Two major construction projects impacting the Auraria Campus will begin Monday, Dec. 20, including construction activities for the Regional Transportation District (RTD’s) West Corridor Light Rail line project and the demolition of the tennis courts in preparation for the construction of Metro State’s Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center.

Both will result in the loss of some parking spaces immediately and in the future, as well as the temporary closure of some streets.

RTD
RTD’s on-campus construction, approved by the Auraria Board of Directors today, is expected to last through fall 2011 and includes:

· The construction of a new Light Rail station

· The re-routing of the SE/SW Light Rail Line tracks

· Building a new section of Curtis St.

· Building tracks for the West Corridor Light Rail

· Removal of the Burnham Yard Lead (the freight train tracks that run adjacent to the existing light rail)

The current Auraria West station will remain open during the construction, except for just prior to the new station being opened before the start of the 2011 fall semester. The College community will be notified of the closing as the dates become finalized. Watch @Metro for updates on this and other construction information.

RTD construction timeline (see map)
Dec. 20 – 31

· Curtis St. will be closed to vehicle access between the existing Curtis St. train crossing and Old Colfax Ave.

· Access to Lot K, as well as the MO-1 and MC-5 to MC-10 buildings will still be possible from 7^th St. and Curtis St. during this time.

· Use Walnut St. to access parking areas on 5^th St. and the Administration Building.

· The northern sidewalk on Curtis St. that borders Lot F should remain open during this construction work.

Dec. 27

· Parking Lot F will be permanently closed.

· Parking Lot B will be reduced in size and the 5^th Street entrance will be closed. The new entrance to Lot B will be from Old Colfax Ave.

Jan. 3

Curtis St. should reopen to traffic.

Jan. 3-17

· 5^th St. vehicular access will be closed between the existing 5^th St. train crossing (adjacent to the Administration Building) and Old Colfax Ave.

· Access to Lots A, E and G as well as the Administration Building will still be available off 5^th St.

· Pedestrian access will be allowed on the 5^th St. sidewalk.

Jan. 18

5^th St. will be open for the start of the spring semester.

During the spring semester, RTD will be doing road and track construction in parts of the former F and the closed portion of Lot B.

The West Corridor light rail service will begin in May 2013.

For more information on RTD’s West Corridor construction on the Auraria Campus and up-to-date schedule information, visit www.ahec.edu/campus/constructioncommunication.htm. For more information on RTD’s West Corridor project, please visit http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/wc_1.

Demolition of tennis courts to begin
Also starting Dec. 20, the tennis courts located near Lot R will be demolished to make way for the Metro State Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center project. Fencing will be put in place around the tennis courts to limit access during demolition and allow site work to begin on the project.

Additionally, Lot R will be closed on Dec. 23 in order to demolish the median at Auraria Pkwy. and 12th St., and relocate the parking lot identification sign.Alternative parking is available in:

· TAPS - $8 daily

· Tivoli Lot - $6 daily

· Lot D - $4.50 daily

The sidewalk on the campus side of Auraria Pkwy. will be closed for the majority of the project. Detour signage will be posted to direct pedestrians.

The primary detour path is using Larimer St. to get between downtown and the campus, and then getting to Auraria Pkwy. via 10th St. or 9th St. See the detour route in yellow here . Construction of the Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center is tentatively slated to begin in March 2011.

The Auraria Board voted today to put the new tennis courts on Auraria's new property on the south side of Colfax, but a specific location has yet to be determined.