| RTD Bus Service | |
|---|---|
| Info | |
| Locale | Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area |
| Transit type | Bus |
| Daily ridership | 212,100 [1] |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 1969 |
| Operator(s) | Regional Transportation District |
| RTD Light Rail | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Info | |||
| Locale | Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area | ||
| Transit type | Light rail | ||
| Number of lines | 5 | ||
| Number of stations | 36 | ||
| Daily ridership | 63,100[1] | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | October 7, 1994 [2] | ||
| Operator(s) | Regional Transportation District | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||
| Electrification | Overhead lines | ||
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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.[3]
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RTD's first light rail line, a 5.3-mile (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.[2] 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.[2] Since that time, several additional light rail lines have been opened. An 8.7-mile (14.0 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-mile (31 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 (63 km) of track.[4]
The primary RTD services are scheduled bus and light rail routes.[5] 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:
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.
Special bus services are offered for various purposes.[6] Some of the more popular special services are:
| 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.
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.
| 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 |
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.[14] Platforms are designed to accommodate four-car trains and may be in either a side, island or side center style.[14] The transition plaza is the area where tickets are purchased and passenger services can be found.[14] Additionally, all stations include works of public art as part of RTD's art-n-Transit program.[15] These works include independent works or as pieces incorporated into the canopies, columns, pavers, windscreens, fencing and landscaping present at all stations.[15]
RTD 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.
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.
Design team artists who worked on windscreen benches, railings, bike racks and canopy columns at all stations were Susan Cooper and Rafe Ropek.
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