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New rail lines lighten load for daily travelers
Safety concerns may remain unresolved
By Amy Woodward
awoodwa5@mscd.edu

Photo by Rachel Crick • crick@mscd.edu Light-rail passengers wait for the train to leave the Colfax at Auraria station.

The opening of the new southeast light-rail lines on Nov. 17 has been a success for the Regional Transportation District, instantly doubling the number of riders who use the light rail.

Passengers took advantage of the free service provided to all during the inaugural weekend of the 19-mile, $880 million project, which brought four new lines to Denver. RTD saw record-breaking results in the number of passengers who used the new service over the weekend, according to an RTD news release.

“The opening of the southeast light rail has been a smashing success,” Cal Marsella, general manager of RTD, stated in the news release. “It is very gratifying to open our fourth consecutive light-rail line on time, and on budget, and have it so widely embraced by the public.”

On Nov. 18, 75,000 riders used the free-ride service on all four of the new light-rail lines and on the two existing lines.

“Our first week went very well. We didn’t have to pass anybody by or not let people on,” said Georgann Fisher, public affairs and media relations specialist for RTD.

Many riders are pleased with the new lines and the service it provides to those living near Interstate 25.

“I think they’re great. It saves me a lot of time … usually there are a lot of people standing, but you can usually find a seat,” said Jean Verrier, a light-rail rider. Verrier said he plans to use the new lines to go to work and to Avalanche and Broncos games.

The new lines moved 11,000 passengers to the Broncos game Nov. 19. After the game, the trains were packed, and fans had to wait in line nearly 45 minutes to commute home.

“There were some problems getting all of the passengers on the train, but we were able to get all passengers on their way home in less than an hour,” Fisher said.

Fisher said the cars can accommodate up to 64 seated persons and up to 130 when some are standing.

According to Fisher, the timing to accommodate all passengers in less than an hour was a record-breaker compared to their usual carry-out average.

Most rail-station parking lots and garages have had more than enough room for park-and-ride commuters, but the real test came on Nov. 27, when the holiday week ended and classes at Auraria resumed.

“We are still waiting on the numbers for today’s riders,” Fisher said Nov. 27. “With school back in session, it will tell us what ridership will really be like, since we have three light-rail lines to provide service to these schools and their stations.”

Soleida Talavera, a Metro senior, commutes from Nine Mile Station and said she usually doesn’t have a problem with parking and is enjoying the new lines.

“It saves me time and relieves the stress of having to drive,” Talavera said.

She noted that sometimes the cars for the light rail can get a little cramped.

Fisher said for opening day there were 34 cars operating, and that number can be increased to 83.

“We have an additional 84 cars on order, and they will start coming in at the end of next year or in 2008.”

With the new lines running, concerns have been raised regarding safety at Auraria, with a focus on the intersection at Colfax Avenue and 9th Street. Commuters traveling eastbound on Colfax who have to make a left onto 9th Street do not have a left arrow. Drivers not only have to beat oncoming traffic but also cross the light-rail tracks, which are frequently in use.

Early this month, Heather Coogan, chief of the Auraria police, provided fliers to Auraria’s Learning Center requesting that parents use an alternate route to get to the center.

“We’ve only had three accidents since January of 2005,” Coogan said, “but with one accident and with one seriously injured, (it) is one too many.”

Traffic Engineers Services for the city and county of Denver is responsible for installing traffic control devices and lights. Anthony Lavato, an engineer at the company, said there is an issue at the intersection because of the trains.

According to Lavato, engineers for the city decide when to install a green arrow based on safety, traffic volumes and possible delay times.

Lavato said that engineer John Lasala, who is no longer with Traffic Engineering Service, performed a study for the intersection and concluded it didn’t warrant a turn arrow.

“He said that it would disrupt operations for the light rail and traffic going westbound on Colfax,” Lavato said.

Lasala provided solutions for the campus, suggesting that it create its own route to the Learning Center, but said the school was not willing to do that.

Steve Hersey, an engineer with CDOT said he could always perform a new study, but the traffic patterns haven’t changed.