A Line (RTD)
| A Line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A Line bridge over Peña Boulevard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Commuter Rail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System | Regional Transportation District | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Undergoing testing[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Denver Metropolitan Area | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini |
Union Station Denver International Airport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 7 (1 current, 6 new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Official website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening | 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Regional Transportation District | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | Denver Transit Partners[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 23.5 mi (37.82 km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | Overhead lines 25 kV, 60 Hz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The A Line, also known as the East Rail Line, will be a commuter rail line serving Denver and Aurora, Colorado.[3] The East Corridor was the second line of FasTracks, and is part of the Eagle P3 public-private partnership.[2] Assigned the letter “A” denoting “airport” and “Aurora”, groundbreaking of the line was held on August 26, 2010[4] and will be completed in 2016.[2] The first electric multiple unit railcars were pulled along the route on April 3, 2015, commencing testing and commissioning of the line.[5]
History
Mass transit has been under consideration for the corridor between Downtown Denver and Denver International Airport since the latter was proposed in the 1980s. The project gathered momentum in 1997 when a Major Investment Study was completed for the corridor, encouraging fixed-guideway mass transit (light rail or commuter rail), highway widening and general improvements. The project was approved as part of the FasTracks transit expansion package in November 2004, went through regulatory processes and was approved by the Federal Transit Administration in November 2009.[6] In July 2007, it was decided to use electric multiple unit propulsion instead of diesel multiple unit over speed and air pollution concerns.[7]
Route
Leaving Union Station, the train follows the Union Pacific corridor and goes past the back side of Coors Field. It will stop at a station shared with the expanded Central Corridor at 38th and Blake streets. From there the corridor turns east along 40th Avenue past the Denver Intermodal Yard. East of Josephine, the corridor turns north, then east again to stay along the Union Pacific mainline, along Smith Road. There will be stations at Colorado Boulevard, Central Park Boulevard (in the Stapleton redevelopment area) and at Peoria Street. The station at Peoria Street will be shared with the new R Line. East of Peoria Street, the line will travel under Interstate 225. It will then cross over both the Union Pacific mainline tracks and Interstate 70. There will be a stop next to the existing Park and Ride at 40th Avenue and Airport Boulevard. From there the line follows the east and south sides of Peña Boulevard, crossing over E-470. Once adjacent runway 7/25, the corridor crosses over Peña Boulevard and runs between the airport secure area and the car rental facilities along 78th Avenue. The corridor then crosses over the south/west bound lanes of Peña Boulevard, ending at a new station south of the Jeppesen Terminal.[8]
| Name | Opening Year | Interchange | Municipality | park-n-Ride? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Line (Union Station - Denver Airport) | |||||
| Union Station/ Lower Downtown (LoDo)/ Coors Field/16th Street Mall |
2014 | B & G Lines C , E , & W Lines  AmtrakFREE MallRide (16th St) |
Denver | No | Open |
| 38th & Blake | 2016 | D Line | Denver | Yes | Under Construction |
| 40th & Colorado | 2016 | None | Denver | Yes | Under Construction |
| Central Park | 2016 | None | Denver | Yes | Under Construction |
| Peoria | 2016 | R Line | Aurora | Yes | Under Construction |
| 40th Ave & Airport Blvd / Gateway Park | 2016 | None | Aurora | Yes | Under Construction |
| 61st & Peña Blvd / Peña Station[9][10] | TBD | None | Denver | ? | Proposed |
| Denver Airport | 2016 | None | Denver | Yes | Under Construction |
References
- ↑ Heffel, Nathan (April 17, 2015). "RTD East Rail Line cars enter DIA station under their own power". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Eagle P3 Commuter Rail Project, Denver, USA". Railway Technology. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ↑ "RTD - East Rail Line". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ↑ "East Corridor Groundbreaking!". Denver Infill Blog. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ↑ "Denver’s new EMUs take “maiden voyage”". Railway Age. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
- ↑ "Fastracks - East Corridor". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Electric Multiple Unit" (PDF). East Corridor Environmental Impact Statement. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ↑ "Appendix A Preferred Alternate Maps" (PDF). East Corridor Environmental Impact Statement. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Peña Station Rail Stop", Flydenver.com, 2015
- ↑ "61st & Peña Station Area Plan", City and County of Denver, 13 Jan 2014
External links
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