PHASE 1
The Phase 1 Project alignment generally follows the BNSF Railway (BNSF) Brush Subdivision to the cross-country segment joining up with the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) Boulder Branch (UP) just south of the 72nd Avenue Station, a distance of approximately 6 miles. This is referred to as the BNSF/UP Boulder Branch alternative.
The southern terminus is at RTD’s DUS throat near the Park Avenue Bridge; and the northern terminus is the 72nd Avenue area in unincorporated Adams County. The alignment is located adjacent to and just east of the BNSF Brush Subdivision in Denver. In Commerce City, the alignment crosses over the BNSF mainline and is generally adjacent to the Old Burlington Ditch, passing through private commercial and industrial parcels in what is referred to as the “cross-country area.” The alignment connects with the UP Boulder Branch ROW near West 70th Avenue. This alignment is generally depicted in Figure 2.1.
Two stations are proposed for this service. They are National Western Stock Show Station and 72nd Avenue Station.
The majority of the alignment is single-track. There are two passing track segments—one is between the DUS throat and 38th Street; the second is between south of 72nd Avenue and just north of I-76. The second track in these locations allows trains traveling in opposite directions to pass without delay and maintain the peak period service plan for 15-minute headways between DUS and the 72nd Avenue Station.
PHASE 2
(a) The Phase 2 Project alignment generally follows the UP Boulder Branch between 72nd Avenue Station and the 162nd Avenue Station, a distance of approximately 12 miles.
(b) The southern terminus is generally at 72nd Avenue Station and the northern terminus is approximately the 162nd Avenue area in Thornton. The alignment connects with the UP Boulder Branch ROW near West 70th Avenue. North of Commerce City, the alignment remains within the UP Boulder Branch ROW, which was purchased by RTD in 2009. This alignment is generally depicted in Figure 2.1.
(c) Six stations are proposed for this service. They are:
(i) 88th Avenue Station
(ii) 104th Avenue Station
(iii) 112th Avenue Station
(iv) 124th Avenue/Eastlake Station
(v) 144th Avenue Station
(vi) 162nd Avenue/SH7 Station
(d) Details of the requirements for each station are shown in Attachment 4 (Design and Construction
Requirements).
(e) The majority of the alignment is single-track. There are three passing track segments—one
between north of Thornton Parkway and just north of 104th Avenue; the second between south of
124th Avenue and south of York Street; and the third between SH 7 and the end of line at
approximately 162nd Avenue. The second track in these locations allows trains traveling in
opposite directions to pass without delay and maintain the peak period service plan for 15-minute
headways between DUS and the SH 7/162nd Avenue Station.