GDT > Projects > L Line Extension to 38th & Blake
AKA the ‘Central Rail Extension’…
Note the high-block platforms which are unlikely to be required by the time the extension is built.
As part of RTD FasTracks program, there are plans to extend the L Line north towards 38th & Blake Station where it would connect with the A Line that provides service to Central Park, Aurora and Denver Airport.
Alignment Overview
30th & Downing Station
From the existing 30th & Downing Station, the tracks swing right onto Downing Street and continue north.
33rd & Downing Station
Two side-running platforms are located at 33rd & Downing in a less than desirable mixed-flow configuration which should be completely reviewed against the City of Denver’s latest priorities regarding use of streets. In addition, this station could be combined with the 35th & Downing stop at new site located on the existing parking lot just east of Downing St and south of Bruce Randolph Ave.
35th & Downing Station
A second intermediate station was proposed at 35th & Downing. The immediate area surrounding this site has undergone some major changes with Lawrence St and 36th Ave being heavily reconfigured. A large Sinclair / 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store has also been built adjacent to the station site.
As mentioned above, this station a is good candidate to be combined with the 33rd & Downing stop at a new site just south of Bruce Randolph Ave.
38th & Blake Station
The alignment turns left from Downing on to 36th St. After crossing Blake St, it enters the RTD 38th & Blake Station site which has enough space reserved for two tracks and platforms.
Central Rail Extension Mobility Study
“…RTD should consult with [the] FTA about the potential for including part or all of the CRE (both its short-term extension to the East Rail line and potentially its longer-term expansion options) into a Small Starts grant application, with the financial and political support of the local community, as the projects that have been most successful in securing federal funding (particularly Small Starts projects) have been those that showed a significant amount of local support and a wide variety of local funding as matching funds.”
Central Rail Extension Mobility Study Final Report, December 2014
The Central Rail Extension (CRE) Mobility Study looked at a range of options for extending the current L Line. While all the options at the east end had the line going to 38th & Blake Station, things got more creative at the Downtown end with spurs to Civic Center, turnaround loops at the Convention Center and even a second Downtown Rail Loop being considered. In the end, the study recommended with moving forward with improvements to the Downtown Rail Loop at 14th Street, which after further analysis were subsequently cancelled as it was concluded that single-unit L Line trains could operate reliably on the original track layout.
Analysis of properly converting the line to a ‘streetcar’ and using smaller light rail vehicles such the ones in Portland and Seattle, concluded that these would be inadequate to meet future customer demand, should the line be extended. In addition, it was recommended that the line stick with 750V dc overhead electric power.
Finish the L Line Campaign
GDT is running a campaign to get RTD to work with DOTI to finish the L Line extension to 38th & Blake Station. Click the button below for more details: