TheRide
Encyclopedia
RTD Bus & Light Rail is a transit system in the Denver, Colorado
metropolitan area
. It is operated by the Regional Transportation District (RTD)
. It currently operates 101 local, 13 limited, 24 express, 16 regional, and 6 skyRide bus routes. It also includes 5 light rail lines with 36 stations and 39.4 miles (63.4 km) of track.
line, a 5.3 miles (8.5 km) section of what is now the D Line
, opened on Friday, October 7, 1994, with free service for that half day and all weekend, and revenue service starting on October 10. It was estimated that more than 200,000 passengers rode the new system during its 2-1/2-day opening weekend, when the fleet comprised only 11 Siemens SD-100
rail cars. Since that time, several additional light rail lines have been opened. An 8.7 miles (14 km) southwest extension to Mineral Avenue in Littleton opened in July 2000, and the 1.8-mile Platte Valley extension to Denver Union Station opened in April 2002. An additional 19 miles (30.6 km) Southeast Corridor extension along I-25 to Lone Tree and a branch along I-225 to Parker Drive were completed in November 2006 as part of Denver's T-REX
project. As of January 2010 the system had 125 light rail vehicles, serving 39 miles (62.8 km) of track.
The current light rail lines are:
With the opening of the Southeast Corridor, many regional bus routes that provided service from the North Metro to Denver Tech Center were replaced by service to Union Station and light rail from Union Station to the Belleview
light rail station. Several regional bus routes to and from the South Metro were also eliminated by the openings of the Southeast & Southwest Corridors, replaced by feeder routes to light rail.
These fares apply only to the primary services. Special services typically cost more, up to $12 each way for some skyRide routes. Free transfers are available between services going in the same direction, of the same type or cheaper. Passengers may pay for an upgrade to transfer from a lower fare service to a higher fare service, regardless of whether one is special service and the other is not. Discount fares are available to seniors over 65, students ages 6 to 19, people with disabilities and people who receive Medicare.
As of 2010, there are thirty-six stations on the five lines in the RTD Light Rail system. RTD has adopted specific design standards that are incorporated into its station design, with a specific emphasis on the platform, its transition plaza and the multi-modal access provided for at the facility. Platforms are designed to accommodate four-car trains and may be in either a side
, island
or side center style. The transition plaza is the area where tickets are purchased and passenger services can be found. Additionally, all stations include works of public art
as part of RTD's art-n-Transit program. These works include independent works or as pieces incorporated into the canopies, columns, pavers, windscreens, fencing and landscaping present at all stations.
is currently working to build the West Corridor
light rail line (2013), four commuter rail lines, and extensions to the Southwest, Southeast and Central corridor lines, via the FasTracks
project.
Design team artists who worked on windscreen benches, railings, bike racks and canopy columns at all stations were Susan Cooper and Rafe Ropek.
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
metropolitan area
Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area
The Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area in the State of Colorado that includes the City and County of Denver and nine suburban counties. The Census Bureau estimates that the population was 2,357,404 on...
. It is operated by the Regional Transportation District (RTD)
Regional Transportation District
The Regional Transportation District, or RTD, was organized in 1969 and is the regional authority operating public transit services in eight of the twelve counties in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area in Colorado. RTD is governed by a 15-member, publicly elected Board of...
. It currently operates 101 local, 13 limited, 24 express, 16 regional, and 6 skyRide bus routes. It also includes 5 light rail lines with 36 stations and 39.4 miles (63.4 km) of track.
Light rail
RTD's first light railLight rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line, a 5.3 miles (8.5 km) section of what is now the D Line
D Line (RTD)
The D Line—also referred to as the Green Line, because green is the line's color on maps—is a light rail line which is part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado...
, opened on Friday, October 7, 1994, with free service for that half day and all weekend, and revenue service starting on October 10. It was estimated that more than 200,000 passengers rode the new system during its 2-1/2-day opening weekend, when the fleet comprised only 11 Siemens SD-100
Siemens SD-160
The SD-100 and SD-160 are light-rail vehicles manufactured by Siemens. The SD-100 uses motors that run on direct-current electricity while the SD-160 model features newer motors that run using alternating current. Both models are suited for loading at street level and high-platform level...
rail cars. Since that time, several additional light rail lines have been opened. An 8.7 miles (14 km) southwest extension to Mineral Avenue in Littleton opened in July 2000, and the 1.8-mile Platte Valley extension to Denver Union Station opened in April 2002. An additional 19 miles (30.6 km) Southeast Corridor extension along I-25 to Lone Tree and a branch along I-225 to Parker Drive were completed in November 2006 as part of Denver's T-REX
Colorado T-REX Project (TRansportation EXpansion)
The Transportation Expansion Project or T-REX was a $1.67 billion venture that had a goal of transforming the way people in the metro Denver area commute within the areas of Interstates 25 and 225, then the country's 14th busiest intersection...
project. As of January 2010 the system had 125 light rail vehicles, serving 39 miles (62.8 km) of track.
Primary services
The primary RTD services are scheduled bus and light rail routes. Most bus routes are divided into Local, Express, and Regional service levels. Light rail is divided in four zones: A, B, C, & D. Local service is service within two zones, express service is within three zones, and regional service is within four zones.The current light rail lines are:
- C LineC Line (RTD)The C Line—also referred to as the Orange Line, because the line is colored orange on maps—is a light rail line which is part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The line was added to the system on...
: Littleton/Mineral to Union Station - D LineD Line (RTD)The D Line—also referred to as the Green Line, because green is the line's color on maps—is a light rail line which is part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado...
: Littleton/Mineral to 30th/Downing - E LineE Line (RTD)The E Line, sometimes known as the Purple Line, is part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The line was added to the system on November 17, 2006, with the completion of the Southeast Corridor project . It is...
: Lincoln to Union Station - F LineF Line (RTD)The F Line , part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado, was added to the system on November 17, 2006, as part of the Southeast Corridor project . It is one of four routes that are part of the RTD's service plan...
: Lincoln to 18th/California & 18th/Stout - H LineH Line (RTD)The H Line , part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado, was added to the system on November 17, 2006, with the completion of the Southeast Corridor project...
: Nine Mile to 18th/California & 18th/Stout
With the opening of the Southeast Corridor, many regional bus routes that provided service from the North Metro to Denver Tech Center were replaced by service to Union Station and light rail from Union Station to the Belleview
Belleview (RTD)
Belleview is an island platformed RTD light rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the E and F Lines, the station was opened on November 17, 2006, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District. This is the primary station serving the Denver Technological...
light rail station. Several regional bus routes to and from the South Metro were also eliminated by the openings of the Southeast & Southwest Corridors, replaced by feeder routes to light rail.
Planned services
- W Line: Denver Union Station to Jeffco Government Center. Will operate the new FasTracksFasTracksFasTracks is a twelve-year, $6.5 billion public transportation expansion plan for the Denver-Aurora and Boulder metropolitan areas in Colorado, USA, developed by the Regional Transportation District...
West CorridorWest Corridor (RTD)The W Line is a Light Rail line in Denver, Lakewood, and Golden, Colorado, United States. The W Line was the first part of Fastracks to break ground, on May 16, 2007. It will be completed in early 2013. -History:...
line.
Former services
- G LineG Line (RTD)The G Line was a light rail line of the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. It was added to the system on November 17, 2006, with the completion of the Southeast Corridor project . It was one of four routes that were part of the RTD's service plan...
: Nine Mile to Lincoln. This line was canceled May 3, 2009. With the completion of FasTracksFasTracksFasTracks is a twelve-year, $6.5 billion public transportation expansion plan for the Denver-Aurora and Boulder metropolitan areas in Colorado, USA, developed by the Regional Transportation District...
I-225Interstate 225Interstate 225 is a spur route of Interstate 25 in Colorado. It is the only auxiliary route of Interstate 25, and one of two in Colorado. I-225 traverses Aurora and small portions of Denver and Greenwood Village. It runs north from Interstate 25 to Interstate 70. It intersects with Interstate...
corridor, the line will resume service.
Special services
Special bus services are offered for various purposes. Some of the more popular special services are:- "call-n-Ride", which provides curb-to-curb service in specific areas. This is similar to taxiTaxicabA taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
s. - "access-a-Ride", which provides transportation for disabled people.
- "FREE MallRide", the 16th Street Mall16th Street MallThe 16th Street Mall is a pedestrian and transit mall in Denver, Colorado. The mall, 1.25 miles long, runs along 16th Street in downtown Denver, from Wewatta Street to the intersection of 16th Avenue and Broadway...
shuttle; as its name implies, rides on this service are free. The shuttles use compressed natural gas (CNG)/electric hybrid engines. - "skyRide", which provides direct service to Denver International AirportDenver International AirportDenver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
from various locations around the metro area. - Sporting events service:
- "BroncosRide", which provides direct service to INVESCO Field at Mile HighINVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
from various locations around the metro area. - "RockiesRide", a similar service which provides direct service to Coors FieldCoors FieldCoors Field, located in Denver, Colorado, is the home field of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. It is named for the Coors Brewing Company of Golden, Colorado, which purchased the naming rights to the park prior to its completion in 1995...
.
- "BroncosRide", which provides direct service to INVESCO Field at Mile High
Fares
| Local / Limited | Express | Regional | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $2.25 | $4.00 | $5.00 |
| Discount | $1.10 | $2.00 | $2.50 |
| Ticketbook (10 rides) | $20.00 | $36.00 | $45.00 |
| Discount Ticketbook | $10.00 | $18.00 | $22.50 |
| Monthly Pass | $79.00 | $140.00 | $176.00 |
| Discount Pass | $39.50 | $70.00 | $88.00 |
These fares apply only to the primary services. Special services typically cost more, up to $12 each way for some skyRide routes. Free transfers are available between services going in the same direction, of the same type or cheaper. Passengers may pay for an upgrade to transfer from a lower fare service to a higher fare service, regardless of whether one is special service and the other is not. Discount fares are available to seniors over 65, students ages 6 to 19, people with disabilities and people who receive Medicare.
Stations
Bus stations typically provide a starting or end-point for limited, express, and regional routes with many local and limited routes stopping near these stations, making transfers between routes relatively easy. Light-rail stations serve the light-rail system and many of these stations have gates for bus service and function as Park-n-Rides. Civic Center and Market Street stations are connected to Union Station via the "FREE MallRide" shuttle service.Bus stations
| Station Name | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Civic Center Station | 1550 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202 | Lost & Found 303-299-2288 |
| Market Street Station | 16th Street Mall and Market Street, Denver, CO 80202 | None |
| Union Station (rail and bus) | 1701 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202 | None |
| Boulder Transit Center | 1400 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80302 | Lost & Found 303-442-7332 |
Light-rail stations
Side platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
, island
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
or side center style. The transition plaza is the area where tickets are purchased and passenger services can be found. Additionally, all stations include works of public art
Public art
The term public art properly refers to works of art in any media that have been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited or staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all...
as part of RTD's art-n-Transit program. These works include independent works or as pieces incorporated into the canopies, columns, pavers, windscreens, fencing and landscaping present at all stations.
Future services
RTDRegional Transportation District
The Regional Transportation District, or RTD, was organized in 1969 and is the regional authority operating public transit services in eight of the twelve counties in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area in Colorado. RTD is governed by a 15-member, publicly elected Board of...
is currently working to build the West Corridor
West Corridor (RTD)
The W Line is a Light Rail line in Denver, Lakewood, and Golden, Colorado, United States. The W Line was the first part of Fastracks to break ground, on May 16, 2007. It will be completed in early 2013. -History:...
light rail line (2013), four commuter rail lines, and extensions to the Southwest, Southeast and Central corridor lines, via the FasTracks
FasTracks
FasTracks is a twelve-year, $6.5 billion public transportation expansion plan for the Denver-Aurora and Boulder metropolitan areas in Colorado, USA, developed by the Regional Transportation District...
project.
Art on the Light Rail system
About $1 million from the T-REX contingency budget was dedicated to art projects at each of the 13 new southeast corridor light-rail stations.- Ira ShermanIra ShermanIra D. Sherman is an American-born sculptor.Sherman's sculptural work uses materials and shapes from science and technology, yet “bio-engineered” to interact with the audience or viewer in a uniquely human way. Many of Sherman’s pieces are, in fact, "prostheses" created around a humorous social...
, "Stange Machine," Louisiana/ Pearl. - Ries Niemi, "Big Boots," Colorado.
- John Goe, "Reflective Discourse," University.
- Gregory Gove, "People," Yale.
- Chris Janney, "Denver Lights," Southmoor.
- Richard Elliott, "Thunder Over the Rockies," Belleview.
- Christopher Weed, "Windswept," Dayton.
- Dwight Atkinson, "Troll Trouncer," Nine Mile.
- Wopo Holup, "Orchard Road Orchard," Orchard.
- Michael Clapper, "Nucleus," Arapahoe at Village Center.
- John McEnroe, "Fools Gold," Dry Creek.
- Emmett Culligan, "Plow," County Line.
- Ray King, "Sun Stream" Lincoln.
Design team artists who worked on windscreen benches, railings, bike racks and canopy columns at all stations were Susan Cooper and Rafe Ropek.