Denver Union Station & FasTracks

[DenverTrans]

deleted

[Midnight Cowboy]

Speaking of dreaming, does anybody think that Denver will ever have a subway system? I was thinking when Fastracks is complete, Denver should shift its attention to Colfax Ave. A subway stretching from the West Auraria Station to the Colfax and I225 station makes sense. It would not only help revitalize the Colfax Corridor, it would connect the Auraria Campus with CU Medical, and it would speed up the East-West commute. Your thoughts?

[DenverTrans]

The 1986 downtown plan proposed a subway under 15th Street. It also showed the current alignment on the surface crossing over it.

This subway concept was also in the original RTD light rail plans.

RTD also looked at building light rail on Colfax, possibly on an elevated viaduct.

Thus, there is an alternate universe Denver with light rail coming from Northglenn, passing under downtown in a subway under 15th Street, and then emerging to run out Colfax to Fitz as an elevated train.

At this point, there is virtually no chance of a subway under downtown Denver due to massive price increases in subway construction. Yet, such a subway would greatly improve light rail service by providing a fast distribution throughout the CBD instead of relying only on the very slow Mall Ride.

[Midnight Cowboy]

^Thanks D-trans

As you said before, the difference between dreaming and planning is cost.

I was thinking that a subway down Colfax would be a long term goal for Denver. As someone who recently moved back to CO from NYC, I look at Colfax and see and enormous potential.

[SnyderBock]

And delaying Union Station for a HSR plan with no funding and in nothing more than a "visionary" state as of now, will result in the cost of Union Station going up, which will result in nothing getting built. the HSR proposal is going to have to find it's own solutions to servicing Union Station, using it's own time and it's own budget.


Thanks for the great photo shot of the first construction at Union Station! Now we start to watch this evolve!

[SnyderBock]

Originally Posted by Octavian

The first of the construction photos.

Courtesy of DenverInFill:

This is such an awesome location to watch Union Station, as it's developed!

[SnyderBock]

Denver's West Corridor Light Rail construction is ramping up with bridge and tunnel construction nearing completion along the corridor. Here's the latest from Kevin Flynn's Inside Lane regarding one of the more landmark type bridges along this rail line.

The basket tied-handle arch bridge carrying the West Corridor light rail will cross over the Sixth Avenue Freeway right above the path of a former freight rail spur that until 1988 crossed the freeway at grade with a signalized crossing. Courtesy RTD.

By Kevin Flynn
Inside-Lane.com

“Roll Out the Barrel” is a polka standard, but Roll Out the Light Rail Bridge is anything but standard in construction.

Late next month, the weekend of April 23-26, metro residents will get to see a first-of-its-kind construction method in the United States.

The signature steel-arch bridge for RTD’s West Corridor light rail over the Sixth Avenue Freeway will be rolled into place, literally, over the highway from its temporary perch on a platform at the Denver Federal Center
{Click here to view the Denver Federal Centers masterplan & Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to transform it into the nation's most eco-friendly office campus by 2020}. This innovative construction method promises to save time and money for the traveling public and taxpayers.

The bridge is called a basket tied-handle arch; it resembles the curved handle of a wicker basket with the two sides angling in toward each other and meeting or “tied” at the top of the arch.


This temporary platform on the Denver Federal Center serves as a stage to build the arch; it will be launched over Sixth Avenue in April to connect with the pier at right rear, on the north side. Courtesy RTD.

The rollout will be on rolling jacks, with the 280-foot bridge sliding across and into place from end to end – there will be no center pier in the freeway median to hold up the span, as the cable strings from the arch provide support for the clear-span bridge...
Read More Here At Kevin Flynn's Inside Lane


RTD photo shows Kraemer's construction reaching the apex of the arch.

[Cirrus]

Is it rusted already or just painted a terribly ugly color?

[ardecila]

I'm guessing it's Cor-Ten.

[EngiNerd]

Yup, looks like weathering steel.

[CastleScott]

Home » Featured
RTD’s $143.8-million deal with BNSF Railway locks down FasTracks property
Mar. 22, 2010 | 4:00 am No commentsShareThis

Simulation shows a Gold Line heavy-rail electrified commuter train passing over 38th Avenue in Denver. Courtesy RTD.
By Kevin Flynn
Inside-Lane.com

RTD has reached a total $143.8 million agreement with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway that will move progress forward on two FasTracks corridors to Arvada/Wheat Ridge and Westminster.

The comprehensive agreement includes $102.7 million for the outright purchase of railroad right-of-way for the Gold Line and several miles of the Northwest Rail FasTracks corridors; a lump sum of $36.9 million in relocation funding for BNSF to move and replace its facilities that are in the way of RTD’s projects; up to $4 million in direct reimbursements of BNSF’s other costs for additional construction or relocation that may occur incidental to the projects, and $200,000 for title insurance, closing costs and escrow fees.

Just as importantly, the negotiations included a Joint Corridor Use Agreement that will govern how RTD and BNSF will conduct their respective activities along the shared corridors, where BNSF will continue to serve its freight customers.

The purchase and agreement will come to the elected RTD board on Tuesday for its review and a vote. RTD has been negotiating these issues with BNSF for several years.


RTD simulation shows the Gold Line heavy-rail commuter train stopped at the Olde Town Arvada Station. Courtesy RTD.
The property to be acquired by RTD includes BNSF-owned right-of-way out of Denver Union Station and up through Utah Junction east of Pecos Street around 56th Avenue, where various BNSF and Union Pacific railroad branches diverge; the BNSF Golden Subdivision, which leaves Utah Junction to the west – sometimes called “The Beer Line” because of the freight service in and out of the Coors Brewery; and land along the BNSF Boulder Subdivision from Utah Junction to around 72nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard in Westminster.

RTD would also purchase BNSF property beyond the currently planned end-of-line station at Ward Road in Wheat Ridge that would allow RTD to extend the commuter line into Golden in the future.

That last segment to Westminster is property on which RTD plans to get a starter segment of the Northwest Rail Corridor built under a larger privatization plan, called Eagle P3, for the Gold Line and the East Corridor commuter rail to Denver International Airport.

The name Eagle P3 is derived from its elements – East Corridor Gold Line Public Private Partnership. It is a key project delivery mechanism through which RTD plans to lower its upfront need for construction capital. The private sector partner brings its own equity to the table and the transit agency spreads out its own costs over a 40-year opearting contract for payments to the concessionaire. RTD would maintain control over all aspects affecting the public including fares, schedule, maintenance and the like – similar to how it controls those aspects of bus service currently provided by private companies

RTD will soon receive proposals from two private consortiums competing for an agreement of 40 years to privately finance, design, build, operate and maintain the Arvada/Wheat Ridge and DIA lines. The package would include construction and operation of a commuter rail maintenance facility on Fox Street north of 48th Avenue and the south Westminster segment of Northwest Rail.

The short segment of Northwest Rail would be electrified, like the Gold Line and East Corridor, although the eventual length of Northwest Rail – FasTracks’ longest at 41 miles to Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder and Longmont – would be served by self-propelled diesel-powered passenger cars.


A Gold Line commuter train heads west along Ridge Road toward Ward Road in Wheat Ridge in this simulation. Courtesy RTD.

[BrennanW]

Those renderings look like a thrid grader made them, but finally some actual commuter rail construction can begin when the ROW deal fans out. I'm impressed RTD is actually getting things done- The West Corridor is going to take FOREVER to complete.

Anyway, the EMU's will work well. I hope they are nicer than the ones that the South Shore line runs. Maybe they should place an order for some double-deck units for peak times. Does anyone know what the ridership predictions are?

[SnyderBock]

Yeah, ridership projections are all in the final Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) accessible under each corridor via the left side navigation bar at www.rtd-fastracks.com

I also have the projected riderships and projected construction details for each corridor posted on the first page of this very post! Just Go To Page One!

P.S.
CastleScott ,
I know you're highly interested in this and fairly new posting on this forum. Please make sure you only post a summary of the article and then provide the link for readers to click to read it in it's entirety. This way you will conform to forum rules and actual laws regarding this issue.

[electricron]

Has RTD decided upon what type of EMUs to buy yet?

Specifically meaning FRA compliant, or alternate FRA compliiant?

I ask because EMU rolling stock varies significantly.
Examples of FRA compliant EMUs:
New York's MTA LIRR and Metro North M7s

CDOT's (Metro North) M8s

Philadelphia's SEPTA latest Silverliner Vs.


Some non-FRA EMUs (possible alternate FRA compliant in the near future)
Stadler GTW

Stadler Flirt

Stadler DOSTO

Bombardier Talent 2

Siemens Desiro Classic


I believe the lighter non FRA comliant trains look much better.....

Of course, being FRA compliant is a requirement in a rail corridor owned by freight railroad companies. But it appears RTD is buying significant portions of the BNSF corridors, which should make it easier to run "alternate" FRA compliant EMUs. Many of the European EMUs have low floors, requiring platform just 24 inches above top of rail, vs 51 inches for FRA compliant trains.....
Also, there is a FRA report soon to be released (by late March or April) on how to make many of the European non compliant trains meet future "alternate" FRA regulations. Which should make it possible to run "alternate" compliant trains with FRA compliant trains (specifically freight trains) ....

So, it may be a good idea for RTD to wait and see that report before ordering any EMUs. Also, many of the European EMUs have DMUs versions too, which will make the different powered trains look more alike.....

[A-G]

Originally Posted by electricron

Of course, being FRA compliant is a requirement in a rail corridor owned by freight railroad companies. But it appears RTD is buying significant portions of the BNSF corridors, which should make it easier to run "alternate" FRA compliant EMUs. Many of the European EMUs have low floors, requiring platform just 24 inches above top of rail, vs 51 inches for FRA compliant trains.....
Also, there is a FRA report soon to be released (by late March or April) on how to make many of the European non compliant trains meet future "alternate" FRA regulations. Which should make it possible to run "alternate" compliant trains with FRA compliant trains (specifically freight trains) ....

Do you have a link to more information on this point?

[SnyderBock]

electricron,

RTD did not purchase Union Pacific ROW for Union Station to DIA. RTD instead acquired it's own ROW. None of the EMU trains on the East, Gold or NW corridor will share track with freight rail now. Only the NW corridor north of Westminster/72nd Street will be DMU operated on shared track now (with time division).

RTD will not choose the train type to be used. This will actually be chosen by the winning bidder for the Eagle P3 (PPP).The group including Bombardier has dropped out, saying they needed more time to prepare a bid. This probably leaves the leading candidate to win the bid as the Siemens based group. I say this, because the Siemens group has powerful Kiewit construction (which was behind construction Denver's existing LRT system) and a powerful financial ally in HSBC backing their bid for the design-build-operate-maintain contract and 40-year lease.

the other team bidding is not to be discounted either, I am just speculating. If the Siemens group wins the bid, they will be able to choose the type of EMU used on this corridor. I would guess a Siemens made EMU would be their choice. Perhaps the Siemens Desiro Classic would be their choice. New FRA requirements may come into play. It is probably far too early to know which train type will be used. Theoretically, RTD has left the door open for the winning bidder to even use HSR or mag-lev, so long as the PPP floats the bill (which ain't gonna happen). The winning bidder and design will have much to do with determining the train type to be used. The bid proposals will be presented to RTD in April and the winning bidder will be announced by summers end.

[BrennanW]

Chances are that the EMUs will end up like Austin's DMU's if RTD wants to be semi-compliant with FRA regulations:



Otherwise, all the renderings I've seen show a lighter version of the SEPTA silverliner trainsets, although I'm sure that whatever bids come in will decide which vehicle they actually use. I know that the board was partial to the Colorado Railcar DMUs and Double-decker DMUs before they went out of business.

[CastleScott]

Heres a rendering from RTD off Kevin Flynns inside-lane.com website:

http://www.inside-lane.com/wp-conten...Simulation.jpg

This could be a Seimens or Bombardier built train..

[Busy Bee]

Thats just a Rotem Philadelphia Comet V EMU used for illustrative purposes. BTW, probably one the ugliest trains running in the developed world right now.

[mwadswor]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Thats just a Rotem Philadelphia Comet V EMU used for illustrative purposes. BTW, certainly one the ugliest trains running in the developed world right now.

Fixed it