B Line (RTD)

B Line
Bridge carrying B and G lines over freight lines and South Platte River
Overview
Type	Commuter Rail
System	Regional Transportation District
Status	Under Construction
Locale	Denver Metropolitan Area
Termini	Union Station Westminster
Stations	9 (proposed)
Website	Official website
Operation
Opened	2016
Owner	Regional Transportation District
Operator(s)	Regional Transportation District
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Electrification	Overhead lines
Route diagram Legend Downtown Longmont (TBD) Gunbarrel (TBD) Boulder Junction (TBD) Louisville (TBD) Flatiron (TBD) Church Ranch (TBD) Westminster (2016) US 287 (Federal Boulevard) I-76  G  Line I-70 I-25 South Platte River  N  Line (2018)  A  Line Amtrak California Zephyr Union Station A  ( G  2016), ( N  2018) ▼  C ,  E , &  W  Lines

The B Line, also known as the Northwest Rail Line during construction, is a commuter rail line which is part of the commuter and light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver Metropolitan Area in Colorado.^[1] The first 6.2-mile section from downtown Denver to south Westminster is under construction as part of the FasTracks project. When fully built out the B Line will be a 41-mile high-capacity route from Denver Union Station to Longmont, passing through North Denver, Adams County, Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville and Boulder.^[1]

Route

The B Line's southern terminus is at Union Station in Denver. It runs on a railroad right-of-way north sharing track with the G Line until the Pecos Station after which the two routes diverge. The B Line continues north to its terminus at Westminster Station.^[2] The route will take approximately 11 minutes to go from Union Station to Westminster Station. It will not stop at either the 41st & Fox Station or the Pecos Junction Station.^[1]

Stations

Name	Opening Year	Interchange	Municipality / CDP	park-n-Ride?	Status
B Line (Union Station - Downtown Longmont)
Union Station/ Lower Downtown (LoDo)/ Coors Field/16th Street Mall	2014	A  &  G  Lines  C ,  E , &  W  Lines Amtrak FREE MallRide (16th St)	Denver	No	Open
Westminster	2016	None	Westminster	Yes	Under Construction
Church Ranch	TBA	None	Westminster	Yes	Proposed
Flatiron	TBA	None	Broomfield	Yes	Proposed
Louisville	TBA	None	Louisville	Yes	Proposed
Boulder Junction	TBA	None	Boulder	Yes	Proposed
Gunbarrel	TBA	None	Boulder	Yes	Proposed
Downtown Longmont	TBA	None	Longmont	Yes	Proposed

FasTracks

In 2004, Colorado voters approved FasTracks, a multi-billion dollar public transportation expansion plan. The first segment of the B Line is under construction as part of the Eagle P3 project and is expected to open in 2016. The remaining segment, extending to downtown Longmont, will require additional funding in order to be completed prior to 2044.^[3] The announcement angered many voters in the cities and suburbs north of Denver, who had approved a sales tax increase in 2004 to fund the FasTracks project.^[4]

The downturn in the economy and significant cost increases and delays associated with building and operating Northwest Rail led to the initiation of the year-long "Northwest Area Mobility Study". This collaboration between northwest area governments and transportation partners created an alternative to the voter-approved commuter rail plan in order improve transportation in the short-term around the northwest area. The study concluded in 2014 and made a number of recommendations that were adopted by the RTD Board of Directors in June 2014 including a bus rapid transit system along U.S. Route 36 between Denver and Boulder. ^{[5][6][7][8][9]} This new system has been criticized as bus rapid transit creep.^[10]

References

1. "RTD - B Line". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
2. "RTD - Northwest Rail Line - Project Map". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
3. Regional Transport District. "Northwest Corridor FAQ". Regional Transport District. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
4. Whaley, Monte (August 10, 2012). "RTD officials face legislative grilling over commuter rail delay". The Denver Post. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
5. "Boulder council: RTD proposals have broad impacts". Boulder Daily Camera.
6. "Boulder concerned about RTD transit plan along U.S. 36". Boulder Daily Camera.
7. "RTD proposes cut of direct Boulder service". The Denver Post.
8. "U.S. 36 reconstruction ongoing as is branding plan". The Denver Post.
9. Whaley, Monte (February 4, 2013). "RTD foots bill for study of northwest transit system, cities sign on". The Denver Post. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
10. "U.S. 36 bus transit plan is not what it seems, group says". The Denver Post.