In a region with a full calendar of transit construction projects and high hopes for a positive stream of news, a premier and historic project has not gone as smoothly as hoped.
John Aguilar reports: "The price tag to man the 11 at-grade crossings along the 23-mile train route out to Denver International Airport since it opened a year ago: nearly $6 million and counting, according to calculations made by The Denver Post."
The high price tag isn't being paid by taxpayers (the Regional Transportation District's private sector partner Denver Transit Partners gets that privilege), but it's "perhaps the most visible and vexing sign that the state’s pre-eminent transit project has had a far rockier rollout than many had hoped."
Moreover, the problems with the gates have "ripple effects" to other parts of the RTD's capital investment program. According to Aguilar, "[a]s long as hang-ups persist with the timing of the gates that stop motorists from driving onto the tracks, there can be no progress on opening the G-Line to the western suburbs."
The cost comes from stationing officers in both the Denver and Aurora police departments at the crossings, as well as flaggers. RTD and Denver Transit Partners officials have not set any timetable for the reduction of staffing requirements at the A-Line's grade crossings.
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Recent problems on the commuter rail operations contracted out by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Denver's Regional Transportation District caught the eye of Governing's transportation and infrastructure reporter.
Denver Train Problems Caused by Tall Buildings: RTD
The A and G Lines use GPS for their crossing gates, they claim that a new software patch and other improvements would resolve those issues and put the G line on schedule.
Train to Denver Airport Threatened with Closure over Crossing Gate Woes
The Federal Railroad Administration is threatening to revoke the waiver that allows the A-Line to operate with flaggers at grade crossings unless the Regional Transit District presents a plan by mid-month to fix the crossing gate problems.
Rethinking Redlining
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
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Why a Failed ‘Smart City’ Is Still Relevant
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When Sears Pioneered Modular Housing
Kit homes sold in catalogs like Sears and Montgomery Ward made homeownership affordable for midcentury Americans.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions