FASTRACKS AT WORK

FasTracks is hard at work – and not just on the West Corridor. Bridges and bus ramps are being built, facilities are expanding, and utilities are being relocated. Across the metro area, you can see visible signs of your FasTracks tax dollars and people at work. As more FasTracks projects move from planning and design into full construction, the metro region will begin the transformation to a world-class transportation system. The newly implemented "FasTracks at Work" public education campaign highlights current and upcoming construction progress to show how your Regional Transportation District (RTD) tax dollars are being put to work.

The main objective of the “FasTracks at Work” public information campaign is to educate the community about the progress FasTracks had made since its beginnings in January 2005. Our goal is to inform the community about the construction progress on the West Corridor, the Elati Light Rail Maintenance Facility, the U.S. 36 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor and the rehabilitation of Denver Union Station. The campaign also highlights how FasTracks is putting hundreds of people to work in the Denver-metro region.
 
The education campaign will run from mid-October through December, utilizing several education channels. Keep an eye out for print advertisements in the Read-n-Ride newsletter, The Denver Post and in numerous community newsletters and newspapers. The campaign can also be seen through outdoor advertising initiatives, including banners at major RTD stations, construction area signage, construction vehicle magnets, and advertisements on RTD buses, light rail and mall shuttles. We will also educate commuters through radio messages, an education video airing on local Channel 8 stations and through the FasTracks and RTD Web sites.

Once complete, the RTD's FasTracks program will provide 122 miles of new train service, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service, more than 21,000 new parking spaces, and a complete redevelopment of Denver’s Historic Union Station. While it’s being built, the “FasTracks at Work” public education campaign will demonstrate how FasTracks is creating jobs, contributing to the local economy, and helping to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation alternative. To view a video on the “FasTracks at Work” campaign, click here.
 

THE JEFFERSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER

The main building on the Jefferson County Government Center campus is the magnificent courthouse and administration building. Towering 125 feet over the rest of the campus at its southern most end; the 531,000 square foot monument was inspired by Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Construction of the entire government center cost $102 million in 1993; $62 million more than its Human Services predecessor. The tan and brown cast stone building, built in a pair of semicircular wings meeting at a five story soaring glass rotunda at the center, contains an atrium large enough to house Jeffco’s original courthouse. The center provides the county with 28 courtrooms, 32 judges' chambers, 12 conference rooms, two training rooms, and two hearing rooms.

The interior trim of brass and cherry wood reaches into the rotunda with semicircular bay balconies. The floors are decorated in neutral colors, sparked by bands of rose, green and blue terrazzo with bits of red granite in the floors. The west wing houses the Jeffco administrative offices and the east wing houses its courtrooms. Upon completion, the building won a national citation from the American Institute of Architects.

The courthouse is one of several buildings comprising the Jefferson County Government Center. The campus now includes the Human Services Building, Dakota Building, Open Space Building, District Attorney's office, Sherriff’s facilities, the Jefferson County jail, and the courthouse.

The end of line station of the West Corridor will be constructed on the southwest side of the campus. The retaining walls circling the area will feature materials that reflect the surrounding environment. A new three story parking structure will provide accessibility to light rail and convenient parking for the government center.
 

WEST CORRIDOR PARTNERS WITH WEST METRO FIRE DEPARTMENT

On Tuesday, October 27th the West Metro Fire Department facilitated burn trainings for their Fall 2009 Fire Fighting Academy in one of the RTD acquired properties on 14th Avenue, just east of Wadsworth. Crews from West Metro stations all over Lakewood were represented to provide containment and safety during the operation. In the photo to the right, firefighters and trainees complete mock-life saving drills under controlled burns on the property to provide a real-life scenario. This West Corridor property was environmentally cleared prior to the burn training. For more photos of the operation and other West Corridor activities and construction, visit the West Corridor Photo Gallery.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – AREA 1 (Jeffco Government Center to Denver Federal Center)

Current and Ongoing Activities
Bridges and walls dominate the construction in Area 1. Improvements to the drainage gulch at Ulysses Street are underway and wall construction continues. The light rail bridge over 6th Avenue and Indiana continues to take shape but construction will continue at this location through the winter. Ramp and lane closures on 6th Avenue will be intermittent until crews set girders on the west side of Indiana in early 2010. This activity will require the complete closure of westbound 6th Avenue and Indiana Avenue. Once scheduling of this closure is solidified, public notification will begin. Utility upgrades and wall construction are ongoing along the south side of 6th Avenue between Indiana and Union. Work on both sides of I-70 is near completion and motorists can expect minimal traffic impacts as they travel along I-70. This weekend crews will place the girders on westbound I-70 with a full closure of all westbound lanes of traffic between the 6th Avenue and Colfax exits. Westbound I-70 will close tonight, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. and remain closed through 5:30 a.m. Monday morning, November 16. Alternate routes are advised for westbound travel this weekend.

Upcoming Activities
Crews will move under I-70 to continue construction of the light rail tunnel. The tunnel under Union is still in the planning stages, but construction there could begin later this year. Construction of this tunnel will follow the same method of construction as the tunnel under I-70.
 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE AREA 2 (East of the Denver Federal Center to Sheridan)

Current and Ongoing Activities
Drainage improvements are the major activity in Area 2. Work on the drainage culvert on Collins Avenue will continue through early 2010 and construction of a drainage culvert on the north side of 13th Avenue between Zephyr and Carr Streets will continue into the spring of 2010. To allow crews to work in the roadway, this construction requires complete closures of 13th Avenue in two block intervals. As crews move west to Carr Street at 13th Avenue, the intersection will be closed to through traffic. Advance notice will be given to residents and traveling motorists well before the closure is put in place. Work on the signature bridge over 6th Avenue at the Denver Federal Center is progressing as planned. On the south side of 6th Avenue, construction of the steel arch that will span the bridge is apparent. Work on the arch will continue for several months with the “rollout” of the bridge over 6th Avenue scheduled in March of 2010. More building demolition at Wadsworth is scheduled during the month of December to make room for light rail bridge construction and to expand the storage yard that will eventually encompass the entire area between 13th and 14th Avenue on the east side of Wadsworth. An overnight full closure of Wadsworth Blvd. will be scheduled in mid 2010 to allow crews to place girders over Wadsworth for the light rail bridge. Denver Transit Construction Group is setting up a construction yard on the northeast corner of 13th Avenue and Harlan Street. Crews have begun removing the vegetation on the property and plan to do some minimal grading to level out the ground. This yard will be utilized for storage of sound wall materials and to weld and store rail.

Upcoming Activities
Improvements to the drainage culvert near 12th Avenue and Harlan Street will begin in late November or early December. Retaining wall construction between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue, east of Simms Street and between Harlan and Sheridan at approximately 12th Avenue is also scheduled to begin in late November/early December. Residents along 13th Avenue between Oak and Sheridan can expect grading and earth moving activities to begin next month and continuing throughout 2010. Visit the West Corridor Web site to get information about exact locations.
 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE AREA 3 (East of Sheridan to the Auraria Campus)

Current and Ongoing Activities
Construction at Sheridan Boulevard has begun, as crews are currently adding a sidewalk on the east side of Sheridan between 10th and 14th Avenues. Once the sidewalk is in place, DTCG will begin reconstructing Sheridan Blvd. Currently, Sheridan dips down between 10th and 13th Avenues. As part of the West Corridor construction, Sheridan Boulevard will be raised to be a level roadway, creating room underneath for the light rail to pass through. This design makes it safer for both automobile and light rail traffic. , Traffic will be dropped to one lane in each direction on Sheridan from 10th to 14th Avenues for approximately two years to accommodate this construction activity. We realize that this will be a tremendous inconvenience to the traveling public and we will do everything we can to complete construction in this area as quickly as possible. Suggested detour routes include Federal Boulevard and Wadsworth Boulevard.

Utility and retaining wall construction continue in earnest in the Denver gulch area. 12th Avenue between Perry and Newton has now reopened and Knox Court at 12th Avenue should be open before the end of 2009. Crews working on tree removals and clearing the path for the light rail guideway continue to move east and are now between Federal and Decatur. The pedestrian bridges at Hazel Court and Tennyson should open in early 2010 to give pedestrians better access to both sides of the gulch and to allow them to safely cross over the construction zone. Work at Federal Blvd. is concentrated on utility relocations from the old Federal Boulevard Bridge to the new bridge, just west of Federal. Once these relocations are completed, traffic will be rerouted over the new bridge so crews can begin demolition of the old bridge. Work on the light rail bridge at Lakewood Gulch (just east of Decatur) continues.

Upcoming Activities
Beginning phases of construction on the light rail bridge over the Consolidated Mainline Railroad (east of I-25) and the Platte River Bridge should begin before year’s end.

For more information on construction please visit the Construction Information page on the West Corridor Web site.
 

HOW CAN I GET (OR STAY) INVOLVED?

One of the best ways to get the latest information on the West Corridor is to ensure we have your e-mail address. Our periodic e-mails will provide you with information essential to being an active participant. As full construction continues for the next two and a half years, it is the best way to stay informed of construction activities. Tell your friends and neighbors to sign up on our e-mail list to receive up-to-date information, and if your e-mail changes, please notify us.

Don’t forget to visit our Web site, where you’ll find all the latest information about the West Corridor.