RTD Commuter Rail System APTA Rail Conference June 23, 2015
RTD Eagle & North Metro Commuter Rail System
Today s Presentation Eagle Design, Construction, Systems Commuter Rail Vehicles and CRMF/OCC EC Testing Activities GL/NW Status Safety Outreach Program North Metro D-B Corridor Update Quiet Zone Status Public Information Efforts and Tours Overhead contact system (OCS) is complete near the Denver Airport Station, as well as the track work and most of the platform
Design, Construction & Systems Design & Construction Civil design work near completion, station design betterments in a few cities in final discussions, new EC stop with PnR, TOD Safety certification of the designs via field walks and near-daily SSTWG meetings Construction is 78 percent complete and on schedule for revenue service in 2016 Systems Energization from DUS throat to DIA via Sandown substation. Limited OCS power from Argo Sub. to CRMF and yard OCS 25KV safety training provided to over 2200 workers Crews install commuter rail track along the Gold Line alignment
Commuter Rail EMU Fleet 28 commuter rail EMUs delivered and being tested at CRMF, 4 on EC for testing Fleet of 66 to be on hand by the end of the year. Operator DTO mobilizing rapidly; OCC has some dispatch functionality Commuter rail cars are being delivered four at a time from Philadelphia and are undergoing static testing at the CRMF.
East Corridor (EC) Rail Line Testing Estimated testing approximately one year, started April 2015 Each commuter rail car needs 1,000 hours of burn-in before revenue service, later a performance demonstration of full scheduled service occurs (likely early 2016) Operators need training and approximately 160 hours of throttle time along the EC alignment before they can operate in revenue service The FRA, IE (Independent Engineer), and FTA have important roles and will witness tests, conduct significant inspections and safety checks before Commencement April: First commuter rail cars went through clearance testing from Union Station to DIA; first tests under power along the isolated Peña Boulevard corridor were successful and have expanded west to turn at I-70 flyover May: Cutovers/testing (limited speed train movements) of joint UP atgrade EC crossings (Ulster to Chambers) regulatory oversight by Co. PUC with local City staff observing New Station (Aviation Station, 61st and Pena) added via Enabling Works (also includes future EC double tracking), tenant Panasonic Electronics committed to anchor new land-use development area around station
East Corridor Testing Photos
Gold Line/NW Rail Crossing, Track, Shoofly, and Station construction in middle of towns such as Arvada BNSF is shifting track to make room for commuter rail track under Golden Line traffic to Coors brewery Major structures include Utah Junction and Moffatt flyovers on GL Westminster Station with ped. underpass is underway, major land use plans in the works Pedestrian underpass at Westminster Station
North Metro Corridor Total corridor is nearly 19 miles with 8 stations, funded segment under Design-Build contract is about 13 miles with 6 stations, an Unsolicited Proposal kick-started the project, local funding via COP (Certificates of Participation) RRP (Regional Rail Partners) began work in early 2014, currently at 90% design, IFC packages issuance planned for Fall 2015. Planned opening date by end of 2018 Project will have longest bridge in Colorado, the 9900-plus feet Skyway bridge over UP, BNSF, a freeway, and a wetlands/canal area
Safety Outreach Program 15,000 students close to the East Rail Line received safety brochure for their parents; schools hung posters in common areas Door hanger distributed to 20,000 residences along the East Rail Line ADA, senior groups, commercial truck fleets and other general audiences will receive training this summer Starting this fall, interactive Operation Lifesaver training for the East Rail Line schools will begin, same plan for Gold Line 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
Quiet Zones RTD is assisting local agencies with the issuance of the letter of intent; it will be sent to reviewing agencies this month and will be followed by a 60-day review period A number of stakeholders have requested that the Quiet Zones be established during testing/prior to revenue service due to concern over horn noise during testing hours and areas. Horns will always be blown if there are maintenance workers or there is an emergency (i.e., car/pedestrian in right of way) A collaborative public outreach plan with RTD and the jurisdictions is being developed now in preparation for the establishment of the Quiet Zones
Public Tours East Rail Line: first Thursday and third Saturday from May to October (10 a.m. to noon from Stapleton PnR) Gold/NW: second Thursday from May to October (10 a.m. to noon, Ward Road PnR) Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility: first and third Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m.; also on Saturday July 25 CRMF Open House PI conducts public construction tour of the Gold Line
EC Testing (Peoria/Smith Road Station)
EC Testing
EC Testing (Central Park Station)
EC Testing (DIA Station)
EC UP KP Line Flyover
DUS First cars with station night lighting
DUS Commuter rail platforms on right, intercity trains on left
DUS Throat Interlocking
DUS First rail car delivery from BNSF
FasTracks overall project map
Informational Resources: www.rtd-denver.com www.denvertransitpartners.com For more information on RTD s Eagle P3 Project: www.rtd-fastracks.com/ep3_2