A Line (Denver)

A Line (Denver)
Name	A Line (Denver)
Type	Commuter rail
System	RTD (Regional Transportation District)
Status	Operational
Locale	Denver, Colorado; Denver International Airport
Start	Union Station (Denver)
End	Denver International Airport
Opened	April 22, 2016
Operator	Denver Transit Partners
Stock	Nippon Sharyo DMUs
Line length	23 mi

A Line (Denver) is a commuter rail link connecting downtown Denver with Denver International Airport via Union Station (Denver), serving as part of the RTD (Regional Transportation District) rail network. The line integrates infrastructure from the FasTracks transit expansion, links major hubs including Central Park (Auraria) and Peoria station (RTD), and interfaces with regional services such as BNSF Railway freight corridors and the E-470 Public Highway Authority controlled access near Peña Boulevard. The service was financed and constructed through a public–private partnership involving Denver Transit Partners, Kiewit, and AECOM.

History

The origin traces to the voter-approved 2004 Denver FasTracks referendum and the FasTracks program, conceived during the administration of Governor Bill Owens and supported by the Regional Transportation District Board of Directors. Planning involved environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act and coordination with Denver International Airport authorities and the City and County of Denver. Construction contracts were awarded to a consortium led by Kiewit Infrastructure and URS Corporation; operations were later contracted to Denver Transit Partners, a consortium including Fluor Corporation and Stanley Consultants. The line opened on April 22, 2016 following commissioning by RTD (Regional Transportation District), but initial operations suffered from technical and reliability problems prompting reviews by Federal Railroad Administration standards and corrective measures overseen by Colorado Department of Transportation stakeholders.

Route and stations

The route extends from Union Station (Denver) northeast along the former Missouri Pacific Railroad and corridor rights-of-way, running adjacent to Interstate 70 and Peña Boulevard before reaching Denver International Airport. Stations include downtown Union Station (Denver), Peña Station, and intermediate stops at Central Park Station, 40th Avenue & Colorado Boulevard, and others serving neighborhoods such as Auraria and Stapleton, Denver. The line crosses over and parallels freight infrastructure owned by BNSF Railway and navigates near key facilities such as Denver International Airport concourses and the Concourse B area. Transit-oriented development along the corridor has involved partnerships with Denver Housing Authority and private developers connected to projects in Stapleton and Central Park.

Operations and rolling stock

Operations are managed under contract with Denver Transit Partners for RTD (Regional Transportation District). The fleet initially comprised diesel multiple units manufactured by Nippon Sharyo, chosen after procurement decisions influenced by lifecycle cost analyses and similar orders placed with agencies like Caltrain and Metra. Trainsets operate on a schedule targeting 15- to 30-minute headways depending on time of day, with fare integration into the RTD FasTracks fare system and transfers to Denver Union Station regional bus and light rail services such as the D Line (RTD) and E Line (RTD). Crew staffing, dispatching, and maintenance involve coordination with contractors including Amtrak connections at Union Station (Denver) and regulatory compliance with Federal Railroad Administration operating rules.

Ridership and performance

Ridership patterns reflect commuter flows between central Denver and Denver International Airport, with peak volumes tied to flight schedules at Denver International Airport and events at venues like Pepsi Center and Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Initial ridership lagged behind projections from the FasTracks program leading to policy reviews by the RTD Board of Directors and coverage in outlets such as The Denver Post and Westword. Performance metrics have been evaluated against standards promoted by Federal Transit Administration grant programs and state oversight by Colorado Department of Transportation, with subsequent reliability improvements following remedial actions addressing issues raised by operational audits.

Infrastructure and safety

Infrastructure includes grade-separated crossings, dedicated right-of-way segments, welded rail, concrete ties, and station platforms constructed to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Safety systems include Positive Train Control implementations guided by Federal Railroad Administration regulations and coordination with local first responders such as the Denver Fire Department and Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office for incident response near the E-470 corridor. The line's proximity to BNSF Railway freight operations required negotiated track rights and dispatch arrangements with BNSF Railway and interchange protocols with Union Pacific Railroad in regional planning. Following early operational incidents, maintenance regimes were revised with involvement from contractors like Kiewit and signaling firms including Siemens.

Future plans and expansions

Future planning considers service frequency increases, fleet upgrades possibly replacing or supplementing Nippon Sharyo DMUs, and integration with proposed B Line (RTD) and G Line (RTD) extensions from the FasTracks program. Regional transportation planning by Denver Regional Council of Governments and RTD (Regional Transportation District) contemplates airport access improvements, multimodal connections to Denver International Airport concourses, and transit-oriented development collaborations with entities such as the Denver Office of Economic Development and private developers active in Central Park (Denver). Funding avenues reference federal programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration and state-level initiatives coordinated with the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Category:Railway lines in Colorado Category:Transportation in Denver