Seemingly esoteric matters of crossing safety and gate activation times are presenting a major obstacle for RTD's commuter rail expansion projects in the Denver area.
John Aguilar reports on a major setback for the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in the Denver region, after the Colorado Public Utilities Commission denied a commuter rail safety plan affecting the A, B, and G lines.
According to Aguilar, the Public Utilities Commission denied a "request to change the timing of crossing gates on several of the metro area’s commuter rail lines, as well as turning down a planned resumption of full testing on the as yet unopened G-Line."
The request was essential to the RTD's plan to set an opening date for the G Line. "The rulings also leave in question when flaggers, who at substantial cost have been stationed at the crossings along two rail lines for more than a year, will no longer be needed," according to Aguilar. Aguilar led coverage by The Denver Post of the extra costs incurred to pay flaggers at 11 at-grade crossings on Denver's airport train.
Read the full story: RTD’s A, B and G lines remain in limbo after state regulators reject commuter rail safety plan
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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.
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