G Line opening set for Friday, April 26

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) announced 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. There is the added access available to residents and businesses at Pecos Junction and 41st & Fox, where residents can board both the G and the B Lines, and cross-platform transfers will mean riders from throughout the corridor will not have to go all the way to Union Station(DUS) to change to the other line. In many cases, this travel beats or equals auto drive time and is less effected by weather and congestion. Finally, with published schedules, arrival times at DUS will mesh nicely with the A Line departures to DIA.

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 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 current details, visit RTD’s G Line page. Or contact Shelley Cook, Director of District L at 720.935.9224 or [email protected].