1 B Line Update RTD FasTracks Citizens Advisory Committee Sept. 16, 2015
Northwest Rail (B) Line 6.2 miles electric commuter rail Downtown to Westminster at the 71 st /Lowell Station 11-minute travel time to Westminster Opens in 2016 2 From Westminster to end of line in Longmont (green line on map) is future construction; additional funding is still needed to build out that rail corridor
Northwest Rail Westminster Segment BNSF is shifting its track to make room for commuter rail track installation 64th Avenue bridge construction started on the Northwest Rail corridor and is progressing well Westminster Station pedestrian underpass is complete and station platform work continues Overhead wiring installation to occur in the coming months Rendering of Westminster Station with TOD and park areas 3
Westminster Station Parking Garage The City of Westminster hosted a ground breaking for the parking garage at the Westminster Station The City is paying for the 600-space structure that RTD passengers can use Transit-oriented development and a regional park is slated to open in the area when the B Line opens to Westminster in summer 2016 Henry Stopplecamp, Dave Genova, Director Lorraine Anderson and Director Larry Hoy attend the City of Westminster s ground breaking of the parking garage. 4
Commuter Rail Vehicles 40 commuter rail vehicles are in Denver 8 are out on alignment for testing There are enough vehicles currently in Denver for revenue service The last six of the total 66 will arrive by the first quarter of 2016 Commuter rail cars are being delivered four at a time from Philadelphia and are undergoing static testing at the CRMF. 5
Commuter Rail Vehicle 201 passenger capacity per car (91 seated, 110 standing) 79 mph maximum operating speed 85 feet long, 10 feet wide, 15 feet tall Stainless steel exterior Two doors on each side of car Clear passage on each door is 50 in width ADA-compliant level boarding (no steps, roll-on/roll-off) Increased safety features Positive train control Vehicle monitoring systems Improved security with video surveillance 6
Construction Progress Early construction in 2014 on pedestrian underpass at Westminster Station shows shoring, steel piling and foundation wall excavation 7
Construction Progress Completion of north portion of pedestrian underpass shows the graded alignment for the relocated BNSF Railway freight track 8
Construction Progress Support pier in foreground and abutment pilings in the distance outline the 64th Avenue Bridge over BNSF and the Northwest Rail alignment 9
Construction Progress Workers place precast concrete panels for Mechanically Stabilized Earth wall on 64th Avenue Bridge west approach 10
Construction Progress View from southwest corner shows the west approach wall of the new 64th Avenue Bridge the only road bridge on the entire commuter rail project 11
Construction Progress Clear Creek Bridge arches over the 100- year floodway in this view looking south toward the Interstate 76 overpass 12
Construction Progress Closer view of the Clear Creek commuter rail bridge showing multiple spans to clear the flood plain 13
Construction Progress Looking northwest from Pecos Junction under I-76 toward the Clear Creek bridge, shows the BNSF Railway track; Northwest Rail will be on the left 14
Construction Progress Work crews put finishing touches on the concrete retaining wall under I-76; Northwest Rail will pass through the portal on the left 15
Construction Progress Pecos Junction Station, with concrete piers for stairs, elevator and pedestrian bridge, is just south of the split between Northwest Rail and Gold Line, seen in the distance 16
Construction Progress Looking south, the shared Northwest Rail/Gold Line alignment passes below the Union Pacific Belt Line bridge, next to BNSF track 17
Construction Progress Utah Junction Flyover carries the Northwest Rail/Gold Line tracks over the rail yards 18
Construction Progress On top of the Utah Junction Flyover, looking south to downtown Denver, shows a good view of the super-elevation of track to allow higher speeds through the curve 19
Construction Progress Utah Junction Flyover returns to ground near the commuter rail maintenance facility, but allows truck access to the BNSF intermodal yard 20
Safety Outreach Program Safety outreach has picked back up for the East Rail Line schools and Operation Lifesaver - RTD safety training lesson plans will be presented to schools Outreach to the Gold Line and Northwest Rail Westminster schools is underway; posters and handouts to be distributed in the coming weeks ADA community has requested familiarity safety training at atgrade crossings, platforms and on trains; RTD is working with DTP to schedule those First responders undergoing DTP safety training at CRMF; a drill is scheduled for spring 21 A young child learns how to safely cross an at-grade crossing by using RTD s mock crossing, available for events as an interactive teaching tool
Stay Safe Around Trains East Rail Line will start a year-long testing program in late spring Pay attention to signs, gate arms and flashing lights before crossing any train track Never trespass on any train track it is illegal and can result in serious injury or death Commuter rail vehicles and trains always have the right of way drivers and pedestrians must pay attention to avoid collisions Trains and commuter rail vehicles cannot swerve to avoid trespassers and although they can stop, it can take up to a mile to reach a full stop 22
Electrification Commuter Rail Commuter rail vehicles are powered by overhead electrical lines The wires carry 25,000 volts of electricity and are deadly to anyone who gets too close to them Follow at-grade crossing safety signage and stay away from the power lines Do not touch, climb toward, throw anything or try to reach any of the power lines If the wires are up, they are LIVE! 23
Quiet Zones In Quiet Zones, commuter rail and freight trains will not blow horns at crossings except in an emergency The East Rail Line and Gold Line are planned to be full Quiet Zones All vehicle and pedestrian crossings have safety measures in place so you ll know when a train is coming even if it doesn t blow their horn Always pay attention to safety signage Cross the tracks only at designated crosswalks when it is safe to do so 24
Positive Train Control & Amtrak Crash "Based on what we know right now, we feel that had such a system been installed in this section of track, this accident would not have occurred. National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt Train was going 100 m.p.h. in a 50 m.p.h speed zone; PTC would have automatically stopped or slowed down the train 25 Emergency workers look through the remains of a derailed Amtrak train in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 13, 2015. Photo courtesy of Reuters.
26 How does PTC work?
DBE/SBE/WIN DTP has hired a total of 50 project employees through the RTD Workforce Initiative Now (WIN) program DBE/SBE commitments have exceeded goals (see chart) DTP has paid out $260 million to disadvantaged and small design and construction firms and has contracts for remaining work that will push construction payouts over the project goals Disadvantaged and Small Business Enterprises Through April 2015 In Millions Design DBE Design SBE Construction DBE Goal $17.2 $3.2 $184.3 $43.7 Committed $19.9 $7.6 $220.6 $66.5 Paid $19.2 $7.4 $186.8 $46.7 Construction SBE Paid % of Goal 116% 237% 120% 152% 27
Eagle P3 Project Economic Impacts Through August 2015, the RTD Eagle P3 Project added more than $1,301 million to the local economy ü DTP Wages Paid $213 million ü Equipment, Services and Supplies $532 million ü Subcontractors $556 million DTP currently has more than 1,180 employees, with a total of 6,820 employees working on the project to date DTP has subcontracted to more than 625 firms who employ crews and purchase supplies from local distributors DTP directly contracts with local certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs)/Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) currently have exceeded our 20% commitment to both DBEs/SBEs 28
Questions? For more information on RTD s Eagle P3 Project: www.rtd-fastracks.com/ep3_2 29