G Line (RTD)

The G Line, also known as the Gold Line during construction,[1] is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) electric commuter rail line between Denver Union Station and Wheat Ridge, Colorado.[2] Long scheduled to open in October 2016, the opening was delayed until mid-2019.[3][4] The reason specified for the delay was timing issues experienced by the other commuter rail lines in the RTD system, which currently require a Federal Railroad Administration waiver to operate their grade crossings manually, and the wireless crossing system used by those lines.[5]

G Line
G-Line train at 41st and Fox Station
Overview
Type	Commuter rail
System	Regional Transportation District
Status	Operational
Locale	Denver metropolitan area
Termini	Union Station Wheat Ridge/Ward
Stations	8
Website	RTD-Denver - G-Line
Operation
Opened	April 26, 2019
Owner	Regional Transportation District
Operator(s)	Denver Transit Partners
Technical
Line length	11.2 miles (18.0 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead lines, 25k V AC 60 Hz
Route diagram Wheat Ridge/Ward Arvada Ridge Olde Town Arvada SH 121 (Wadsworth Bypass) SH 95 (Sheridan Boulevard) Amtrak to Emeryville 60th & Sheridan/Arvada Gold Strike Clear Creek US 287 (Federal Boulevard) Clear Creek/Federal I-76  B  to Westminster Fare Zone Boundary Pecos Junction CRMF I-70 41st & Fox I-25 South Platte River  N  (Opens 2020) Amtrak to Chicago  A  to Denver Airport Union Station  A  B  ( N  2020)  C  E  W

History

For the original RTD light rail line known as the G Line, see R Line (RTD) § History.

The Gold Line is part of the RTD’s FasTracks expansion plan, and is operated by Denver Transit Partners as part of the Eagle P3 public–private partnership.[6] The line received a Record of Decision approval from the Federal Transit Administration in November 2009 allowing the line to be developed.[7] Groundbreaking for the line occurred on August 31, 2011, at a ceremony in Olde Town Arvada where US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the approval of a $1 billion grant to fund the project.[8]

The line is 11.2 miles (18.0 km) in length,[8] and was expected to cost $590.5 million.[7] There are a total of eight stations: Union Station, 41st Avenue, Pecos, Federal, Sheridan, Olde Town, Arvada Ridge and Ward Road.[7]

The project's nickname of the "Gold Line" refers to the June 1850 discovery of gold by Georgia prospector Lewis Ralston in Ralston Creek, which runs a few blocks from the Olde Town Station.[9]

Delays

Sign telling that a station is closed.

The G Line was originally scheduled to open in late 2016, but was delayed due to crossing gate issues with the RTD's A and B lines. The automated crossing gate system, unique to the RTD system, failed to receive federal and state approvals and relied on flaggers on a federal waiver for the first two lines. After RTD solved timing issues with the gates, subject to Federal Railroad Administration approval, the G Line opened without flaggers and quiet zones in place on April 26th, 2019. Testing began in January 2018 and the state's Public Utilities Commission approved the automated gates in March.[10][11] Pending FRA approval of the crossing systems in December 2018, the agency claimed it could begin operations as late as Q1 2019.[12] On April 1, 2019, RTD announced the opening of the G Line on April 26 following approval from respective organizations.[13]

Route

The G Line's southern terminus is at Union Station in Denver. It runs on a railroad right-of-way north sharing track with the B Line until Pecos Junction station after which the two routes diverge. The G Line continues west to its terminus in Wheat Ridge.[14]

Stations

Name	Opening Year	Interchange	Municipality / CDP	park-n-Ride?	Status
G Line (Union Station – Wheat Ridge / Ward)
Union Station	2014	A  &  B  Lines  C ,  E , &  W  Lines Amtrak FREE MallRide (16th St)	Denver	No	Open
41st & Fox	2019	B  Line	Denver	Yes	Open
Pecos Junction	2019	B  Line	North Washington	Yes	Open
Clear Creek/Federal	2019	None	Berkley	Yes	Open
60th & Sheridan/Arvada Gold Strike	2019	None	Arvada	Yes	Open
Olde Town Arvada	2019	None	Arvada	Yes	Open
Arvada Ridge	2019	None	Arvada	Yes	Open
Wheat Ridge/Ward	2019	None	Wheat Ridge	Yes	Open

References

1. http://www.rtd-denver.com/g-line.shtml
2. "RTD - G Line". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
3. Paul, Jesse (November 18, 2016). "RTD will not open G-Line or R-Line before end of year as planned". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
4. "FRA Approves Extended G Line Testing Period". RTD News. Regional Transportation District. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
5. Baumann, Joella (June 29, 2017). "Passengers waiting for RTD G-Line to open may be waiting until 2018". Denver Post. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
6. "Eagle P3 Commuter Rail Project, Denver, USA". Railway Technology. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
7. "Fastracks Gold Line To Wheat Ridge Approved". The Denver Channel. November 3, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
8. "USDOT provides $1 billion for Denver RTD's Eagle P3 commuter-rail project". Progressive Railroading. September 1, 2011. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
9. "Stories Along the Line: Gold Line carries a rich name". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. Aguilar, John (January 2, 2018). "Full-day testing on G-Line raises hope that long-delayed service is now on track". Denver Post. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
11. Worthington, Danika (March 28, 2018). "RTD wins state approval for G-Line start and eventual removal of costly A-Line flaggers". Denver Post. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
12. Aguilar, John (December 17, 2018). "Denver's tall buildings partly to blame for A-Line, G-Line problems, RTD tells feds". Denver Post. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
13. Wingerter, Meg (April 1, 2019). "RTD: Long-delayed G-Line from Denver to Wheat Ridge will open April 26". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
14. "RTD - Northwest Rail Line - Project Map". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved February 11, 2015.

Template:Attached KML/G Line (RTD)

KML is not from Wikidata