G Line Grand Opening Set for Friday, April 26

DENVER (April 1, 2019) – The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is pleased to announce that the grand opening for the G Line, which will run through Denver, Adams County, Arvada and Wheat Ridge, will be on Friday, April 26. 

The 11.2-mile electric commuter rail line will connect passengers from the westernmost station, at Wheat Ridge & Ward, to Union Station in downtown Denver in 25 minutes. The line includes six additional stations and a total of 2,230 new parking spots. Local fare will be required to ride the G Line, which will operate between 4 a.m. and 12:30 a.m., with 15-minute frequency from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and every 30 minutes during off-peak hours.

The project is part of RTD’s 2004 voter-approved FasTracks program to expand transit across the Denver metro region. The G Line will be operated by RTD concessionaire Denver Transit Partners (DTP), which also manages operation of the University of Colorado A Line to Denver International Airport and the B Line to Westminster under a federally funded public-private partnership.
Ridership on the G Line has been forecast at 9,000 passenger trips per day during the first year, and at 12,900 daily trips in 2035.

“As RTD marks its 50th anniversary of people moving people, I am thrilled that this line will soon provide another excellent option to get riders where they need to go,” said RTD General Manager and CEO Dave Genova. “Many people have worked hard to make this project a reality, and I cannot underscore how grateful we are for the continued patience the public has displayed during this process.

“It is of utmost importance to me that this line, like all of our projects, is safe and reliable for our passengers. I am confident that we have done this. We are ready.”

The project originally was slated to open in 2016. The G Line, like all FasTracks commuter rail lines, includes wireless positive train control (PTC) technology, a complex system that reduces the risk of catastrophic train accidents. RTD is the first transit agency in the United States to build PTC technology into a new rail system from the ground up, which has required extensive testing and modification of the system. RTD and DTP have been working diligently with state and federal regulators to secure their approvals.  

The G Line will open with quiet zones in place along the entirety of the line. Quiet zones – railroad segments where train operators don’t have to sound their horns on a routine basis – are established once all regulatory approvals have been processed. RTD assisted Arvada, Wheat Ridge and Adams County in the application process to secure these approvals. Horns can continue to be used in emergency situations; if maintenance workers, pedestrians or vehicles are on or near the tracks; if there are issues with gate timing at any of the G Line’s 16 crossings; or if a train must use automatic train control (ATC) instead of PTC.

The two-car commuter rail trains on the G Line include 91 seats in each car, two ADA-compliant seating areas, luggage racks, overhead carry-on storage areas, and space for skis and bikes. Trains are designed to travel faster than light rail trains over longer distances, with fewer stops. Passengers board at the same level as station platforms. Commuter rail service debuted in the Denver metro area in April 2016, with the introduction of the University of Colorado A Line.

RTD will be providing a wealth of G Line-related information in the coming weeks, about safety, celebratory events and changes to bus service along this rail corridor. For the most current details, visit RTD’s home page, G Line page and social media platforms.  

ABOUT RTD

The Regional Transportation District celebrates 50 years of service this year. The transit agency develops, operates and maintains a public transportation system that meets the need of close to 3 million people within an eight-county service area in the Denver Metro region. The agency’s buses, rail lines, shuttles and additional services provide 100 million annual passenger trips. For more information, visit rtd-denver.com, call 303-299-6000 and follow along on social media: www.facebook.com/RideRTD, on Twitter @Ridertd, @ridertd on Instagram and rideRTDco on YouTube.

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