The Future of Rapid Transit in Denver
We haven't done one of these Future Of videos in a while, and we are excited to be back with a new one, this time focused on Denver! Enjoy.
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Hi, my name's Reece. I'm a passionate Creator, Transportation Planner, and Software Developer, interested in rapid transportation all around my home base of Toronto, Canada, as well as the whole world!
Пікірлер: 137
Can we talk about how the R line, which skips downtown Denver, is one of very few suburb-to-suburb rail lines in North America?
@ecoRfan
3 жыл бұрын
Speaking of which... I notice a total lack of “ring routes” between the suburbs. All trains and metros have to go through downtown. This also doesn’t show any bus routes except the Flatiron Flyer. Since I don’t live in Colorado I wouldn’t know if there are any suburban “ring routes” on the bus network.
@glebsokolov9959
3 жыл бұрын
@@ecoRfan There are no ring routes in Denver unfortunately. RTD uses mostly existing old infrastructure to create its new lines. Those formerly freight train lines did not need a ring route to the suburbs.
@IDontKnowCorp
2 жыл бұрын
@@ecoRfan v late, but there is a west "ring line" ish bus connecting lakewood to boulder but it only runs weekdays as a commuter route. There's a lot of corridor street bus lines, but basically every train line is a spoke system to downtown without a good wheel.
@insertchannelnamehere632
2 жыл бұрын
@@ecoRfan There are also local routes in Boulder and Longmont, and Buses connecting them, and even Commuter Rush Hour buses running up into the mountains and Brighton, and a route from Brighton to Broomfield/Westminster, so one can get all the way across the north without going through downtown, just not through rail
@quillmaurer6563
Жыл бұрын
My perception is that the hub-and-spoke design is because, in all honesty, really the only value of this system is going to or from downtown or to the airport, where traffic and parking make driving a hassle. Anything else it's not competitive with driving in terms of time or cost, far worse in both regards. It's also of limited use to those without cars because most people are too far from a station to walk to one, they drive to a station. If there were a "ring" route it probably wouldn't be used much because going anywhere other than downtown driving would be faster and cheaper. This is the unfortunate reality of this system, as an Arvada resident living two miles from the G Line I use it maybe once a month at most. I like trains and transit, but it's pretty rare for it to actually be a compelling option for me.
This system is good in theory but really lacks. It doesn’t actually go where people live especially for the light rail. Most rail stops are away from the population and is in locations where people don’t want to walk to. The bus is not frequent enough to be reliable and faces frequent delays and cancellations due to the fact that RTD doesn’t want to pay its workers livable wages in a city with rapidly increasing cost of living. On top of that the Mayor of Denver who is finally in his last term promotes automobiles and ride sharing like Lyft instead of investing in usable public transport. Furthermore our city planners fail to address urban sprawl and limit the construction of high density residential and commercial spaces. There has been a push to increase bike use but due to the large sprawl and winter weather it’s not really feasible and expanding public transit into a usable system would be much more effective.
@insertchannelnamehere632
2 жыл бұрын
RTD does not have enough money, that's the problem. They can't afford to do all that. They can't help not having enough money. And it doesn't help that the transport secretary is threatening them with money if they don't restore specific routes, when other routes are more urgently in need of being restored
@FigureOnAStick
2 жыл бұрын
From what I've seen, there's been a fair number of residential apartments springing up around the stations, so I wouldn't count them out just yet. They admittedly do a terrible job servicing semi-urban single family housing. Really though I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the pull factor. A lot of the neighborhoods surrounding the stations really suck in terms of pedestrian service and experience, especially for freeway adjacent rails. At the Hampton stop, for example, I have to get off the train next to roaring traffic, down through a tunnel across an interstate and back up into a parking lot where there is basically just a chili's and a multiplex within a reasonable walking distance. No wonder no one wants to use RTD
@nayrays
2 жыл бұрын
@@insertchannelnamehere632 TABOR doesn't help, as voters are quite unlikely to increase taxes to fund the RTD. Maybe if we can get rid of that, we may see some change in RTD's capacity.
@matthuber8456
Жыл бұрын
@@nayrays People are willing to increase taxes, or at least they were, to fund RTD. That's exactly what FastTracks is, a tax increase approved by voters under TABOR to build transit. Unfortunately RTD has completely mismanaged the program. They over promised and under delivered. They originally said the entire program would be done by 2017 (I think, I can't remember correctly), and now it won't be done until 2040 at the earliest. Add to that the absolute cluster that the B and G lines became and the infighting that occurred between RTD and their PPP partner over positive train control delaying full operation of those lines by years. This has eroded the public's trust in RTD's ability to deliver on their promises, especially in Boulder county. You're right that the public won't approve additional tax increases to build additional transit, but it's because they don't trust RTD, not because they aren't willing to pay for transit.
@nayrays
Жыл бұрын
@@matthuber8456 I agree that RTD has mismanaged the FastTracks program, and as a former resident of BOCO, I 100% agree that the mismanagement has severely impacted my impression of RTD. I also would like to point out that FastTracks was passed in 2004, in the passenger rail boom of the 90's/00's. I am not certain that a similar proposal would be popular today, like you hinted at. Also, as much as I would like the Longmont-Boulder-Denver line (A?), their current estimate is completion in 2050. I think that there are bigger things for the agency to accomplish, like Denver/Longmont/Boulder's (and all of their jurisdictions) local transit which is quite ineffective and in many cases dangerous (derailment, incomplete grade separation). I think that Gov. Polis hard balling RTD and opposing funding increases until the Boulder line is completed is not helping the agency. I haven't heard of any deals being brokered to help the agency redevelop a spending plan that would complete FastTracks and solve some of the operational issues RTD has been facing in exchange for funding that plan.
Denver proper needs a metro system connecting Colfax, 16th, and Colorado Blvd. That way, when people arrive at Union, they can actually get places without riding a damn bus. I like Fasttracks. I took the train to school pretty much every day. But the city of Denver itself is kind of a mess to get around in. Fun fact: Colfax is the longest commercial avenue in America. I think it’s ripe for a metro, at the very least in the downtown.
@exoplanetarydev
4 ай бұрын
Hard agree on a metro on Colfax. It's generally pretty hard to get around downtown Denver via rail, especially the eastern side of downtown a bit further from Union. We've got a decent regional rail system, but to build on the Toronto comparison in the video, RTD feels more akin to GO and we don't have much of a TTC equivalent. I'd also really love to see a lightrail going across the front range eventually, down from Boulder through Golden then along 470 towards Centennial. I live in Arvada and work in Centennial and it's really a pain to get over there via public transit - and clearly I'm not the only one since 470 gets pretty heavy traffic in the morning.
The good thing about RTD Commuter Rail is that at least their lines are 100% electrified, unlike many other commuter rail systems in the USA.
@stewartdeerfield
4 ай бұрын
And why is that so great?
@gabrielstravels
4 ай бұрын
@@stewartdeerfield Increased acceleration, reduced travel times, less pollution, more environmentally friendly, less maintenance costs & less track wear compared to DMUs. The increased acceleration and reduced travel times of EMUs allow a more frequent service
@stewartdeerfield
4 ай бұрын
@@gabrielstravels Actually only the Denver #1 light rail cars are true D.C. power which does provide great acceleration, all the others including Commuter rail are A.C. or combo A.C. / D.C., properly geared diesel electrics are just as quick and for commuter type operations as this C.N.G. or L.N.G. are great fuel sources that are clean. And far as maintenance the voters are always told that after initial start up costs maintenance is cheap, wrong. Look at light rail, the lines that are now 20 years old, all need new rail / ties / roadbed / O.C.S. wire not to mention the original cars need a mid life rebuild. As far as frequency of service light rail is a good example, it's double track A.B.S. system which means each track is only signaled in one direction. If a train needs to run against traffic / signals it's at restricted speed. What's needed is a "Two Main Track" system which means both tracks are signaled in both directions allowing trains to operate either track either direction at track speed.
@stewartdeerfield
4 ай бұрын
@@gabrielstravels Not sure why my comment keeps getting blocked but I'll try again. Actually Denver #1 light rail cars are the only true D.C. cars which provide the quick acceleration all the others including commuter rail are A.C. or a combo of A.C. / D.C. which properly geared diesels are comparable to. This system is also ideal for L.N.G. or C.N.G. fueled diesels for clean operating. As far as maintenance is concerned an electrified system is not less labor intensive as conventional rail, it's just a selling point to tax payers who don't know any better. Take a look at Denvers original light rail lines, at 20-30 years the rail / ties / roadbed / O.C.S. wire needs to be replaced not to mention the cars need mid life rebuilds. As far as train frequency the real issue there is the railroad itself, look at light rail it's a double track A.B.S. system which means each track is signaled in one direction only. If a train needs to run against traffic on the other track it does so at restricted speed, huge slow down. System should be a Two Main Track C.T.C. system which allows trains to run either direction on either track easily doubling capacity.
@stewartdeerfield
4 ай бұрын
My comments keep getting blocked , seem's You Tube doesn't like the truth. Actually only the Denver #1 light rail cars are the only true D.C. traction in Denver with the good acceleration. All the others including commuter rail are either A.C. or a combo of A.C. / D.C. which properly geared diesels are comparable to. This system would also be ideal for L.N.G. or C.N.G. diesels for clean emissions.The maintenance is actually not less than a conventional diesel railroad it's just used a s selling point for tax payers who don't know better.Look at Denver's original light rail at 20-30 years old, the rail / ties / roadbed and O.C.S. wire all need to be replaced not to mention the cars need mid life rebuilds. As far as train frequency that's a result of the actual physical railroad more than anything else. Light rail is a good example as it's a Double Track A.B.S. system which means each track is only signaled in 1 direction, if a train needs to run against traffic it's at restricted speed clogging up the whole railroad. It should be a Two Main Track C.T.C. system which allows trains to run either track in either direction at track speed easily doubling capacity.
When I visit Denver, it's always easy enough to get between places on RTD. Hopefully, the commuter rail expands a bit more. It's a good system with a lot of potential.
I live in Golden and it is the bane of my existence that neither the G or the W line actually comes into the town. It's such a waste. They should both come all the way into town.
I really hope RTD can finish the rails in the FasTracks program. People in the city can go from Union in downtown to Boulder and even Longmont in most likely an hour. Currently, it takes 2 hours to Longmont.
@DanielGarcia1980
2 жыл бұрын
I've driven from Downtown Denver to Longmont many times, it's never taken 2 hours. 45 minutes is about the average travel time, by car, to Longmont from Downtown Denver. If you're talking by bus... yes, that takes about a little over an hour on average. I've taken that trip several times too.
@insertchannelnamehere632
2 жыл бұрын
Even the slowest bus during rush hour, the LD1, takes just over an hour to get to Longmont. Maybe you forgot about that and were thinking the Flatiron Flyer and the BOLT?
@insertchannelnamehere632
2 жыл бұрын
And theoretically the LX2/LX1 would be faster because it doesn't stop between Denver and Niwot Road or North Longmont
@Heatherder
Жыл бұрын
They really need to extended it down to colorado springs
@matthuber8456
Жыл бұрын
@@Heatherder Look into Bustang
Denver: How to build a rail transit system without actually building anything
Denver has only slow, expensive light rail to get people from the Suburbs to the downtown. It has nothing to actually move people around IN the city. It needs a street car network or a subway system
@thelonewanderer420
3 жыл бұрын
*cough cough boring company cough*
@chriswill9473
3 жыл бұрын
@@thelonewanderer420nah Tesla tunnels suck
@Androfier
3 жыл бұрын
@@thelonewanderer420 Ah yes, the art of convincing the public that cars driving slowly in a tunnel would solve our public transport woes by using the power of Fucking Magic cause big brained billionaire said so.
@quillmaurer6563
Жыл бұрын
@@thelonewanderer420 Wonder if The Boring Company could develop new tunnel-boring technologies to build subway systems? Elon of course pitches it for underground roads to drive Teslas in, but if it really does improve tunnel boring technologies it could certainly be applied more sensibly for subway train projects.
@quillmaurer6563
Жыл бұрын
The downtown loop sort of acts as a street car network, but that it's not directly accessible from Union Station or the W Line makes it of limited use for many (including me). It also doesn't have priority over traffic lights (which would seem very obvious), making it very slow and often delayed. Like everything else in this system it's good ideas applied poorly, with a lot of absurd oversights, resulting in something not all that useful.
Denver needs to be build their system where people actually are. It also needs to be more frequent. Better than nothing I guess.
@leehaber
4 жыл бұрын
@@RMTransit They need something down Colfax though. Also, I wouldn't consider every 15 min frequent enough for rapid transit.
@warrenyazzie9975
4 жыл бұрын
@@RMTransit One of the initial problems that LightRail had was getting approval from communities to build LightRail through their neighborhoods. They were more often than not disapproved. This led to LightRail utilizing pre-existing tracks in low density areas. As an example, the last 10 miles of the W Line into Golden only has three stops in areas where there are no homes within a mile of the stop.
@therealGLAD
4 жыл бұрын
Yeah, building light rail along highway corridors might be cheaper but it's also not somewhere people live or want to go. It's offputting to have to be near a highway to catch a train.
@thrackl3
3 жыл бұрын
It actually works really well. Those areas are very suburban, no one would walk to the light rail stop. What people do is "park and ride". That is, they drive from their suburban home to the light rail station, park, and take the rail downtown. In conjunction, Denver has purchased the land around the stops and works with developers to build transit-oriented developments, seeding mini communities around the stops, and making it so now people are indeed there. Without an approach like this, I think we'd have been stuck in a chicken and egg problem, where, as you said, the rail would only go where people already are, and that would have mostly meant nowhere.
@metrofilmer8894
3 жыл бұрын
@@thrackl3 agree. The southwest line runs along I-25 and works because of a dense suburbs and the Denver Tech Center being densely packed along the line
I would like to see a subway in the future.
@anniehimself
3 жыл бұрын
Under Colfax
A bit late to the party, but I would add there is a seasonal express train from downtown Denver to the Winter Park ski resort. I've not taken it but looked into it. Lets you skip the traffic on I-70 and Berthound Pass.
@mozarab4495
2 жыл бұрын
There's a nice bus for that I think
Well this video has aged like milk, since this video there have been service reductions on all rail lines and I've heard multiple people from RTD say that the future is Bus not Rail. 2 rail lines, the C & F lines have been permanently dropped and the system they spent billions to build has 15 minutes as their best headways. The East Colfax BRT will be good and super useful in that area. The rail system has since become a rolling homeless shelter with some pretty serious violence having occurred recently. It's hard to convince people to ride the trains when they get an unfiltered view of the most vulnerable in society and the already week schedule is just a suggestion most of the time
The whole swath to the south and east of Union Station constitutes most of the actual areas people live, work, and recreate within the city. Commuter rail to the suburbs is great, but only if you can use it to get where you want to go. Most people aren't trying to get to Union Station (the civic center stops are a bit better), and bus service to the rest of town is very slow. East Colfax getting BRT is good I guess. But it's silly it isn't rail when the current bus ridership along that corridor already outpaces the actual rail lines the city has built. Really goes to show how little consideration was given to the urban areas that could use rapid transit the most.
I wonder if you could do the future of rapid transit in Salt Lake City, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, including future airports at Denver International Airport, JFK with La Guardia in New York, Beijing International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
@godozo
3 жыл бұрын
Many of these cities don't really have much in the way of active plans. Much of Chicago's plans involve buffing out what they have (additional stations, an overpass for the brown line where it joins the red line), and San Francisco doesn't really have anything past their T tunnel. New York has plans for the 2nd avenue subway, but they're barely able to keep their present system in working order, and while Salt Lake may have plans, their plans are years away from moving past conception. Los Angeles is definitely worth looking at, as they have ambitious plans that have begun being realized; San Diego has stuff being built at the moment as well.
Denver RTD is a Flaming dumpsterfire. they cant get, or keep drivers or operators, and refuse to offer competitive wages or life balance to their employees. the buses and trains are facing daily cancellations and huge delays that are growing every day. its a horrible growing snowball of problems 2/3rds of the way down the hill already. RTD is begging to be disbanded in Co and replaced with a municipal only endeavour.
@ecoRfan
3 жыл бұрын
Sounds horribly mismanaged. A lot of naysayers say that they spend a lot of money on infrastructure but it never pays back. Public transportation is tricky in that way; you either get it right or you don’t. And you need experts running the show. A few bad apples can ruin everything.
@insertchannelnamehere632
2 жыл бұрын
RTD is doing the best with what they can, and they can't afford to offer competitive wages because no one gives them enough money
I used to live in Englewood and there wasn't any local bus connection to the RTD station. The system is great when you can actually ride it.
They need to focus on the more dense parts of the metro and make it easy to travel to all parts of the city by rail
Denver system is a decent(ish) s-bahn like service but honestly the metro area needs a proper metro system as there's many corridors that are served currently by crowded buses like the 15
@quillmaurer6563
Жыл бұрын
Living in the Denver area and having ridden European S-Bahns, the only way I can call this an "S-Bahn" is as a "ScheißeBahn." Sort of similar on the surface, a well-meaning attempt to do the same thing, but compared with any European S-Bahn the trains are very slow and infrequent, making them noncompetitive with driving in most cases.
I'm probably biased because I live along 285/Hampden, but I think it would make a nice light rail line. I imagine it making a nice East-West connector between existing lines at 225, I25, and Santa Fe/85. Then, moving west, it could serve North-South BRT or Streetcar lines at Federal, Sheridan, Wadsworth, Kipling, etc. For the western terminus, how about C470? Speaking of C470, it really ought to get its own line serving HR, Chatfield, Ken Caryl, Morrison, Golden and beyond. Maybe tie that one into the eventual line up to Boulder?
What about the Denver moves brt/ light rail plan to add those services on park ave, Broadway, Colfax, and Colorado
One overseas city you could consider is Perth in Australia, which is very similar to Denver in terms of transit expansion. Previously having an antiquated diesel powered transit system, the rail network was modernised since the 1990's with electrification and new lines being built. Today Perth has the most modern and in my opinion; the best-run rail network in the country. The rail network is currently undergoing major expansion; the new Airport line is due to open next year. Future transit investment is being guided under the 'Metronet' project which will see three existing rail lines extended, a brand new line to Ellenbrook, new trains, station upgrades, level crossing removals and other upgrades. It's certainly an exciting time for transit in Perth.
Love this video, you should do a “The Future Of Rapid Transit” video for Houston!💯👌🏾
Are the talks of putting a rail line to Colorado Springs (the second largest city in Colorado) dead? I know it has been brought up in the past and as a resident of Colorado Springs this would be an incredibly valuable line as I make the trip to Denver at least 2-3 times a month and I know that there are people who make this commute regularly (Yikes!). Would have thought that it would have been more important to the state than the longmont line... we are a lot more densely populated than that area. Unfortunately this area is also very conservative and I would imagine part of the problem would be getting us to pay a fair share... Curious as to where the process is if there even is a process right now.
@RykM
4 жыл бұрын
It's still up in the air. See these: denver.streetsblog.org/2019/05/30/after-study-of-high-speed-rail-along-front-range-slower-cheaper-trains-more-likely/ and www.denverpost.com/2019/05/28/front-range-passenger-rail-cdot/
Its funny Cuz RTD is up in flames at the moment
@the21stcenturytrolleydodge31
3 жыл бұрын
funny thing it still is
@insertchannelnamehere632
2 жыл бұрын
@@the21stcenturytrolleydodge31 Funny thing they have not enough money
What i would do is create a rapid transit line running from Westminster Town Center elevated along West 92nd Avenue and turn onto Wadsworth Parkway, which it would follow down through Arvada, Wheat Ridge and Lakewood, interchanging with the G Line at Olde Town Arvada and the W Line at Lakewood-Wadsworth, all the way down before terminating at Southwest Plaza. This is a corridor that lacks high-capacity transit today. It could be built as Light Rail, Light Metro or full Metro. It would interchange with the proposed extension of the B Line to Boulder and Longmont at a station in Kings Mill.
US 26?? You mean US 36, aka the Boulder Turnpike
Amazing Denver is definitely a nice and extensive system and deserves an award for that much coverage and track. I definitely wanna see more Canadian cities get this type of system to help with the traffic. Thanks for sharing this information I really enjoyed the video!
@insertchannelnamehere632
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for being the only person not to be like, "oh, RTD is awful, they can't do anything right." They're doing the best with what they have
@quillmaurer6563
Жыл бұрын
You've obviously not ridden it. The effort is well-meaning, some of the issues I agree aren't their fault (funding being a major issue, plus the sort of suburbs it serves) but the execution has been rather lousy - slow infrequent trains, poorly designed connections (or lack thereof), and so on, all making it not a compelling alternative for driving in the majority of cases. It's something that looks great from a distance, but in practice isn't all that great.
rip f line. forever in our hearts.
One major challenge facing greater Denver is supply and demand. There is a large demand to live there but a limited supply, and it has badly driven up the cost of everything. In addition (pre-pandemic) the highways have gotten badly choked during rush hours, yet there are still a lot of naysayers towards mass transit. Some act like that plus the politicians drive up the cost, as opposed to sprawl driven metros like Dallas. It’s what I refer to as “state wars” when deals with red vs blue states. At the same time, Denver has close access to the mountains and the great outdoors. Ultimately I do believe Denver will prevail but in a way that sees mostly transplants from other states. The cost of living is something that needs to be taken under control, while still achieving sustainable daily commutes and more walkability. Thanks for the videos that give some outside perspective as to how things can be done.
Appreciate the video! If you ever do an update video, happy to do help with videoing (though that 2040 date on the B-Line makes me think it'll be a minute)
@quillmaurer6563
Жыл бұрын
Given how long everything else has taken, when I hear "2040" I suspect that actually means sometime between the Sun turning into a Red Giant and swallowing the Earth and the Heat Death of the Universe. More optimistically, at 28 years old I wonder if I'll live long enough to see its opening. But also worth considering is the growth of this whole area, even by the claimed 2040 (I recall hearing 2044) this whole area could be vastly different from what it is now, and maybe by then calls for public transit could be a lot stronger than they are now - perhaps given such it will actually be built sooner as it becomes a higher priority to future residents than it is for current ones. Won't hold my breath on that though.
The vote for a dedicated sales tax to fund FasTracks was 2004, so I’m not sure what you mean by FasTracks was introduced in 2007. Also, 10th & Oh-sage station (like the Native American Nation now based in Oklahoma) Louisville, CO is pronounced like Lewisville, TX and not like any variant of Louisville, KY.
@billyoung8118
3 жыл бұрын
I laughed that he actually pronounced Westminster correctly and screwed up so many other city and street names.
@RMTransit
3 жыл бұрын
Hmm? Westminster is a common town name in Canada and obv in the UK, I try my best!
@billyoung8118
3 жыл бұрын
@@RMTransit You pronounced Westminster perfectly well! 100% correct. I'd say half the people in the Denver-metro area pronounce it Westminister (the 2nd "i" that simply does not exist in the name). It is kind of an ongoing joke for those of us who realize that 2nd "i" is just not in the word.
@insertchannelnamehere632
2 жыл бұрын
@@billyoung8118 They do! It's so annoying lol
Would you be doing a future transit video in Singapore one day?
Also for next time, can you please talk about the app within each transit system. For Denver, it’s call RTD.
@SamAndrew27
4 жыл бұрын
The app is super handy when you're trying to get out to DIA and catch a flight - just hop on the A line, _then_ buy the ticket!
The Amtrak runs to Oakland not San fransisco :)
Love this!
Amazing video! You have a new subscriber. Please do Dallas metro system next time DART. Also, can you please talk about the app within each transit system? Thank You
@jcmcmcjc11
4 жыл бұрын
For Denver, it’s called RTD. For Dallas, it’s called Go Pass.
you did not show the trains they use
You should try to do New York
@thezenarcher
4 жыл бұрын
@@RMTransit East Side Access, Gateway Tunnel, 2nd Ave Subway, LGA Airtrain, Penn Station expansion, PATH extension, Triboro RX, 14th St busway, and complete redesigns of the bus network in every borough is "not much happening"?
its not just that they have rail but they have it fanning out in every direction and if the northern routes can double length it will be time for a radial/circular track in teh near future.
Only in America does it take 40 years to complete a 120 mile service expansion.
Hi I’m from Denver and native grew up watching this rail network booming #boomer lol but on 5:08 you said US route 26 it actually US 36 AND you mispronounce Peoria station it’s (pea•oria)
@DonWagnon3
3 жыл бұрын
Also the L line ends at 30th & Downing not 38th & Blake
I'd change the title to "Mass transit," as for transit to be "rapid," by definition it needs to run on its own grade separated right of way. Light rail and commuter trains have grade crossings and share tracks with freight and intercity passenger trains (in the case of commuter trains), so while it might be strong mass transit, it is not rapid transit.
@jg-7780
4 жыл бұрын
@@RMTransit Here's Wikipedia's definition: "Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail, metro, subway, tube, U-Bahn or underground, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. Unlike buses or trams, rapid transit systems are electric railways that operate on an exclusive right-of-way, which cannot be accessed by pedestrians or other vehicles of any sort, and which is often grade separated in tunnels or on elevated railways."
@jg-7780
4 жыл бұрын
Reece Martin We could argue this all day what rapid transit is, but my main point is that not all people would say Denver’s rail system is rapid transit, but pretty much everyone would agree it is mass transit (which includes everything from a bus line to a full subway).
@MichaelScottRamming
4 жыл бұрын
None of RTD’s rail lines share track with freight rail. Light rail doesn’t meet FRA buff strength requirements, and so must be separated physically or temporarily. Also, save for the interlocking coming into the Union Station train hall, the lines don’t share track with intercity passenger rail (Amtrak’s California Zephyr) either.
The line to Longmont has seen year over year delays due to disputes between BNSF and RTD.
@squrt29
3 жыл бұрын
One other little problem is no money to build it.
@insertchannelnamehere632
2 жыл бұрын
BNSF is asking for money RTD could never afford, like 40 mil per year
@octorokpie
Жыл бұрын
@@squrt29 It would cost very little to build, relative to the price BNSF is demanding for use of the rails. It was actually feasible before BNSF jacked the price up shortly after the measure passed
Should have subway as well as light rail and commuter rail.
I blame the evil Jason Spelts for Denver's transit problems.
I'd like to see the future of Transit in Boston
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Manchester Metrolink!
3 жыл бұрын
NH or England?
@joshlikescola
3 жыл бұрын
@ England
Could you do future of transit in Phoenix metro area
Consider Minneapolis as a Future Of video? Or any network that seems interesting in North America.
@donavannj
4 жыл бұрын
@@RMTransit Fair enough. And its Blue Line expansion is under siege as well from the rail company whose corridor was integral to the chosen plan refusing to come to the negotiating table, so a good chunk of its future expansion is at risk.
Correction about FF: US Route 36, not 26.
5:00 Flatiron Flyer is on US36 (not 26). 8:52 Northwest Rail to Boulder, Longmont - maybe by 2050, if ever. Louisville pronounced like Lewis.
Hey, the red and orange lines you drew in this map aren't a thing here. The C line (orange), and F line (red) were axed in 2022.
Did I miss something? Those black lines coming in from either side of the screen and terminating at Denver - were those ever explained?
@RMTransit
4 жыл бұрын
Those are Amtrak iirc
@connecticutmultimodaltrans8226
3 жыл бұрын
It's the Amtrak California Zephyr, a long distance train running from Chicago to just outside San Francisco.
I would like see Calgary lrt and Edmonton lrt
These seems so random?
Why do you think all the lines terminate in Downtown Denver rater than continuing to the other end of the metropolitan area? Seems odd that you can’t make it to two opposite points without transferring downtown, especially since Denver’s regional development is radial like Paris, not polar like Vancouver.
@godozo
3 жыл бұрын
Lines in the south are light rail and go pretty much on their own tracks; Lines to the north are commuter rail and run on rails shared with other trains. Two different types of rail lines, and making the two work would be trouble.
@PlyingKibbles89
3 жыл бұрын
@@godozo The commuter rail lines also run on their own track.
I live in denver and as this video points out it DOES have metro, but it is way worse than he said. Given that i am a transit enthuseist, this is not great. 😢
As a former CU Boulder student, the B line extension looks fantastic, but my god that timeline is awful. 20 years? RTD has to do better. If LA can predict finishing the Sepulveda line by 2030, I know we could get the B line by then
@quillmaurer6563
Жыл бұрын
The way I often describe it is "Claimed by 2044, which based on experience with past projects this means sometime between the Sun becoming a Red Giant and swallowing the Earth and the Heat Death of the Universe." Granted on the other hand that's so far out and this area changing and growing so rapidly that things could be radically different by then - potentially even the public having far more desire for these things to get built and it actually happening sooner, though I won't hold my breath on that.
👑
The B Line is barely around 5 miles long. I think you may have stated it was 10 miles.
@connecticutmultimodaltrans8226
3 жыл бұрын
He said it was 6.2mi in the first phase currently running.
@insertchannelnamehere632
2 жыл бұрын
More is in the works
Do you think Seattle or Denver will have a better transit system ?
@RMTransit
3 жыл бұрын
Hard to say, Seattle probably does light rail better but Denver has a lot more coverage
Boulder paid taxes for this but won't have a stop for another 20 years,
So much more interesting than boring toronto
Louisville is actually pronounced Lu-is not Lu-e
like, im from denver and the amount of wrong information in this video hurts