Regional Transportation District
Encyclopedia
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 Directors. Directors are elected to a four-year term and represent a specific district. Elections are staggered so that eight seats are open in one general election, seven in the next. The 2009 Board members are: Kent Bagley, District H; Barbara Brohl, District D; Noel Busck, District K; Juanita Chacon, District C; William M. Christopher, District J; Bruce Daly, District N; Bill James, District A; Lee Kemp, District I, Christopher Martinez, District B; William G. McMullen, District E; Jack O'Boyle, District G; Wally Pulliam, District L; John Tayer, District O and Tom Tobiassen, District F.
RTD currently operates a bus and light rail system that has a service area of 2337 square miles (6,052.8 km²). It employs 2,526 people and reported over 100 million boardings in calendar years 2007 and 2008 . It had a $372 million budget for the year of 2008 and a $382 million for 2009. Google has RTD schedules attached to its trip planner, and 3rd party mobile applications are now available for the iPhone
and other platforms.
RTD is working to deliver the voter-approved FasTracks rapid transit expansion that will add 122 miles (196.3 km) of new commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles (29 km) of bus rapid transit service, 21,000 new parking spaces at rail and bus stations, and enhance bus service for easy, convenient bus/rail connections across the eight-county district.
and Orion buses make up most of the fleet.
MCI
and Neoplan
vehicles are used as express buses and regional buses. Siemens
SD100 and SD160 are used as light rail vehicles. As of January 2010, the RTD light rail fleet has 125 light rail vehicles, serving 35 miles (56 km) of track.
This project added HOV
lanes to I-25 north of downtown Denver. It also added several dedicated slip ramps for RTD buses to access several Park-n-Ride stations directly from the highway. At the south end of the HOV lanes, buses had direct routes into Union Station or Market Street Station. The HOV lanes extended from I-25 to US-36, allowing regional and express routes running along US 36 to downtown Denver to bypass congestion around the Turnpike Tangle. This project was completed in September 1994.
In 2006, the Downtown Express was renovated to include a toll lane, thereby converting the HOV lanes into HOT lanes. This allows SOV
vehicles to pay a toll to use them. It was built to increase the overall usage and efficiency of the highway's HOV lanes. The project was completed on June 2, 2006.
down to the intersection of I-25
and Broadway. This line was built without the aid of tax increases or federal funds; however, extensions have been funded by the Federal Transit Administration
and new tax measures. This line was built from 30th/Downing
as the northern terminus to I-25/Broadway
as the southern terminus.
line, the route runs from the terminus of the Central Corridor at I-25 & Broadway to Mineral Avenue in Littleton with 5 existing stations. The line has been popular, and the park-n-Ride lots at its stations often experience parking shortages. This project built a light rail line from I-25/Broadway
south to Littleton/Mineral
along an existing railroad right-of-way next to Santa Fe Drive.
In April 2002, the Central Platte Valley (CPV) spur opened. It is a 1.8-mile (2.9-km) branch with four stations that provides light rail access to numerous venues, including the Auraria Campus
, Invesco Field at Mile High
, the Pepsi Center
, Six Flags
, Union Station
and Coors Field
. This project built light rail lines from 10th/Osage
to Union Station.
In November 1999, Denver area voters approved a project, known as the T-REX
, which involved reconstruction of I-25
between Broadway and Lincoln Avenue in Lone Tree
, and I-225 between I-25 and Parker Road in Aurora
, with widening of the road to 5 lanes and light rail being built. The highway project was completed on August 22, 2006. The light rail line known as the Southeast Corridor opened shortly after 11 a.m. on November 17, 2006. The line covers 19.1 miles (30.6 km) and includes thirteen new stations, with parking available at all but the Louisiana/Pearl
station.
: A major project to dramatically expand the metro area's rail service. The less densely populated north metro area will receive two commuter rail lines, while the west metro will receive a light rail line and a commuter rail line. In addition, a commuter rail line will connect Denver International Airport
to downtown. Union Station will be redeveloped into the hub of the rail network, with a large mixed-use transit-oriented development built around it. Several existing lines will be extended. This project is scheduled to be completed in 2014.
Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area
thumb|300px|Map of the 12-county Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical AreaThe Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO Combined Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Combined Statistical Area located in the Denver region of the state of Colorado...
in 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...
. RTD is governed by a 15-member, publicly elected Board of Directors. Directors are elected to a four-year term and represent a specific district. Elections are staggered so that eight seats are open in one general election, seven in the next. The 2009 Board members are: Kent Bagley, District H; Barbara Brohl, District D; Noel Busck, District K; Juanita Chacon, District C; William M. Christopher, District J; Bruce Daly, District N; Bill James, District A; Lee Kemp, District I, Christopher Martinez, District B; William G. McMullen, District E; Jack O'Boyle, District G; Wally Pulliam, District L; John Tayer, District O and Tom Tobiassen, District F.
RTD currently operates a bus and light rail system that has a service area of 2337 square miles (6,052.8 km²). It employs 2,526 people and reported over 100 million boardings in calendar years 2007 and 2008 . It had a $372 million budget for the year of 2008 and a $382 million for 2009. Google has RTD schedules attached to its trip planner, and 3rd party mobile applications are now available for the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and other platforms.
RTD is working to deliver the voter-approved FasTracks rapid transit expansion that will add 122 miles (196.3 km) of new commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles (29 km) of bus rapid transit service, 21,000 new parking spaces at rail and bus stations, and enhance bus service for easy, convenient bus/rail connections across the eight-county district.
Timeline
- Pre-RTD: The principal provider of public transportation was the Denver Tramway CompanyDenver TramwayThe Denver Tramway, operating in Denver, Colorado was incorporated in 1886. The tramway was unusual for a number of reasons: the term "tramway" is generally not used in the United States, and it is not known why the company was named as such...
, which served the City and County of DenverDenver, ColoradoThe 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...
as well as older portions of ArvadaArvada, ColoradoThe City of Arvada is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties in the Denver metropolitan area of the U.S. State of Colorado. Olde Town Arvada is located northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver...
, AuroraAurora, ColoradoCity of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
, EnglewoodEnglewood, ColoradoThe city of Englewood is a Home Rule Municipality located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. As of 2007, the city is estimated to have a total population of 32,532. Englewood is part of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area. Englewood is located in the South Platte River Valley east of the...
, GoldenGolden, ColoradoThe 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...
, LakewoodLakewood, ColoradoLakewood 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...
, WestminsterWestminster, ColoradoWestminster is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Westminster is a northwest suburb of Denver. The Westminster Municipal Center is located north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol. The United States Census Bureau that the city population...
, and Wheat RidgeWheat Ridge, ColoradoThe City of Wheat Ridge is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Wheat Ridge is a western suburb of Denver. The Wheat Ridge Municipal Center is approximately west-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver...
and smaller suburbs. - 1969: RTD was created in the 47th session of the Colorado General Assembly to provide public transportation to five additional counties in the metropolitan area.
- 1969 - 1971: The Denver Tramway Company continues service under sponsorship of the City and County of Denver.
- October 1970: RTD found it needed to establish a Northern Operations Group (NOG) to provide service to BoulderBoulder, ColoradoBoulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
and LongmontLongmont, ColoradoLongmont is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Longmont is located in Northern Colorado. Longmont is the 13th most populous city in the State of Colorado. The word "Longmont" comes from Longs Peak, a prominent mountain named for explorer Stephen H....
. RTD acquired the privately owned Denver-Boulder Bus Company, which also ran airport buses. - 1971: Denver Metro Transit took over the privately owned Denver Tramway Company. Denver Metro Transit was an entity created by the City and County of Denver. Suburban service only continued for those suburbs willing to contribute a subsidy.
- 1972: RTD created a plan for a personal rapid transitPersonal rapid transitPersonal rapid transit , also called podcar, is a public transportation mode featuring small automated vehicles operating on a network of specially built guide ways...
(PRT) system in the area, and a transportation plan was completed—three years after the 1969 legislative mandate. This plan included 98 miles (157.7 km) of PRT and extensive bus service throughout the areas served by RTD. Later that year, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) selected RTD to develop PRT as a demonstration project. - 1973: Residents voted for a sales tax of 1/2% over the six counties served by RTD for ten years; 20% of the funds would be used for expanded bus service and the other 80% were earmarked for PRT construction. The PRT project was eventually scrapped.
- July 1974: Denver Metro Transit became part of RTD.
- 1975-1977: RTD consolidated and expanded and improved service frequency. Service was expanded to routes that commercial carriers previously operated.
- 1978: Inflation caused RTD to implement a new fare structure.
- 1979: Federal approval was prepared for 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...
in downtown Denver, originally known as Transitway. The project allowed express bus productivity to double and was eventually intersected by RTD's first light rail line, the 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...
, at Stout and California streets. - 1980: RTD reached a record number of weekday passengers, expanded the park-'n'-Ride system. It also acquired 216 new buses, 89 of which were articulatedArticulated busAn articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
. Construction began on the 16th Street Mall. Work was also completed to make RTD's service more accessible to elderly and handicapped people. - September 1994: Downtown Express/High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes were opened to buses, and to carpools a year later.
- October 1994: RTD opened the Central Corridor light rail line, bringing rail transit back to the region.
- 2000: The Southwest Corridor light rail line opened.
- 2002: The Central Platte Valley spur of RTD's light rail service opened.
- April 2006: Unionized transit workers of the Amalgamated Transit Union went on strike for the first time in 24 years, citing increased health care costs, mandatory overtime, and disproportionate wage increases relative to upper management. Workers walked off the morning of April 3, shutting down the light rail system and decreasing bus service to about 45% of its normal routes, the remaining service being provided by existing RTD subcontractors Laidlaw, Connex, and First Transit. Laidlaw and Connex, whose workers are contracted rather than unionized, would take over many routes operated by RTD, albeit on a reduced schedule, while First Transit, whose workers are unionized, operated only its own routes due to its contract with its workers. A revised contract was approved by the union on April 7, and service resumed on April 10. The strike lasted a total of seven days, and although thousands of commuters were stranded by the strike, only above average backups were reported as customers made makeshift arrangements for commuting or waited out the strike for personal trips. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3666949
- November 17, 2006: The Southeast Corridor, a component of the T-REX transportation project, opened.
Fleet
GilligGillig
Gillig Corporation, formerly Gillig Bros., is a manufacturer of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses located in Hayward, California. Prior to 1993, Gillig had also been a manufacturer of school buses.-History:...
and Orion buses make up most of the fleet.
MCI
Motor Coach Industries
Motor Coach Industries International Inc. is an American bus manufacturer based in Schaumburg, Illinois, and is a leading participant in the North American coach bus industry. It has various operating subsidiaries:...
and Neoplan
Neoplan USA
Neoplan USA was a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Denver, Colorado, which was entirely separate from the German corporation, Neoplan, licensing its designs from the German company of the same name. The company was founded in 1981 and folded in 2006. It was originally a subsidiary...
vehicles are used as express buses and regional buses. Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
SD100 and SD160 are used as light rail vehicles. As of January 2010, the RTD light rail fleet has 125 light rail vehicles, serving 35 miles (56 km) of track.
Downtown Express
HOV
HOV may refer to:* High-occupancy vehicle lane* Ørsta-Volda Airport, Hovden in Hovden, Norway* Hovig* A small street gang located in Naperville* see Hov...
lanes to I-25 north of downtown Denver. It also added several dedicated slip ramps for RTD buses to access several Park-n-Ride stations directly from the highway. At the south end of the HOV lanes, buses had direct routes into Union Station or Market Street Station. The HOV lanes extended from I-25 to US-36, allowing regional and express routes running along US 36 to downtown Denver to bypass congestion around the Turnpike Tangle. This project was completed in September 1994.
SOV
SOV is an acronym for several terms:in organizations*Same Old Vanderbilt, usually refers to Vanderbilt Commodores football by their fans due to lack of success over the years*Stade Olympique Voironnais, a French rugby union club...
vehicles to pay a toll to use them. It was built to increase the overall usage and efficiency of the highway's HOV lanes. The project was completed on June 2, 2006.
Central Corridor
The Central Corridor, a 5.3 mile (8.5 km) light rail line, opened in October 1994. It was built along Welton Street, through the Five Points district along Stout Street and California Street, and following a railroad right-of-way from Colfax AvenueColfax 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...
down to the intersection of I-25
Interstate 25
Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
and Broadway. This line was built without the aid of tax increases or federal funds; however, extensions have been funded by the Federal Transit Administration
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
and new tax measures. This line was built from 30th/Downing
30th/Downing (RTD)
30th/Downing is a RTD light rail station in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the D Line, the station was opened on October 8, 1994, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District. It is the current northern terminus for Five Points trains...
as the northern terminus to I-25/Broadway
I-25/Broadway (RTD)
I-25/Broadway is a three-platform RTD light rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the C, D, E, F and H Lines, the station was opened on October 8, 1994, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District. As the name implies, the station is located at the...
as the southern terminus.
Southwest Corridor
After the success of the Central Corridor, the Southwest Corridor light rail route opened in July 2000. An 8.7 mile (13.9 km) 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, the route runs from the terminus of the Central Corridor at I-25 & Broadway to Mineral Avenue in Littleton with 5 existing stations. The line has been popular, and the park-n-Ride lots at its stations often experience parking shortages. This project built a light rail line from I-25/Broadway
I-25/Broadway (RTD)
I-25/Broadway is a three-platform RTD light rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the C, D, E, F and H Lines, the station was opened on October 8, 1994, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District. As the name implies, the station is located at the...
south to Littleton/Mineral
Littleton/Mineral (RTD)
Littleton/Mineral is a RTD light rail station in Littleton, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the C and D Lines, the station was opened on July 14, 2000, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District. Presently this serves as the southern terminus for both the C and D Lines;...
along an existing railroad right-of-way next to Santa Fe Drive.
Central Platte Valley Corridor
Auraria 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...
, Invesco Field at Mile High
INVESCO Field at Mile High
Sports 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...
, the Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center is a multi-purpose arena in Denver, Colorado, United States. The building is home to the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League...
, Six Flags
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
, Union Station
Union Station (Denver)
Union Station is Denver, Colorado, USA's historic train station at 17th and Wynkoop in the LoDo district. The station first opened in 1881.-History:...
and Coors Field
Coors Field
Coors 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...
. This project built light rail lines from 10th/Osage
10th/Osage (RTD)
10th/Osage is a RTD light rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the C, D, E, F and H Lines, the station was opened on October 8, 1994, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District...
to Union Station.
T-REX Project
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...
, which involved reconstruction of I-25
Interstate 25
Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
between Broadway and Lincoln Avenue in Lone Tree
Lone Tree, Colorado
Lone Tree is a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,873 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lone Tree is located at . It is on the northern border of Douglas County, and directly adjacent to Arapahoe County...
, and I-225 between I-25 and Parker Road in Aurora
Aurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
, with widening of the road to 5 lanes and light rail being built. The highway project was completed on August 22, 2006. The light rail line known as the Southeast Corridor opened shortly after 11 a.m. on November 17, 2006. The line covers 19.1 miles (30.6 km) and includes thirteen new stations, with parking available at all but the Louisiana/Pearl
Louisiana/Pearl (RTD)
Louisiana/Pearl is an island platformed RTD light rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the E, F and H Lines, the station was opened on November 17, 2006, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District. It primarily serves the Washington Park and Platt Park...
station.
Projects under development
FasTracksFasTracks
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...
: A major project to dramatically expand the metro area's rail service. The less densely populated north metro area will receive two commuter rail lines, while the west metro will receive a light rail line and a commuter rail line. In addition, a commuter rail line will connect Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport
Denver 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...
to downtown. Union Station will be redeveloped into the hub of the rail network, with a large mixed-use transit-oriented development built around it. Several existing lines will be extended. This project is scheduled to be completed in 2014.
External links
- RTD's official website
- Transit Alliance - A non-profit coalition of 40 local governments, business associations and citizen groups promoting expanded rail and bus transit in the Denver Metro region.
- Passenger Advocacy for Rail Transit