Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Denver

Denver, Colorado:
Light Rail

Description

The Denver Regional Transportation District operates a 15.8-mile light rail system. The main line runs from Littleton in the southwest to downtown Denver, where it splits at Auraria into a branch to the Five Points area northeast of downtown, and a branch along the Platte River valley to Union Station.

South of downtown Denver, the line operates on private right of way alongside the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks. In downtown Denver, the line runs in the curb lane of Stout and California Streets, which are one-way southbound and northbound.

The first 5.3-mile segment from 30th & Downing (in Five Points) to I-25 & Broadway opened in October 1994. The 8.7-mile southwest extension to Mineral Avenue in Littleton opened in July 2000. The 1.8-mile Platte Valley extension opened in April 2002.

Construction is now under way on the Southeast Corridor extension, which will branch from the existing line at I-25 & Broadway and run along I-25 and I-225. Completion is scheduled for 2006.

Fares are collected on the Proof of Purchase (POP) system, which requires passengers to purchase tickets at vending machines at the stations and keep them available for random inspection. As of summer 2000, the normal ("local") fare was $1.25 during peak hours and $0.75 off-peak; passengers to and from stations south of Englewood paid an "express" fare of $2.00 at all times.

Pictures

These pictures are from a very brief visit (about two hours) in July 2000, one week after the southwest extension to Littleton opened.

[picture] The station at 16th & Stout in downtown Denver. Southbound trains run in the curb lane of Stout; northbound trains run one block over on California.

[picture] I-25 & Broadway was the southern terminal of the line until the southwest extension opened.

[picture] At I-25 & Broadway, an old Denver streetcar serves as a waiting room.

[picture] Passengers debark from a train that has just arrived at Mineral Avenue in Littleton, the southern terminal. Service began here just one week earlier.

[picture] Passengers puzzle out the ticket vending machine at the Mineral Avenue station. In the background, a train waits at the end of the track before pulling into the station to begin its northbound trip.

[picture] Passengers wait next to a train which will be leaving Mineral Avenue shortly, on the other side of the station from the first picture above.

Other Sites

This page was last updated on 15 May 2005.

Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Denver

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