(The following article by Kevin Flynn was posted on the Rocky Mountain News website on September 22.)
DENVER — Officials in Arvada and Wheat Ridge have made development plans on the assumption the FasTracks transit line through their cities would use light rail.
But that assumption may not hold.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has tracks and controls the right of way along the proposed route of the FasTracks Gold Line light rail from downtown Denver to Ward Road in Wheat Ridge.
And BNSF has told the Regional Transportation District that it may prohibit light rail on that route, preferring heavier commuter train service because of safety issues.
Officials in both cities are disappointed that the railroad’s move comes after more than a decade of planning for light rail on the line.
Sticking with light rail would require a different Gold Line route and significant new expenses to buy more land; using commuter rail on the original route could limit the number of stations and redevelopment opportunities.
This is the second time railroads have taken a position that affects FasTracks planning.
Last year, the Union Pacific Railroad said it would not allow light rail to operate alongside its freight tracks on the East Corridor to Denver International Airport. FasTracks had anticipated that line would be commuter rail anyway, but UP’s decision cut off a community and business sector push to consider light rail instead.
The Gold Line has just begun a required environmental impact study in which the choice of technology must be revisited anyway. But three prior studies dating to the early 1990s all selected electrified light rail as the mode of transit over other choices, including heavier commuter rail cars, either diesel or electric.
“There has been a tremendous amount of study and community input to date, which has led to this preference,” said Arvada Mayor Ken Fellman.
“I think it’s fair to say that the statements of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad about light rail were somewhat of a surprise, and disappointing as well. The City of Arvada prefers light rail transit and barring evidence indicating we should be supporting a different technology, we will continue to pursue this.”
Jerry DiTullio, Wheat Ridge’s mayor, said the city has been planning a redevelopment of the former Jolly Rancher industrial site near the planned end-of-line station on Ward Road at Interstate 70.
If commuter rail is chosen, RTD could still have a station there. But a move to a different alignment to keep light rail could throw a curve at Wheat Ridge’s plans.
“It’s disappointing to hear this come down at the eleventh hour,” DiTullio said.
Generally, light rail allows for more stations because trains can start and stop more quickly than the heavier commuter rail. That can allow more access for riders and more transit-oriented development and tax base for cities.
There are eight stations planned on the Gold Line, but switching to commuter rail wouldn’t necessarily eliminate any of them, said Liz Rao, RTD’s manager of planning and development.
Commuter rail uses heavier steel-framed cars that are certified as crash-worthy by the Federal Railroad Administration for operation in freight railroad corridors.
RTD operates the Littleton light rail line in an active freight corridor used by UP and BNSF.
But the transit agency nailed down that right more than 13 years ago, before the current safety concerns surfaced.
The Gold Line, as presented to voters in the FasTracks referendum in November 2004, would parallel the BNSF track and right of way that go to the Coors Brewery in Golden. The track passes though Arvada’s Olde Town area and the northwest part of Wheat Ridge.
RTD said BNSF officials told them at a recent meeting they would not allow light rail on their property.
But Lena Kent, spokeswoman for BNSF, said an official decision hasn’t been made.
“That’s something that we’re working closely on with them,” she said of talks with RTD.