Inside RTD FasTracks APRIL 2016 FINAL

April2016
WelcometoInsideFasTracks--yourmonthlyupdateaboutFasTracksnews,progressandpeople
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FasTracksNews
AllAboard…
The‘TraintothePlane’arrivesApril22
Duringitsrecenttestingphase,theUniversityofColoradoALinecommuterrailtrainspullsintothenew
end-of-linestationatDenverInternationalAirport.Thenewdowntown-to-airportserviceopensApril22.
PHOTOCREDIT:DenverInternationalAirport
OneofthemostanticipatedraillineopeningsinDenverhistoryhappensApril22.
TheUniversityofColoradoALineis23milesofcommuterrailthatwillmakelocal,domestic
andinternationaltraveleasierthanever.Thenewlinewilloffereasy,affordableandreliable
connectionsbetweendowntownDenver,DenverInternationalAirport,andthecommunities
alongI-70.
FromUnionStationtoDIA,theridewilltake37minuteswithstopsatsevenstations.Trainswill
departevery15minutesforthemajorityoftheday.Travelersdrivingtostationsalongtheline
willfind4,329parkingspacesatsixofthestations.And,it’sonly$9fromanywhereinthe
metroDenverregion.
StationsandparkingspaceslocatedalongtheUniversityofColoradoALineare:
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UnionStation(17th&Wynkoop–downtownDenver).TrainisatPlatform1
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38th&BlakeSt.–200parkingspaces
40th&ColoradoBvld.–200parkingspaces
CentralPark(inthecommunityofStapleton)–1,500parkingspaces
Peoria(nearI-70)–550parkingspaces
40thAvenue&AirportBlvd•GatewayPark–1,079parkingspaces
61st&PenaBlvd.–800privateparkingspaceswithfeesnotlikeRTDPark-n-Rides
DenverInternationalAirport–parkingatmultiplelots,pricingdeterminedbyDIA
TheUniversityofColoradoALineispartoftheRTDFasTracksEagleP3project,thenation’sfirst
fullpublic-privatepartnershipfortransit.LocalRTDtaxescombinedwitha$1.03billionfederal
grantand$450millionfromDenverTransitPartners,the34-yearconcessionairethatwillbuild,
operateandmaintainthetrains,makeupthe$2.2billionproject.
ComecelebratetheGrandOpeningApril22andApril23
April22–10a.m.–noonopeningceremonyatDenverInternationalAirport
FreeridesontheUniversityofColoradoALinenoon—9p.m.
You’reinvitedtothegrandopeningceremony!JoinGovernorJohnHickenlooper,Denver
MayorMichaelHancockandotherspecialgueststocommemoratetheopeningofthe
UniversityofColoradoALine.Youcanalsowatchtheceremonythroughalivefeedfrom
DenverUnionStation.
TrainsbeginrunningimmediatelyaftertheceremonyfromallstationsalongtheUniversityof
ColoradoALineuntil9p.m.—free!Note:Parkingisnotfreeattheairport.Airportparkingfees
apply.
April23–FREERIDESandSTATIONPARTIES
Ridethetraintotheplane—oranyraillineintheRTDsystemfree—5a.m.to10p.m.Access
theUniversityofColoradoALinefromanyoftheeightstations,includingUnionStationandthe
AirportStation—orridedowntoDenverUnionStationonanyofthelightraillinesandtransfer
tothetraintotheairport.
StationParties–10a.m.-2p.m.
Stationpartiesarelocal,community-hostedpartiesatallstationsalongtheUniversityof
ColoradoALine.Comeandenjoythefood,funandentertainment.Checkoutallthegreat
activitiesatallthestations.Pleasenote,thepartyat38th&Blakeruns10a.m.to4p.m.
FormoreinformationabouttheUniversityofColoradoALineandgrand-openingceremonies,
visithttp://www.rtd-denver.com/a-line-stations.shtml#event-details
Denverjoinseliteworldwidegroupwithtrainstotheairport
RTDanditsinnovativeFasTracksprogram,amulti-billiondollarvoter-approvedtransit
expansionplan,hasdemonstratedtheneedanddemandforatraintotheairport.Thisnew
trainisconsidereda“gamechanger”fortheDenvermetroregionandtheairport.Moreover,
thisnewtrainwillplayamajorroleinboostingtheregion’sglobalpresence.Readthewhole
storyhere.
YoumustTakethe‘A’Train–Hearitandseeithere
Whileresidentsintheregionand
internationaltravelerswillsoonbetaking
theUniversityofColoradoALinetoDenver
InternationalAirport,there’sanother
famous‘A’trainworthnoting.
Takethe‘A’Trainisajazzstandardmade
famousbyDukeEllingtonandwrittenby
BillyStrayhornin1939.Thecomposition
becameEllington’ssignaturetune.Itwas
firstrecordedJan.15,1941andthetitle
referstothethen-newAsubwayservice
throughNewYorkCity,whichatthattime,
ranfromeasternBrooklynupintoHarlem
andnorthernManhattan.
EllingtonofferedStrayhornajobandgavehimmoneytotravelfromPittsburghtoNewYork
City.Hewrotedirectionsforhimonhowtogettohishousebysubwaythatbegan,“TaketheA
Train.”Therestishistory.Here’sashortrecordedsampleofthefamoustune:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/DukeEllington_TakeTheATrain.ogg
And,here’saYouTubevideoofEllingtonandhisbandplayingthetunefromthefilm,“Reveille.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY
RTDhostsrailsafetydayfordisabledcommunity,April19
InanticipationoftheopeningoftheUniversityofColoradoALinefromUnionStationtoDenver
InternationalAirport,RTDishostingacommuterrailsafetydayfortheAmericanswith
DisabilitiesAct(ADA)community,April19fromnoonto3:30p.m.
ThepurposeoftheeventistofamiliarizetheADAcommunityaboutallthenewcommuterrail
featuresatstations,pedestriancrossings,andhowtoboardanddeboardfromthetrains.
AnyoneinterestedinjoiningthescheduleofactivitiescanRSVPtoKatieAngellat303-2992611,oremail:Katherine.Angell@rtd-denver.comtoplanfortransportationneedstoandfrom
theevent.
Nationallyacclaimedartistsinstalluniqueartworksalong
UniversityofColoradoALine
LocalartistSeanO’Meallieprepares“BalloonManRunning”whichwasinstalledApril6attheCentral
ParkStation.TheartcanbeseenonthesouthwestcornerofUnitaStreetandSmithRoad.
RTD’sartcollectionisgrowing.Theagency’sArt-n-Transitprogramisaddingsixnewpiecesat
stationsalongthenewUniversityofColoradoALine.Artwillbeinstalledateverystation,
beginningwiththe38th&BlakeStationandonto40th&Airport•GatewayParkStation.
SeanO’Meallie,theartistof“BalloonManRunning,”isanativeofNewOrleans,La.,taught
studioartattheUniversityofColoradoinColoradoSprings,wasatoyinventorinNewYork
City,andhashadhissculpturesexhibitedandtouredintheU.S.andEurope.
Formoreinformation,aboutallartworkinstallationsalongtheUniversityofColoradoALine,
pleasevisitwww.rtd-denver.comorcontactArt-n-TransitManagerBrendaTierneyat
Brenda.Tierney@rtd-denver.comor303-299-2401.
InvitingourSocialFans—EnjoytheRideandTraveltheWorld
Keepaneyeoutforsomefun,interactiveandengagingsocialmediadrivencontestsaroundthe
GrandOpeningoftheUniversityofColoradoALine.You’llseethebuzzhappeningonFacebook,
TwitterandInstagram.Checkoutthesegreatprizes…
StayorGoVacationPrizePackage
Inpartnershipwithradiostations99.5The
MountainandAlice105.9,RTDisofferingan
amazingtrip-giveawayfortwowinners!
Youcanchoosebetweenaflyawaytripto
ChicagotoseeBeyoncé,inconcert,ortakea
luxuryDenverstay-cationwithticketstosee
StingandPeterGabriel.Firstplacewinnercan
choosebetweentheChicagovacationorthe
Denverstay-cation.Secondplacegetstheremainingprize.RTDemployeesandfamilymembers
arenoteligibletowinbutbetellyourfriendstoenter.Maybethey’lltakeyouwiththemifthey
win.Seeprizepackagesdetailsathttp://www.rtd-denver.com/contest
#traintotheplaneSelfieSpot-Snap.Post.Win!
TraveltheworldontheUniversityofColoradoALine!
AteachoftheStationPartiesonSaturday,April23,lookfortheuniquetraveldestinationSelfie
SpotnexttotheRTDtent.Postyourselfiepictherewiththehashtag#traintotheplane.
Participantscan“visit”uniquedestinationslikeChina,Mexico,LondonandParis.Photostagged
with#traintotheplanewillappearatrtd-denver.com/galleryandonMonday,April25,RTDwill
randomlychoosewinnersforsomegreatprizeslikegiftcardsandtheatreseasontickets.
ParticipantscanalsoenterourStayorGoVacationContest.RTDemployeescansnapandpost
selfiesbutarenoteligibletowinprizes.Seedetailsathttp://www.rtddenver.com/gallery.WherewilltheUniversityofColoradoALinetakeyou?
Ridershipup45%infirstthreemonths
RTD’sBRTService,theFlatironFlyer,exceedsexpectations
TheFlatironFlyer,RTD’snewbusrapidtransitservice,whichbeganJan.3,iscarryingan
averageof14,4428passengersperweekday—that’sanincreaseof45percentfromthe
previousbusservicealongtheU.S.36corridor—servingDenver,Westminster,Broomfield,
Louisville,SuperiorandBoulder.
TheFlatironFlyerservicehassixall-stopandexpressroutesthatreplacedthepriorbusroutes.
TheBRTservicerunsevery3-15minutes,dependingontimeofdayandlocation.Inadditionto
morefrequency,theFlatironFlyerhasincreasedweekdaytripsto92andincreasedweekend
tripsto42.
TheFlatironFlyerprovides18milesofhigh-frequencybusservicebetweenBoulderand
Denver.Thisbusrapidtransitserviceoperatesinacombinationofthenewlyconstructed
expresslanes,thegeneralpurpose,andstartingMay1,ontheshoulderofU.S.36,improving
reliability.
Also,U.S.36nowhasoverheadsignagewhichdisplaysreal-timehighwayconditions,allowing
busesandothervehiclestomoveintoalternativelanestoavoidtrafficdelays.
FormoreinformationabouttheFlatironFlyer,schedulesandservicessee:http://www.rtddenver.com/flatiron-flyer.shtml
BusonShoulderOperationsonUS36BeginMay1
BeginningMay1,RTD’sFlatironFlyerbusesonU.S.36willhaveanothertooltoprovidefrequentand
reliableservicetoitspassengersduringtimesoftrafficcongestionswiththestartofbus-on-shoulder
operations.
Busescanoperateontheshoulderonlyundercertainconditions:
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Thetrafficspeedinthegeneralpurposelanesislessthan35mph—anytimeofday.
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Thebuscannotexceedthespeedofgeneralpurposetrafficbymorethan15mph,withthe
maximumspeedbeing35mph.
Privatevehiclesmustremaininthegeneralpurposelanes,butbrokendownvehiclesandemergency
responderscanstillusetheshoulder.
Fornow,youwillonlyseebusesontheshoulderofU.S.36.However,thankstorecentlegislativeaction,
itcouldbeaddedtootherhighways,ifworkisdonetoexpandtheshoulders.
NewTransitLinesOpeningin2016
Staytunedformoreinformationontheexcitingopeningofthesetransitlines.
http://www.rtd-denver.com/Fastracks.shtml
ProgressUpdates
CentralRailExtension
DenverUnionStation
EagleP3Project
EastRailLine
FreeMetroRide
GoldLine
I-225RailLine
MaintenanceFacilities
NorthMetroRailLine
NorthwestRailLine
SoutheastRailExtension
SouthwestRailExtension
U.S.36BusRapidTransit
WestRailLine
RTDBoardMeetings
TheRTDBoardholdsregularmeetingsmostTuesdays.Learnmore…
CalendarofEvents
Foracompletelistingofupcomingeventsandactivities,clickhere.
NowPresenting
ToscheduleaFasTrackspresentationforyourgroupororganization,contacttheFasTracks
PublicInformationTeamtodayat303-299-6990.
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FasTracksisRTD'svoter-approvedtransitexpansionprogramtobuild122milesofcommuterrailand
lightrail,18milesofbusrapidtransitservice,add21,000newparkingspaces,redevelopDenver’s
historicUnionStationandredirectbusservicetobetterconnecttheeight-countydistrict.Formore
informationaboutFasTracks,visitwww.rtd-fastracks.com.
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