W Line (RTD)

W Line
W Line
	W Line bridge over 6th Avenue near the Federal Center
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Regional Transportation District
Locale	Denver Metropolitan Area
Termini	Union Station; Jefferson County Government Center–Golden
Stations	15
Website	Official website
Service
Type	Light rail
System	Regional Transportation District
Operator(s)	Regional Transportation District
History
Opened	April 26, 2013
Technical
Line length	12.1 mi (19.47 km)
Number of tracks	1–2
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead lines, 750 V DC
Route diagram
	Legend
	Amtrak
	California Zephyr
	double track
	single track
	6th Avenue/
	Indiana Street Bridge
	Jefferson County
	Government Center/Golden
	This diagram: view; talk; ;

The W Line, also called the West Rail Line, is a light rail line in Denver, Lakewood, and Golden, Colorado, United States. The W Line was the first part of FasTracks to break ground, on May 16, 2007. The line, the only line to traverse the West Corridor, opened for service on Friday, April 26, 2013.^[1]

History[]

The Denver, Lakewood and Golden Railroad started operations in the area in 1893, switching to electric traction by 1909 as the Denver and Intermountain Railroad. The route ran from the downtown Denver interurban loop, through the Lakewood Dry Gulch near 13th Avenue and continued out to Golden. Interurban service continued until 1950, when all Denver area trolley and interurban service ceased.^[2]

Plans to resurrect a railway line from Denver to Golden were advanced in the mid-1970s and in the 1980s RTD purchased the right-of-way to an unused rail corridor between the two cities.^[3] A Major Investment Study conducted in 1997 stated the need for a rapid transit corridor through the region, and settled on 13th Avenue as the locally preferred alternative. The Environmental Impact Statement was started in 2001 and finished with a Record of Decision or "ROD" in 2004.^[4] A "rail-pulling" ceremony was held on the 13th Avenue corridor on May 16, 2007 and construction started in earnest in early 2008.^[5]

As project costs climbed above the initial estimates, cuts were made, including reducing the line from a double track to a single track operation from west of the Federal Center Station to the end of the line at the Jefferson County Government Center.^[6]

The first full test run of the line happened Jan. 3, 2013 in anticipation of the official opening, April 26, 2013, eight months ahead of schedule.^[7]

Route[]

The W Line follows the Central Platte Valley Corridor (CPV) from Union Station, stopping at Pepsi Center/Elitch Gardens, Sports Authority Field at Mile High and a relocated Auraria West Campus station. It then leaves the CPV corridor, following a new bridge over the UP/BNSF Consolidated Main Line, traveling under Interstate 25, over the South Platte River. The corridor then travels west along the Lakewood Dry Gulch and 13th Avenue until it reaches the Lakewood Industrial Park, where it turns south along the Remington spur to reach the Denver Federal Center. From the Federal Center the line narrows to a single track line and travels west along U.S. 6 and Colfax Avenue to the western terminus at Jefferson County Government Center in Golden. This section is single track with the exception of an intermediate stop at Red Rocks Community College, which is used as a passing siding.^[8]

The W Line is the first light rail route in metro Denver to make extensive use of gated grade crossings within its right-of-way (there were only four such grade crossings on the previously existing network). Some of the route goes through residential areas and concerns about noise led to an innovative solution for the warning system at crossing gates. The warning bells will adjust their volume in response to the ambient noise resulting in 50-70 dB during the evening hours compared to the standard volume of 90-100 dB.^[3]

Four stations along the route were in use previously, including the Auraria West station which was relocated approximately 300 feet (91 m) to the north, and eleven new stations were built for the line.^[9]^[10] Three different fare zones exist along the W Line.^[11]

Stations[]

Fare zone	Municipality	Name	Interchange	Opening year	Park & Ride
A	Denver	Union Station	RTD Commuter Rail: A B G N RTD Light Rail: C E Amtrak: California Zephyr MallRide Flatiron Flyer	2002	No
		Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens	RTD Light Rail: C E	2002	No
		Empower Field at Mile High	RTD Light Rail: C E	2002	No
		Auraria West	RTD Light Rail: C E	2002	No
		Decatur–Federal		2013	Yes
		Knox		2013	No
		Perry		2013	No
	Denver/Lakewood	Sheridan		2013	Yes
B	Lakewood	Lamar		2013	No
		Lakewood–Wadsworth		2013	Yes
		Garrison		2013	No
		Oak		2013	Yes
		Federal Center		2013	Yes
		Red Rocks College		2013	No
C	Golden	Jefferson County Government Center–Golden		2013	Yes

References[]

^ "W Line Fact Sheet" (PDF). RTD Denver. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ "See the history and diversity of the West Corridor, RTD's FasTracks first light rail line". Kevin Flynn's Inside Lane. Archived from the original on 20 June 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
^ ^a ^b T.R. Witcher. "Denver Opens Long-Awaited Extension to Transit System". Civil Engineering Magazine. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
^ "Project History". RTD FasTracks. Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original on 2020-02-21. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
^ "Project Background". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
^ "Transportation project more than a billion dollars over budget". 9 News. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
^ "RTD's West Rail Line sees glitches on first full test run". Denver Post. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
^ "W Line Lessons Learned" (PDF). RTD Denver. Regional Transportation District. 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2022-01-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ "Auraria Campus Happenings". Auraria Higher Education Campus. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
^ "Auraria Station" (PDF). Regional Transportation District. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
^ RTD - West Operations Brochure.pdf

External links[]

Route map:

( • help)

[1] "W Line Fact Sheet" (PDF). RTD Denver. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[2] "See the history and diversity of the West Corridor, RTD's FasTracks first light rail line". Kevin Flynn's Inside Lane. Archived from the original on 20 June 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2010.

[ASCE-3] T.R. Witcher. "Denver Opens Long-Awaited Extension to Transit System". Civil Engineering Magazine. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2020.

[RTD_FasTracks_W_History-4] "Project History". RTD FasTracks. Regional Transportation District. Archived from the original on 2020-02-21. Retrieved 21 July 2018.

[5] "Project Background". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved April 6, 2010.

[6] "Transportation project more than a billion dollars over budget". 9 News. Retrieved April 6, 2010.

[7] "RTD's West Rail Line sees glitches on first full test run". Denver Post. Retrieved January 4, 2013.

[8] "W Line Lessons Learned" (PDF). RTD Denver. Regional Transportation District. 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2022-01-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[9] "Auraria Campus Happenings". Auraria Higher Education Campus. Retrieved August 14, 2011.

[10] "Auraria Station" (PDF). Regional Transportation District. Retrieved April 6, 2010.

[11] RTD - West Operations Brochure.pdf

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