First Leg of Denver's Multi-Billion Dollar Transit Expansion Set to Open Next Month

After passing a trial run with few problems this week, Denver's 12.1-mile West Rail Line is set to open to the public next month.

1 minute read

March 22, 2013, 9:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


When it opens to the public on April 26, the West Rail Line (officially dubbed the "W" line) will be the first portion of the immense metro-wide FasTracks program to be completed, reports Monte Whaley. "The W Line will run between Denver Union Station and the Jefferson County Government Center in Golden. It passes through 11 new stations that include six Park-n-Ride lots with 5,606 parking spots."

"At rush hour, the $707 million line will run every 7½ minutes. RTD expects about 20,000 people will ride each day. The line includes 20 at-grade crossings — which is an intersection at the same level as the train — 10 light rail bridges, three street bridge reconstructions, three pedestrian bridges, two light rail tunnels and more than 4 miles of bike paths."

"New bus routes will get people closer to the rail stations while new sidewalks, bike paths and pedestrian bridges have been built to connect Denver's South Platte River Trail to Lakewood, [RTD spokeswoman Pauletta Tonilas] said."

Thursday, March 21, 2013 in The Denver Post

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Nithya Ramen talks to an older man. She is smiling and wearing a yellow dress. They are both outside.

Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor

Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.

November 7 - Los Angeles Times

Mamdani behind a microphone, in front of a snowbank

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge

A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.

November 6 - CNN

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6 - Grist

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.