the construction schedule of those remaining, underfunded portions of FasTracks.

Here is an excellent new map released, which clearly shows which mass transit lines are already operational, which are under-construction or fully funded and nearing construction start and those segments which may not be fully completed until 2042, without more funding sources:

The Green lines are what is or soon will be under-construction^

Below is a description of what those green lines are and their construction schedule...

Originally Posted by DenverUrbanism.com

Except From Denverurbanism Blog
...But the (undeniably) good news! The RTD Board of Directors also approved the 2011 FasTracks Financial Plan recently. Embedded in the plan was $305 million in short-term funding for FasTracks projects not currently under construction or under contract. The $305 million comes from Denver Transit Partners’ bid to build the Eagle Project coming in far under RTD’s estimates. These seven projects kick-start work in corrdiors that have been relatively quiet until now. Some of these projects will kick off later this year and the others will follow suit soon thereafter. The projects include:

US 36 BRT – Extend managed lanes north and west to Interlocken by 2015 ($90 million)
North Metro – Complete commuter rail corridor from Denver Union Station to Stock Show Complex by 2016 ($90 million)
I-225 – Extend light rail corridor from Nine Mile Station north to Iliff Station by 2014 ($90 million)
Northwest Rail – Complete Longmont Station by 2014 ($17 million)
Central Corridor – Additional technical analysis ($500,000)
Southeast Corridor – Final design and federal environmental process ($9 million)
Southwest Corridor – Relocate Union Pacific RR track by 2015 ($8.5 million)


READ FULL BLOG POST AT: http://denverurbanism.com/2011/04/fa...cial-plan.html

[SnyderBock]

Here is a photo rundown of Rick's last few mini-updates at Denverinfill.com/blog. Please be sure to read the blog posts for all the great and well informed commentary!

Underground Bus Terminal/Pedestrian Concourse:






Skylight


Bus Access Ramp


Ventilation Tunnel





Site Excavation for 2nd Half Underground Bus Terminal & Main Train Shed:


Old USPS Mail Tunnel (closed and filled with sand many years ago)



Moving closer to a June Opening of Light Rail Terminal and 16th Street Mall Extension/Shuttle Station:






NOTE: All Photos are by Rick at Denverinfill.com/blog -- Please proceed to blog site, to read full commentary on these Denver Union Station updates!


Here is the latest available pano from: Kiewit Earthcam

[s.p.hansen]

Great update!

It is so cool to finally be able to see the structure from the inside.

[SnyderBock]

Here is a new presentation for the developments (retail/commercial/residential/public) associated with the Denver Union Station redevelopment project. These are only the lots owned by RTD, which were included in the deal for the winning private developer. There are additional privately owned parcels around the station, which will also be developed.

These parcels, are what made the PPP possible. The private entity redeveloping Union Station, was given these parcels to develop, to recoup (pay off) it's financing contributions for the actual transit station design and construction.

Take notice of the great new Commuter Bike Terminal! Covered facility, 200 bike lockers, great location!

http://www.denverunionstation.org/in...id=407&Itemid=

[SnyderBock]

As part of the Denver Union Station (DUS) redevelopment plan, the historic station terminal its self, will be revitalized, restored and integrated into the whole station plan, to reactivate it for transit use. I say "reactivate," but Amtrak has never left the terminal for ticketing and baggage handling, but we're talking minimal transit use, compared to it's heyday when some 300+ trains pulled in and out of Denver Union Station.

Today, there are only a mere few thousand transit passengers per day, who use the actual historical terminal station (at best). The left and right wings are mostly unused. The upper floors space in each wing, is unused and the basement is used for the local model train society, where they have a huge model train display they run, for tourists.

So, with the massive Denver FasTracks build-out and DUS redevelopment, the potential for 150,000+ daily transit passengers, will soon become a reality. In fact, by 2025, there could be in excess of 200,000 daily transit users, passing through DUS at some level. The full reactivation of the history terminal building is a reality.

While the new plan, won't maximize the historical buildings use, it will not ignore it either. There are two competing teams, currently vying for this contract:

-Union Station Neighborhood Company (USNC) -- Here is their plan
-Denver Union Station Redevelopment Team (DUSRT) -- Here is their plan

So I want to know, from the many transit geeks and professionals, we have here on skyscraperpage.com, which of the two above plans (which I linked), do you favor most? What are your thoughts on each plan? Post your comments!




On a side note, here is a short video tour of the West Corridor LRT line (now nearly 70% complete and due to open for service in 2013): View Video Here

[CharlesCO]

^^^

The first link didn't work, but you can just go to Denver Urbanism to see it.

I am by no means a transit professional, but I prefer the Union Station Neibhborhood Company (USNC) plan to the Denver Union Station Redevelopment Team (DUSRT) plan. The DUSRT plan converts the building into almost entirely an expansion of the Oxford Hotel, which I feel like that would cheapen both historic properties. I like the USNC plan because it stays true to the original purpose of the DUS and it would have much more usefulness as a café/lounge/retail/open market rather than a hotel lobby that would mostly serve its hotel guests and not transit goers.

[ardecila]

I actually like the idea of turning the building into a hotel... but the DUSRT plan accomplishes this goal poorly. The architectural design needs to clearly segregate the transit functions from the hotel ones. Accordingly, the hotel lobby should be in one of the wings, with the main hall reserved for transit usage and convenience retail.

The lobby design in the DUSRT plan is incredibly awkward... little clusters of easy chairs surrounding palm trees is great for a hotel lobby where small groups of people might chat over a glass of wine once in awhile, but it's terrible for commuters, who need large amounts of seating, some of which needs to include power outlets and work surfaces for people on laptops. Amtrak travelers with luggage would have an even tougher time moving their bags through the tight clumps of seating as they dash to catch a train.

In America, even the biggest train terminals often don't have enough seating, and when they do, it's often uncomfortable or inappropriate. Ogilvie in Chicago has a large food court that does provide more than enough seating, but the chairs are tiny and uncomfortable, and the tables don't have outlets. Union Station down the street handles more trains and passengers while offering less seating - the only seating for commuters is a full block away from the platforms and very poorly-placed for most people. South Station in Boston also didn't have enough seating... I had to wait 45 minutes for a train once at about 7:30pm, and I couldn't find any seats.

Providing commodious spaces for the travelers in Union Station is the most important thing. Restaurant patrons won't notice if the restaurant is a little cramped, but commuters and travelers will notice if they have to squeeze into a too-small waiting room, or cram a long line of people into a tiny ticket office. Union Station is protected (IIRC) so it's not going anywhere for at least a century. Why not get it right the first time around?