The Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors has named three finalists in a statement late Tuesday, in their search for the district’s new general manager and CEO. 

The three finalists are Stephanie Dawson, Dave Genova and Richard Leary.

RTD provided the below information on each candidate in Tuesday’s statement:

Dawson is the acting chief operating officer at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She joined the Port Authority in 1995. Her current responsibilities include overseeing aviation, tunnels, bridges, terminals, port commerce, PATH Rail, operations services and the newly created office of storm mitigation and resilience.

Genova is the current interim general manager and CEO for RTD. He has been with RTD for more than 21 years, serving as the assistant general manager of safety, security and facilities for the past eight years. In that position, his responsibilities included overseeing safety certification for rail line openings and the renovated Denver Union Station.

Leary is the chief service officer for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the third largest urban mass transit system in North America. His responsibilities include the day-to-day revenue operations, customer services and safety at the TTC.  Prior to joining the TTC, he was the chief operating officer for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

“This is a critical time in the history of RTD, so we are pleased to have such strong finalists,” board chairman Charles Sisk said. “We have searched across the world to find the most qualified candidates to ensure RTD continues to be the best transit agency in the nation.”

RTD will host a public open forum with the finalists from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Embassy Suites Denver Convention Center, 1420 Stout Street.  Attendees will be asked to provide feedback in writing on each finalist following the forum. Comments also may be submitted online at www.rtd-denver.com/gminput.

The RTD Board will interview the finalists on Friday and is expected to appoint a full-time general manager by the end of year.

Phil Washington served as RTD’s General Manager for 6 years. It was announced in March that he had accepted a position with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority – also known as LA Metro.

Exterior view of the RTD Commuter Rail Car at Denver’s Union Station.

Multiple RTD rail lines are expected to open in the near future. The commuter rail line that connects Denver’s Union Station to Denver International Airport has been announced to begin service on April 22, 2016.

The G Line, a commuter rail line that will run between Denver’s Union Station through Arvada to Wheat Ridge is expected to begin service in 2016.

Also slated to begin service in 2016 is the R Line, a 10.5 mile light rail line that will run along I-225 in Aurora.

The N Line, a commuter rail line that will provide service from Denver’s Union Station to the metro area’s northern suburbs began construction in 2015. This phase of construction will take the line as far north as 124th Avenue in Thornton. Future plans for the line have it extending an additional 5.5 miles to the north to North Thornton Highway 7.

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Rendering of Solana Olde Town Station courtesy ARA Newmark.

A 15.3 acre site at 6855 West 56th Avenue in Olde Town Arvada has been purchased by Southern California-based ReyLenn Properties. This property is slated to be developed into a 352-unit apartment community.

The Denver office of ARA Newmark provided brokerage services to the buyer in this transaction.

ARA Newmark Managing Director Chris Cowan stated, “ReyLenn Properties has been deeply committed to Olde Town Arvada and this location for years. Their persistence in navigating the many complexities of this site will bring future residents an exciting and high-quality community that will redefine the Olde Town Arvada lifestyle.”

KTGY architecture and planning firm designed this project.

This residential development has been titled Solana Olde Town Station. One, two, and three bedroom units will be offered ranging in size between 650 to 1,354 square feet with 72 percent of units having attached garages. Community amenities will include a pool, yoga and spin studio, and a golf simulator.

RTD’s Gold Line, an 11.2 mile commuter rail line will have a station at Olde Town Arvada. The line will provide rail service to Denver’s Union Station and will have connecting service to Denver International Airport. The commuter rail vehicles can travel up to a speed of 79 mph. The Olde Towne Arvada station broke ground in 2014 and is expected to be fully completed in the summer of 2016.

“We feel Olde Town Arvada is a very dynamic place to be right now and we are excited to be part of the community. Equally as exciting was the kindness and sincerity we experienced within the area. It really has a neighborhood feel,” stated Jason Smith partner for Reylenn.

Solana Olde Town Station is expected to break ground this month with construction slated to be completed in the fall of 2017.

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Current RTD shuttle bus on Denver’s 16th Street mall. DUR spring 2015.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors announced it has approved the purchase of 36 electric shuttles. These new vehicles will be used for the 16th Street MallRide in downtown Denver. The 45-foot shuttles are 100 percent electric powered and will have a 12-year lifespan that will equate to $100,000 in savings over that time according to RTD.

“The current shuttles have been in operation for over fourteen years and it is time to replace our aging fleet to continue providing high-quality service to our riders,” said RTD Interim General Manager and CEO Dave Genova. “The new shuttles will provide the most advanced and clean-energy technology to help the environment while meeting the unique needs of vehicle operation on the busy 16th Street Mall.”

The cost of 36 electric vehicles will not exceed $27.1 million and are being manufactured by BYD Motors Inc. in China. Assembly of the shuttles will take place in California.

Design feature have been incorporated into the shuttles specifically to meet the needs of the 16th Street MallRide. Wide doors will be incorporated into the vehicles for easy boarding and exit of passengers. Low floors will also be included for a smooth transition on and off the shuttles. This fleet of vehicles will also have air conditioning for Denver’s hot summer days.

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Exterior view of the RTD Commuter Rail Car at Denver’s Union Station DUR.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors has approved a naming rights agreement with the University of Colorado. This is the first agreement of this kind in RTD’s history. According to RTD this agreement will cover the commuter rail line from Denver’s Union Station to Denver International Airport. Advertising on the Flatiron Bus Rapid Transit line that runs along US 36 from Union Station to Boulder is also part of the deal.

RTD will receive $5 million over the course of five years in this agreement to build the best online stock trading platform. The Board of Directors will also determine how the $5 million is allocated. The line to DIA will be titled the University of Colorado A Line.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the University of Colorado for this first contract through our corporate partnership program,” said Chuck Sisk, RTD Board Chair. “We believe that branded sponsorship is an emerging marketplace with many valuable opportunities for the local and national business communities.”

RTD estimates that the rail line to the DIA will have an annual ridership of 10 million which includes locals and out of town riders. The line to DIA is slated to open in 2016. Trains will run every 15 minutes at peak hours and will travel at a top speed of 79 mph.

“The University of Colorado is excited to partner with RTD on this initiative that brings together the state’s leading public higher education institution with the crown jewel of the largest and newest public transportation project in the United States,” CU President Bruce D. Benson said. “CU is kicking off a major marketing initiative next month and the University of Colorado A Line and Flatiron Flyer will be important parts of the effort.”

RTD is also currently seeking other advertising and sponsorship opportunities through its corporate partnership program.

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RTD light rail. DUR summer 2015.

The planned extension of RTD’s Southeast light rail line is now one step closer to becoming a reality. Last week RTD’s Board of Directors approved a $140 million two-phased contract awarded to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc., to construct the extension in Douglas County.

Construction is slated to begin in the spring of 2016.

“The board’s contract award is a strong symbol of how much we value the collaborative and innovative spirit of working with our regional partners,” said RTD Board Chair Chuck Sisk.

This project will add 2.3 miles of rail to the south along I-25. The extension will conclude at RidgeGate Parkway on the east side of the interstate where a station will be located. 1,300 parking spaces and connecting bus lines will be located at the RidgeGate station. Two additional stations are planned to be added to the extension with one located near the Sky Ridge Medical Center and the other near the planned Lone Tree Center.

“This extension will make it possible for RTD to connect people in a rapidly growing part of the metro area to the rest of the region, including Denver International Airport,” said Dave Genova, RTD’s Interim General Manager.

The projected budget is $233.1 for the entire 2.3 mile extension. Of this budget $34 million was spent by the end of 2014 on environmental analysis, preliminary engineering and design, and eight new light rail vehicles.

The project is being financed through a combination of federal, local and private funding.

The full extension is expected to be completed in early 2019.

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According to Denver Public Works, this light rail station has 5,600 daily boardings and departures and an estimated 43 percent of riders walk to/from transit. Construction on the bridge began in March of 2014.

Below are a couple of photos of the bridge and a short video clip I created:

*Video clip music courtesy Youtube’s free audio library

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Commuter rail maintenance facility. Image courtesy RTD.

In addition to the East Line, the following yet to open rail lines will utilize the facility:

• The Gold Line will operate from Union Station to Arvada
• The Northwest Rail Line will operate from Union Station to downtown Longmont
• The North Metro Rail Line will run from Union Station and will eventually extend to northern Adams County

This week it was announced that the commuter rail maintenance facility was awarded LEED Gold certification for energy efficient design. The 230,000 square foot facility is part of the Eagle P3 project and was constructed by Fluor Corporation.

Commuter rail maintenance facility. Image courtesy RTD.

“This facility will benefit the community for years to come,” said Terry Towle Fluor’s Infrastructure president. “Fluor’s collaborative approach to project development, execution and delivery enhanced the sustainable features of this facility, which is recognized by the achievement of LEED Gold certification.”

Once all the rail lines open, the facility is expected to employ approximately 220 employees that consist of operators, mechanics and support staff.

Also housed at this property is the Operations Control Center that will serve as the nerve center for rail traffic, security and communication.

For more information on RTD’s rail system take a look at their website.

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Rendering of Peña Station courtesy DIA.

Denver International Airport (DIA) and the Regional Transportation District (RTD) have announced that a sixth station will be added to RTD’s East Line adjacent to a planned 400-acre transit oriented development.

RTD’s East Line is a 22.8 mile commuter rail line that is slated to open in 2016. This line will connect Denver’s Union Station with DIA. The original plans for the East Line did not include this sixth station that will be located at 61st and Peña Boulevard.

Travel time from Union Station to DIA was originally slated to be 35 minutes. With this station at 61st, the estimated travel time is now 37 minutes. The commuter trains will travel at a top speed of 79 mph.

“This new station provides a convenient access point into RTD’s regional rail system for commuters and other riders from the growing northeast metro area,” said David Genova, RTD’s interim general manager and CEO. “This improvement would not have been possible without our long-term partnership with Denver, its airport team and the landowners, who worked together to create an asset that will significantly benefit the region.”

Exterior view of the RTD Commuter Rail Car at Denver’s Union Station.

The transit oriented development that is planned to be developed adjacent to this new East Line station has been named “Peña Station.” This master planned mixed-use development is slated to include commercial, multi-family residential, hotel, healthcare and retail components.

The first ground-up construction at Peña Station will be the 112,000 square-foot headquarters facility for Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company.

“This rail stop, anchored by the Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company headquarters facility, will create a unique smart sustainable transit-oriented development which will set the stage for the next generation of transit-oriented developments in North America,” said Cal Fulenwider, President of L.C. Fulenwider Inc.

Rendering of Peña Station courtesy RTD.

The planning of new East Line station and Peña Station has been a joint venture between four property owners, including DIA and L.C. Fulenwider, Inc. They also agreed to an overall finance plan to fund all of the initial infrastructure. Fulenwider will serve as lead developer for Peña Station.

“The transit oriented development at Peña Boulevard Station validates the Mayor’s vision of an Aerotropolis: the airport serving as a catalyst for regional economic development around its perimeter,” said airport CEO Kim Day. “Airports around the world are increasingly using development opportunities to enhance the economic benefits to their airports and their communities and while many are ahead of us, we are now well on our way.”

Construction of the Panasonic facility is expected to begin this October and the East Line is slated to begin service in the spring of 2016 with the Peña Boulevard station being operational at that time.

The post New East Line station with transit oriented development appeared first on Denver Urban Review.

DUR 2015.

Denver Union Station has won the Best Development in Commercial Property Executives (CPE) 2015 Distinguished Achievement Award. After years of redevelopment efforts, The Great Hall at Union Station is now very active with a mix of restaurants and shops. The upper floors of the historic station now serve as the Crawford Hotel. The hotel is named after well known preservationist Dana Crawford who spearheaded the efforts that saved Larimer Square.

Trammell Crow Company served as the owner’s acting representative in the entity comprised of key public and private stakeholders known as the Denver Union Station Project Authority. 

This award is presented to a project that encompasses good teamwork, innovation, benefits the surrounding community, and illustrates sound business and financial decision making.

“We are thrilled for Denver Union Station to be recognized by fellow industry leaders and peers,” said Trammell Crow Company’s Denver Business Unit Senior Managing Director Bill Mosher. “The project’s success is due to the creation of a design-build team, familiar with working on complex intermodal projects and dedicated to delivering a world-class project to the Denver community. The deal included an adaptive and innovative funding process, sustainable design efforts, and compound partnerships with the City and County of Denver, regional and state transportation, and several private developers.”

In addition to the redevelopment of the historic Great Hall is the creation of a transit hub at DUS. A new train platform has been constructed that will serve Amtrak as well as RTD trains.

Exterior view of the RTD Commuter Rail Car at Denver Union Station DUR. 

Beginning in 2016 RTD’s East Line will open. This commuter rail line will provide access from DUS to Denver International Airport (DIA) on trains that will travel up to 79 miles per hour. Trains will cover the 22.8 mile distance between DUS and DIA in 35 minutes.

Also included in the new transit hub is a 22-gate underground bus concourse. The bus concourse was designed with skylights and bright yellow tile to make the subterranean space more inviting to travelers.

Denver Union Station in 1941. Photograph courtesy Denver Public Library.

Back in Denver’s early days the Transcontinental Railroad bypassed Denver when builders elected to construct the railroad through Wyoming. They felt the smaller mountains would be easier to negotiate than building the railroad over the larger mountains of Colorado. The nearest railroad station was in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Denver’s business leaders recognized that for Denver to grow it was critically important to have a rail connection to the rest of the nation. To that end, Denver’s business leaders raised enough money to build a rail spur from Denver to Cheyenne and in 1881 the Great Hall at DUS opened.

Passenger rail travel dramatically decreased during the second half of the 20th century as air and highway travel became more popular. During that chapter DUS became a quiet place. However, through the tremendous efforts of public and private groups, today Denver Union Station is once again alive and back on track.

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Rendering of renovations to Civic Center Station. Courtesy RTD.

Rendering of Civic Center Station Renovations. Courtesy RTD.

is The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has confirmed that it will be moving forward with plans to renovate Denver’s Civic Center Station as stated today in a phone call with RTD’s Communications Manager Tina Jaquez. This station has served as one of the book ends of the 16th Street Mall shuttle. At the other end of 16th Street is Denver’s renovated Union Station.

The Civic Center station also serves as a stop for other RTD bus routes. The station was constructed in the early 1980’s and no major improvements have been made to the station since it began service. The space is 20,000 square feet and RTD is partnering with the Downtown Denver Partnership to create a long-term and short-term plan for Civic Center Station.

Jaquez stated that in addition to the renovations, RTD is looking into possible community uses of the space and potential retail use. Currently a request for proposal has been issued for potential general contractors of the project.

“With the transformation of Union Station complete, our focus is shifting to updating the other end of the 16th Street Mall. Civic Center has served as one of RTD’s busiest regional transit centers and been a part of the downtown landscape for decades. It’s time for this transit hub to get a much-needed facelift and to revitalize the surrounding area to meet the needs of generations to come,” said Jaquez.

Tomorrow RTD will be providing an opportunity for the community to discuss this project with with members of RTD tomorrow at Civic Center Station (1560 Broadway) from 11am to 2pm.

The renovations are slated to begin in March of 2016.

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