West Corridor (RTD)
Encyclopedia
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.
traction by 1909. The route ran from the downtown Denver streetcar loop, through the Lakewood
Dry Gulch near 13th Avenue and continued out to Golden
. Interurban
service continued until 1950, when all Denver area trolley
and interurban service ceased.
A Major Investment Study conducted in 1997 stated the need for a rapid transit corridor through the region, and settled on 13th Avenue as the Locally Preferred Alternative
. The Environmental Impact Statement
was started in 2001 and finished with a Finding of No Significant Impact or "FONSI" in 2003. A "rail-pulling" ceremony was held on the 13th Avenue corridor on May 16, 2007 and construction started in earnest in early 2008.
As project costs climbed above the initial estimates, cuts were made, including reducing the line from a double track
to a single track operation from west of the Federal Center Station to the end of the line at the Jefferson County Government Center.
, stopping at Pepsi Center/Elitch Gardens
, INVESCO Field at Mile High
and a relocated Auraria West Campus
station. It then leaves the CPV corridor, following a new bridge over the UP/BNSF Consolidated Main Line , traveling under Interstate 25
, over the South Platte River
. The corridor then travels west along the Lakewood Dry Gulch and 13th Avenue until it reaches the Lakewood Industrial Park, where it turns south along the Remington spur to reach the Denver Federal Center
. From the Federal Center it travels west along the 6th Avenue Freeway
and Colfax Avenue
to reach the Jefferson County Government Center in Golden, where the line ends.
, this current C Line
and E Line
station is being moved approximately 300 feet (91.4 m) to the north to accommodate the new tracks.
in Lakewood, near the relocated St. Anthony Central Hospital
. Some trains will begin/terminate here, while others continue on to Jefferson County Government Center
and Arbutus at the edge of the Lakewood Campus of the Red Rocks Community College
along the southern edge of the Jefferson County Government Center. This is the final station along the route.
Light 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 in Denver, Lakewood
Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...
, and Golden
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The W Line was the first part of 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...
to break ground, on May 16, 2007. It will be completed in early 2013.
History
The Denver Lakewood and Golden Railway started operations in the area in 1893, switching to electricRailway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
traction by 1909. The route ran from the downtown Denver streetcar loop, through the Lakewood
Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...
Dry Gulch near 13th Avenue and continued out to Golden
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
. Interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
service continued until 1950, when all Denver area trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
and interurban service ceased.
A Major Investment Study conducted in 1997 stated the need for a rapid transit corridor through the region, and settled on 13th Avenue as the Locally Preferred Alternative
LPA
LPA is an abbreviation for:*Gran Canaria International Airport, which uses the IATA Airport Code LPA*L-Phenylalanine*Lakh per annum*Lao People's Army*Laser Plasma Acceleration*Lasting power of attorney*Latent profile analysis*Liberal Party of Australia...
. The Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental impact statement
An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making...
was started in 2001 and finished with a Finding of No Significant Impact or "FONSI" in 2003. A "rail-pulling" ceremony was held on the 13th Avenue corridor on May 16, 2007 and construction started in earnest in early 2008.
As project costs climbed above the initial estimates, cuts were made, including reducing the line from a double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
to a single track operation from west of the Federal Center Station to the end of the line at the Jefferson County Government Center.
Route
The W Line follows the Central Platte Valley Corridor (CPV) from Union StationUnion Station, Denver
Union Station is a downtown neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. According to the Piton Foundation, in 2007, the population of the neighborhood was 3,475, and there were 2,530 housing units. Piton Foundation data from 2000 indicates the neighborhood’s average household income was $97,080.The...
, stopping at Pepsi Center/Elitch Gardens
Pepsi Center/Elitch Gardens (RTD)
Pepsi Center/Elitch Gardens is a RTD light rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the C and E Lines, the station was opened on April 5, 2002, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District. It primarily serves the adjacent Pepsi Center and Elitch Gardens...
, INVESCO Field at Mile High
INVESCO Field at Mile High (RTD)
Sports Authority Field at Mile High is a RTD light rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the C and E Lines, the station was opened on April 5, 2002, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District. It primarily serves the adjacent Sports Authority Field at...
and a relocated Auraria West Campus
Auraria West Campus (RTD)
Auraria West Campus was a RTD light rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the C and E Lines, the station was opened on April 5, 2002, and was operated by the Regional Transportation District...
station. It then leaves the CPV corridor, following a new bridge over the UP/BNSF Consolidated Main Line , traveling under Interstate 25
Interstate 25 in Colorado
In the U.S. state of Colorado, Interstate 25 follows the north–south corridor through Colorado Springs and Denver. It replaced U.S. Highway 87 and most of U.S. Highway 85 for through traffic....
, over the South Platte River
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...
. The corridor then travels west along the Lakewood Dry Gulch and 13th Avenue until it reaches the Lakewood Industrial Park, where it turns south along the Remington spur to reach the Denver Federal Center
Denver Federal Center
Denver Federal Center is located in Lakewood, Colorado and is the home to about 6,200 employees for many Federal government of the United States agencies. The Denver Federal Center encompasses an area of about and has 90 buildings comprising over of office, warehouse, lab and special use space...
. From the Federal Center it travels west along the 6th Avenue Freeway
U.S. Route 6 in Colorado
In the U.S. state of Colorado, U.S. Route 6 is an east–west highway stretching from Colorado to Nebraska. Much of the route overlaps other highways in Colorado, and as a result, much of US 6 is unsigned.- Route description :...
and Colfax Avenue
Colfax Avenue
Colfax Avenue is the main street that runs east–west through the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area in Colorado. As U.S. Highway 40, it was one of two principal highways serving Denver before the Interstate Highway System was constructed. In the local street system, it lies 15 blocks north of the zero...
to reach the Jefferson County Government Center in Golden, where the line ends.
Stations
Eleven new stations are planned and one current station will be relocated. Auraria West will open in Fall of 2011. All the rest will open in 2013.Auraria West Campus
Located on the southwest side of the Auraria CampusAuraria Campus
Auraria Campus is an educational facility located near downtown Denver, Colorado in the United States. The campus houses facilities of three separate universities and colleges: the University of Colorado Denver , Community College of Denver, and Metropolitan State College of Denver...
, this current C Line
C 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...
and E Line
E 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...
station is being moved approximately 300 feet (91.4 m) to the north to accommodate the new tracks.
Federal/Decatur
Located in Denver's Sun Valley neighborhood, just southeast of the intersection of Federal Boulevard and Howard Street.Knox
Located in Denver's Avondale and Villa Park neighborhoods, southwest of the Knox Court/13th Avenue intersection.Perry
Located in Denver's Avondale neighborhood, west of the Perry Street/12th Avenue intersection.Sheridan
Located underneath Sheridan Boulevard between 11th and 12th Avenues, on the border of Denver and Lakewood.Wadsworth
Located in Lakewood just north of 13th Avenue on a bridge over Wadsworth Boulevard.Garrison
Located in Lakewood along 13th Avenue, just east of Garrison Street.Federal Center
Located on the west side of the Denver Federal CenterDenver Federal Center
Denver Federal Center is located in Lakewood, Colorado and is the home to about 6,200 employees for many Federal government of the United States agencies. The Denver Federal Center encompasses an area of about and has 90 buildings comprising over of office, warehouse, lab and special use space...
in Lakewood, near the relocated St. Anthony Central Hospital
St. Anthony Central Hospital
St. Anthony Hospital, previously known as St. Anthony Central Hospital, is one of four Level I Trauma Center's in Colorado. The Hospital is currently located at W. 2nd Pl and Routt St near the Denver Federal Center, in the Lakewood. The Hospital was previously located at W...
. Some trains will begin/terminate here, while others continue on to Jefferson County Government Center
Red Rocks Community College
Located in Lakewood at 6th Avenue WestU.S. Route 6 in Colorado
In the U.S. state of Colorado, U.S. Route 6 is an east–west highway stretching from Colorado to Nebraska. Much of the route overlaps other highways in Colorado, and as a result, much of US 6 is unsigned.- Route description :...
and Arbutus at the edge of the Lakewood Campus of the Red Rocks Community College
Red Rocks Community College
Red Rocks Community College is a community college located in Lakewood, Colorado and Arvada, Colorado.- History :The college was established in 1969 as a campus of the Community College of Denver and opened at a temporary site until the Colorado legislature appropriated funds for construction of a...
Jefferson County Government Center
Located in Golden along 6th Avenue WestU.S. Route 6 in Colorado
In the U.S. state of Colorado, U.S. Route 6 is an east–west highway stretching from Colorado to Nebraska. Much of the route overlaps other highways in Colorado, and as a result, much of US 6 is unsigned.- Route description :...
along the southern edge of the Jefferson County Government Center. This is the final station along the route.