The B Line, also known as the Northwest Rail Line during construction, is a commuter rail line which is part of the commuter and light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver metropolitan area in Colorado.[2] Part of the FasTracks project, the first 6.2-mile (10 km) section from downtown Denver to south Westminster opened on July 25, 2016.[3] If fully built out, estimated around 2042,[4] the B Line will be a 41-mile (66 km) high-capacity route from Denver Union Station to Longmont, passing through North Denver, Adams County, Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville and Boulder.[2]

B Line
 B 
B Line train at Westminster Station
Overview
OwnerRegional Transportation District
LocaleDenver metropolitan area
Termini
Stations4
10 (proposed)
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemRTD Rail
Operator(s)Denver Transit Partners
Rolling stockHyundai Rotem Silverliner V
History
OpenedJuly 25, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-07-25)
Technical
Line length6.2 mi (10.0 km)
41 mi (66 km) (proposed)
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 25 kV 60 Hz AC[1]
Route map
Map
B Line highlighted in green
extension
to Longmont
(TBD)
Downtown Longmont
Colorado 119 wide.svg
SH 119
Diagonal Hwy
Gunbarrel
Colorado 157 wide.svg
SH 157
Foothills Pkwy
Boulder Junction
Colorado 157 wide.svg
SH 157
Foothills Pkwy
Louisville
Flatiron
Colorado 121 wide.svg
SH 121
Wadsworth Blvd
Church Ranch
Colorado 95.svg
SH 95
Sheridan Blvd
Westminster
US 287.svg
US 287
Federal Blvd
 G 
Pecos Junction
CRMF
41st & Fox
 N 
 A 
Union Station
Amtrak  A  G  N 
 E  W 

Route

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The B Line's southern terminus is at Union Station in Denver. It runs on a railroad right-of-way north sharing track with the G Line until Pecos Junction station, after which the two routes diverge. Initially, the B Line continues north to its terminus at Westminster station;[5] this is completed in approximately 15 minutes.

Stations

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Station Municipality Opened Major connections & notes
Union Station Denver April 22, 2016    A  E  G  N  W 
  California Zephyr
  MallRide
  Flatiron Flyer
41st & Fox April 26, 2019    G 
Park and ride: 500 spaces
Pecos Junction North Washington    G 
Park and ride: 300 spaces
Westminster Westminster July 25, 2016 Park and ride: 350 spaces
Downtown Westminster Proposed[6]
Broomfield - 116th Broomfield Proposed[6]
Flatiron Proposed[6]
Downtown Louisville Louisville Proposed[6]
Boulder Junction Boulder Proposed[6]
Downtown Longmont Longmont Proposed[6]

FasTracks

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In 2004, Colorado voters approved FasTracks, a multibillion-dollar public transportation expansion plan. As part of the Eagle P3 project, the first segment of the B Line opened on July 25, 2016. The remaining segment, extending to downtown Longmont, will require additional funding[7] in order to be completed prior to 2042.[4] The announcement angered many voters in the cities and suburbs north of Denver, who had approved a sales tax increase in 2004 to fund the FasTracks project.[8][9][4]

The downturn in the economy, poor cost projections that significantly underestimated construction costs and other reasons led to the initiation of the year-long "Northwest Area Mobility Study" for what was then known as the Northwest Rail line. Out of this study came an agreement between northwest area governments and transportation partners to build a line very different from what the lines voters originally approved. The study concluded in 2014. It made a number of recommendations that were adopted by the RTD.[10][11][12][13][14]

In summer 2018, the U.S. 36 Mayors and Commissioners Coalition was gathering support from other members to ask RTD to provide an estimate for at least weekday rush hour commuter rail service along the original corridor to Longmont.[15] In spring 2019, Longmont City Council asked RTD to look into the barebones "Peak Service Plan". RTD estimated a start-up cost of $117 million, serving an initial weekday ridership of 1,400. By mid-2019, completion of the full original line was estimated at $1.1-1.5 billion (in 2013 dollars), targeted for 2042, 25 years after the original planned opening.[16] In early 2020, RTD estimated it could construct the rest of the line for peak-direction service at a cost of $700-800 million; full-day service would not be expected until 2050 at a final cost of $1.5 billion.[4]

Northwest Rail Peak Service Study

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The Peak Service Study is an ongoing analysis of what a minimum service to Longmont could look like, as an interim step until the line is fully built out as called for in FasTracks. While not expected to conclude until the end of 2023, the study has so far suggested adding six additional stops past the current Westminster terminus, serviced by three southbound morning trips, and three northbound evening trips.

In contrast to the rest of the RTD commuter system, this minimum service would operate on shared track with BNSF freight trains, and rely on new and existing sidings for holding freight while commuter trains are passing. This shared extension would notably use diesel locomotives instead of overhead electrification as the rest of the system uses.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Commuter train testing begins on G Line". RTD FasTracks. Regional Transportation District of Denver. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "RTD - B Line". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  3. ^ Villanueva, Raquel; McGill, Nick (25 July 2016). "RTD unveils B-Line in Westminster". TEGNA, NBC. 9News KUSA-TV. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Aguilar, John (24 January 2020). "Non-RTD solution to Boulder's long-missing train draws hope, skepticism". Denver Post. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  5. ^ "RTD - Northwest Rail Line - Project Map". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Peak Service Study" (PDF). www.rtd-denver.com. Retrieved 2023-07-10. RTD is evaluating an initial peak service approach as a first steptoward full day rail service to Boulder and Longmont
  7. ^ Regional Transport District. "Northwest Corridor FAQ". Regional Transport District. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  8. ^ Whaley, Monte (August 10, 2012). "RTD officials face legislative grilling over commuter rail delay". The Denver Post. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  9. ^ Thomas, Dillon (10 August 2018). "Boulder County Cities Want Share Of FasTracks". CBS4 Denver. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Boulder council: RTD proposals have broad impacts". Boulder Daily Camera. 15 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Boulder concerned about RTD transit plan along U.S. 36". Boulder Daily Camera. 15 July 2023.
  12. ^ "RTD proposes cut of direct Boulder service". The Denver Post. 22 February 2015.
  13. ^ "U.S. 36 reconstruction ongoing as is branding plan". The Denver Post. 6 January 2015.
  14. ^ Whaley, Monte (February 4, 2013). "RTD foots bill for study of northwest transit system, cities sign on". The Denver Post. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  15. ^ Fryar, John (15 August 2018). "Area cities consider funding rail service to Longmont". Colorado Hometown Weekly. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  16. ^ Minor, Nathaniel. "Heard Chatter About A Bare-Bones RTD Train To Boulder? Don't Hold Your Breath". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  17. ^ "Northwest Rail Peak Service Study". 5 October 2023.
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