TheRide
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Locale | Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area |
|---|---|
| Transit type | Bus |
| Began operation | 1969 |
| No. of lines | 160 |
| Daily ridership | 195,616 (2004-2005) |
| Operator | Regional Transportation District |
 |
|
| Locale | Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area |
|---|---|
| Transit type | Light rail |
| Began operation | 1994 |
| System length | 34.9 mi (56.2 km) |
| No. of lines | 6 |
| No. of stations | 36 |
| Daily ridership | 40,000 (approximate weekday) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
| Operator | Regional Transportation District |
TheRide (often referred to as RTD) 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 6 light rail lines with 36 stations over 34.9 miles of track.
Contents |
[edit] Current Services
[edit] Primary Services
The primary TheRide services are scheduled bus and light rail routes.[1] 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.
Major bus routes include:
- B: Downtown Boulder (Boulder Transit Center) to Downtown Denver (Union Station & Market Street Station) [2]
- BOLT: Downtown Boulder (Boulder Transit Center) to Longmont [3]
- GS: Downtown Boulder (Boulder Transit Center) to Golden [4]
- L: Longmont to Downtown Denver (Union Station & Market Street Station) [5]
- N: Downtown Boulder (Boulder Transit Center) to Nederland and Eldora Mountain Resort [6]
- R: Brighton to Downtown Denver (Civic Center Station) [7]
- 120X: Wagon Road Park-n-Ride to Downtown Denver (Union Station & Market Street Station) [8] (Express route)
The light rail lines are:
- C Line: Littleton/Mineral to Union Station
- D Line: Littleton/Mineral to 30th/Downing
- E Line: Lincoln to Union Station
- F Line: Lincoln to 18th/California & 18th/Stout
- G Line: Lincoln to Nine Mile
- H Line: 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 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.
[edit] Special Services
Special bus services are offered for various purposes.[9] Some of the more popular special services are:
- "call-n-Ride", which provides curb-to-curb service in specific areas. This is similar to taxis.[10]
- "access-a-Ride", which provides transportation for disabled people.[11]
- "FREE MallRide", the 16th Street Mall shuttle; as its name implies, rides on this service are free. The shuttles use diesel/electric hybrid engines.[12][13]
- "skyRide", which provides direct service to Denver International Airport from various locations around the metro area.[14]
- Sporting events service:
- "BroncosRide", which provides direct service to INVESCO Field at Mile High from various locations around the metro area.[15]
- "RockiesRide", a similar service which provides direct service to Coors Field.[16]
[edit] Fares
| Local / Limited | Express | Regional | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $1.50 | $2.75 | $3.75 |
| Discount | $.75 | $1.35 | $1.85 |
| Ticketbook (10 rides) | $13.50 | $25.00 | $34.00 |
| Discount Ticketbook | $7.50 | $13.50 | $18.50 |
| Monthly Pass | $54.00 | $99.00 | $135.00 |
| Discount Pass | $29.00 | $53.00 | $72.00 |
These fares apply only to the primary services. Special services typically cost more, up to $10 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 |
[edit] Light-Rail Stations
[edit] Future services
RTD is currently working to build two more light rail lines, four commuter rail lines, and extensions to the Southwest, Southeast and Central corridor lines, via the FasTracks project.
| Currently operating light rail and streetcar systems in the United States | |
|---|---|
| MBTA Green and Ashmont-Mattapan Lines | Hudson-Bergen Light Rail | Newark Light Rail | River Line | Buffalo Metro Rail | SEPTA Subway-Surface, Suburban and Girard Avenue Trolley Lines | Norristown High Speed Line | Pittsburgh Light Rail | Baltimore Light Rail | Hiawatha Line | New Orleans Streetcar System | Kenosha Transit | RTA Rapid Transit Blue and Green Lines | TECO | LYNX (to begin 11/26/07) | Charlotte Trolley | MATA Main Street Trolley | River Rail Streetcar | DART | M-Line | METRORail | Galveston Island Trolley | St. Louis Metrolink | Muni Metro, Cable Car and F Market Lines | VTA | RT | LACMTA Blue, Green and Gold Lines | San Diego Trolley | MAX | Portland Streetcar | Portland Vintage Trolley | TRAX | Old Pueblo Trolley | TheRide | Platte Valley Trolley | Fort Collins Municipal Railway | Tacoma Link |
