East rail line facts
- Length (miles): 22.8
- Vehicle Type: Electric commuter rail
- Stations: 6
- Parking: 3600 parking spaces
- Frequency of Service: 15 min (peak) / 15 min (off-peak)
East rail line at a glance
- The East Rail Line is part of FasTracks, RTD’s voter-approved multi-year comprehensive plan for high quality transit service in the Denver metro region.
- The East Rail Line is a proposed 22.8-mile electric commuter rail transit corridor that runs between Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport.
- Six stations are proposed for the East Rail Line, including 38th/Blake, 40th/Colorado, Central Park Blvd., Peoria/Smith, Airport Blvd./40th Ave. and Denver International Airport.
- Construction on the East Rail Line began in August 2010, with the line opening to the public in 2016.
Project overview
- Plans for rapid transit between downtown Denver and Denver International Airport began in 1997 when a Major Investment Study (MIS) was conducted to determine recommendations for commuter rail, light rail, highway widening and transportation management elements.
- In 2003, the East Rail Line Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) began in conjunction with Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) studying improvements to I-70 East.
- In 2007, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) selected the East Rail Line and Gold Line for the Public-Private Partnership Pilot Program (Penta-P).
- The East Rail Line project released a Draft EIS in January 2009, a Final EIS in September 2009 and received a Record of Decision (ROD) from the Federal Transit Administration in November 2009, signaling the completion of the environmental process.
- In September 2009, RTD released a Request for Proposals (RFP), seeking a private partner(s) to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gold Line and East Rail Line.
- Denver Transit Partners was selected in June 2010 to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the East Rail Line and other Eagle P3 elements under a 34-year concession contract.
- The Eagle P3 project received a $1.03 billion Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) from the Federal Transit Administration on Aug. 31, 2011.
East rail line schedule
East rail line map
