Denver Opens New Union Station Bus Terminal to Great Expectations

Cathy Proctor reports on the opening of the Union Station Bus Terminal in Denver. The bus terminal is part of a $480 million project to transform the historic Union Station into a intermodal hub at the center of the city's new FasTrack light rail system.

"FasTracks calls for more than 120 miles of rail to be built throughout Denver, with the first line from Golden completed in 2013. A rebuilt Union Station lies at the center of the network," reports Cathy Proctor.

Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill LLP (SOM) designed the new concourse as well as a master plan for the surrounding transit oriented neighborhood. Here's how a press release from SOM announcing the opening describes the new terminal's role in the new Union Station: "the firm converted 20 acres of former rail yards into an urban transit district that orchestrates light rail, commuter and intercity rail, bicycle and bus routes, and pedestrian pathways into an intuitive intermodal hub. The Union Station Bus Concourse is situated at the heart of this vibrant network, directly beneath the rail station."

FasTracks calls for more than 120 miles of rail to be built throughout Denver, with the first line from Golden completed in 2013. A rebuilt Union Station lies at the center of the network.

Montey Whaley was on the scene for the terminal's first weekday service: "The 22-gate, underground bus terminal…got its first trial by fire Monday morning when weekday commuters began streaming into the facility for the first time." As for the facility's performance, reviews were positive, and "RTD officials reported few problems with the concourse, which was full of helpful volunteers, RTD security and Denver police."

For pretty pictures, see Geoff Manaugh's post on Gizmodo.