West rail line facts
- Length (miles): 12.1
- Vehicle Type: Light Rail
- Stations: 12
- Parking: 5,605 new parking spaces
- Frequency of Service:
- Denver to Federal Center: 7.5 min (peak)/15 min (off-peak)
- Federal Center to Jefferson County: 15 min (peak and off-peak)
West rail line at a glance
- The West Rail Line is part of FasTracks – RTD’s voter-approved multi-year comprehensive plan to expand quality transit service in the Denver metro region.
- The West Rail Line is a 12.1-mile light rail transit corridor extending from Denver Union Station to Jefferson County, through Denver, Lakewood and Golden.
- The West Rail Line has 11 new stations including Decatur/Federal, Knox, Perry, Sheridan, Lamar, Lakewood • Wadsworth, Garrison, Oak, Federal Center, Red Rocks College and Jefferson County Government Center • Golden. It also serves four existing stations along the Central Platte Valley Cooridor: Auraria West, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Pepsi Center-Elitch Gardens, and Union Station.
Project overview
- The West Rail Line Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) began in 2001 and identified impacts on the community and environment, as well as mitigation measures.
- The Final EIS was issued in fall 2003, and a Record of Decision from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) was received in spring 2004.
- In November 2004, the FasTracks initiative was passed by voters, providing funding for a regional rapid transit system, including the West Rail Line.
- In early 2007, the West Rail Line project team conducted an internal Value Engineering (VE) exercise to look at ways the project could be more efficient and cost-effective. As a result, FTA requested that an Environmental Assessment (EA) be completed to fully identify and document any impacts of VE.
- The West Rail Line project received a Full Funding Grant Agreement from FTA on Jan. 16, 2009.
- RTD signed the Notice to Proceed to the construction contractor on June 16, 2009.
- Major construction began in 2009 with the line opening April 26, 2013.
West rail line schedule
West rail line map
