Project overview

• The Southeast Corridor Light Rail Line is 19 miles long. It runs along the west side of I-25 from Broadway in Denver to Lincoln Avenue in Douglas County, and in the median of I-225 from I-25 to Parker Road in Aurora, connecting the two largest employment centers in the Denver region.
• In 1995, CDOT, RTD and the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) began conducting a Major Investment Study (MIS) in an effort to find the best solution to the ever-growing problem of congestion in the southeast corridor. In 1998, CDOT, RTD, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) joined forces to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Record of Decision was issued in March 2000.
• In May 2001, the project was named the Transportation Expansion (T-REX) Project, and the Southeast Corridor Constructors team, a joint venture of Kiewit Construction and Parsons Transportation Group, was selected as the design-build contractor.
• The Transportation Expansion (T-REX) Project was a $1.67 billion highway expansion and light rail project directed by the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation District. In addition to widening I-25 and I-225 in the southeast corridor of the Denver metro area and building a light rail transit line, T-REX built several bridges and interchanges, improved drainage, enhanced bicycle and pedestrian access, and provided transportation management elements.
• Of T-REX’s total $1.67 billion budget, the light rail portion was $879 million, and the highway portion was $795 million.T-REX was funded through voter-approved bond issues. In 1999, voters approved separate RTD and CDOT bond issues.In November 2000, RTD also received a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for $525 million from the FTA.
• On September 24, 2001, T-REX celebrated its groundbreaking, and construction began in early October.
• In 2004, construction of the Elati Light Rail Maintenance Facility was completed.
• Construction was completed in September 2006. After final testing of the light rail system, the Southeast Corridor Light Rail opened ahead of schedule and under budget on November 17, 2006.

Light rail system characteristics

• 19 miles of light rail, 15 miles along I-25 from Broadway to Lincoln Avenue, and four miles along I-225 to Parker Road.
• 13 light rail stations (Louisiana•Pearl; University of Denver; Colorado; Yale; Southmoor; Belleview; Orchard; Arapahoe at Village Center; Dry Creek; County Line; Lincoln; Dayton; and Nine Mile).
• Park-n-Rides at all stations except for the Louisiana•Pearl station, which features a neighborhood plaza built over the Louisiana•Pearl Light Rail Station, nicknamed “The Louisiana Lid.” The Park-n-Rides provide a total of over 7,000 parking spaces along the Southeast Corridor.
• New light rail maintenance facility with new communications and control system and 34 new light rail vehicles.
• Extensive bus feeder system to transport light rail riders to and from the stations.
• The art-n-Transit program showcases a separate theme at each station with functional art, such as windscreen benches, decorative ironwork, trash receptacles, and shelters. Commissioned art has also been provided at each station.
• Frequency of Trains:
  • Trains from Lincoln Avenue to Downtown Denver
    • 10 minute average peak headways
    • 15 minute average off-peak/weekend headways
  • Trains from Nine Mile to Downtown Denver
    • 15 minute average peak headways
    • 15 minute average off-peak/weekend headways

Light rail estimated ridership

• Average Weekday Ridership Projections:
  • Year 2009 projection 33,800
  • Year 2020 projection 38,100
• Average weekend ridership (Observed):
  • E, F, and H lines totalled almost 41,427 in 2011.

Southeast corridor map

Updated January 2013