GDT > Projects > G Line Extension to Downtown Golden
Extension to Downtown Golden
A G Line extension to Downtown Golden has long been proposed as RTD owns the right-of-way, however the project is not included in the FasTracks plan. The BNSF ‘Gold Line’ to Coors Brewery would remain.
Alignment Overview
Ward Road Station
From the existing Ward Road Station, the tracks would continue across Ward Road on the north side of the alignment. The BNSF freight tracks would be moved and altered as appropriate, in the same manner as the Phase I project.
Indiana Street Flyover
In order to preserve access for freight railroad customers, the G Line will need to switch from the north to the south side of the freight tracks. If the flyover was centered on Indiana Street it would also eliminate the grade crossing for passenger trains.
44th & McIntyre Station
The one intermediate station on the extension would be a park-n-ride station site, located at the intersection of SH 58 and McIntyre Street.
Downtown Golden Station
It is likely that the line will have to be elevated for the last portion into Downtown Golden to provide a station that serves Washington St and avoid a grade crossing on Ford St. A number of possibilities exist for the exact station location including the site of the former CoorsTek facility and a location parallel to 9th St. As Golden currently lacks a dedicated bus transit facility, this should be incorporated into the rail station design as well.
I-70 to Golden Major Investment Study
“The LPA involves the construction of doubletrack LRT from DUT to Ward Road (previously referred to as Phase I of Alternative 5A-LRT), a distance of about 11 miles. As part of the LPA, it is assumed that Phase II (Ward Road to the City of Golden) would be implemented after completion of Phase I.”
I-70 to Golden Major Investment Study Final Report, November 2000
The I-70 to Golden Major Investment Study looked at a full range of transportation options for improving transportation between Denver and Golden including extra highway lanes, a busway, light rail and heavy (commuter) rail, on both tracks shared with BNSF and as a dedicated right of way.
The study introduced the concept of splitting the G Line into two phases, ‘Phase I’ being the line that was eventually built to Ward Road and ‘Phase II’ being the remainder of the line to Golden. The end-to-end trip from Denver Union Station to Golden was calculated as taking 35 minutes by heavy rail.
That said the study concluded with a ‘Locally Preferred Alternative’ (LPA) that the Gold Line alignment be converted to light rail (LRT) and Ward Road Station be located by the old park-n-ride site located just off I-70 with the light rail line making a short detour from the Gold Line alignment. Thankfully this recommendation was not fully taken up and Phase I of the line was eventually built as heavy rail as part of the FastTracks Eagle P3 project.
Finish the G Line Campaign
GDT is running a campaign to get RTD to finish the G Line extension to Downtown Golden Station. Click the button below for more details: