The infamous and elusive B Line to Boulder - and beyond
It’s a question Coloradans have been asking themselves for decades: When will we finally see the promised RTD train connecting Denver to Boulder and Longmont?
Жүктеу.....
Пікірлер: 26
@swimgirl24 Жыл бұрын
I hope this is finished eventually. How the heck did it get so expensive to build???
@mozarab4495
Жыл бұрын
Largely because of freight rail monopolies like BNSF
@liambenson
10 ай бұрын
@@mozarab4495 is right, but the full answer is more complicated than that: first, after the 2004 vote, BNSF started using the CO-119/US-36 freight corridor more, and the price went up. Then the 2008 recession happened, and the price went up. Then the pandemic happened, and not only did the price go up but RTD ridership went down, and it still hasn't really recovered.
@escondidofilms
5 ай бұрын
Having their own right of way should have been the plan. Sharing track with BNSF should have never been an option.
@kyletopfer7818
4 ай бұрын
@@escondidofilms The BNSF has a line speed of less than 50 miles per hour anyway and large sections of only 30 miles per hour so it wouldn't be fast enough to compete with the bus anyway. Looks to me like Denver should copy Ottawa or BART and just smash it down the middle of the Turnpike with a short section of tunnel from Westminster.
@mrvwbug4423Ай бұрын
A year later, the feds have swooped in and rescued the project, except Amtrak will be running the B line instead of RTD. Let's just hope it is fast, frequent and cheap when it's done (estimated 2027 start of service)
@Ryan_hey6 ай бұрын
I'm surprised RTD isn't using right-of-way transportation to access via the 36. It's a highway with quite a bit of space on either side for transit development, hence why there are tons of bus-only exits. I'm sure there's a good reason why--I'm just curious.
@kscptv6 ай бұрын
Where has RTD spent the money they were given by the taxpayers for the B line?
@jonathangreenlee9805
2 ай бұрын
Funds went to the other money losing lines. This is why gov't agencies don't follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principals (GAAP) like other publicly funded organizations. CalTrans, etc are no exception to this exception. It allows mismanagement to greenwash the original goals. Go Bustang!
@jgs0025Ай бұрын
So, RTD promised a train, took the money, and then decided to not provide said train? I think that's called theft.
@jeffgutierrez87967 ай бұрын
We wanted it, we voted on it, we never got it. We want our tax dollars back.
@redpandaz51463 күн бұрын
3:26 If you look at Amtrak you'll know why this won't work. The freight trains are *supposed* to pull over and let Amtrak trains through, but they intentionally make their trains too long to do that, so Amtrak is always the one that has to pull over.
@InWhoseOpinion5 ай бұрын
Denver 7, please do a story on why the elevators and stairs are closed at Union Station? These elevators and stairs connect the underground bus gates with the tracks behind Union Station (tracks 1 to 7). This makes commuters coming up the East escalator go around the South end of the tracks to access tracks 2 through 7. Thank you
@liambenson10 ай бұрын
The only real timely solution here would be to secure Federal funding for this project; the Colorado Constitution's "Taxpayers Bill of Rights" says the state government cannot increase tax levels without a vote of the people, and since the people in Boulder and Longmont have such little trust for RTD, it is incredibly unlikely that they would ever vote to increase taxes to finish FasTracks. Now, Amtrak is expressing interest in opening a rail line along the Front Range, and if they were to utilize the CO-119/US-36 corridor it could help finish the B line; allowing RTD to operate their commuter rail and Amtrak to operate their inter-city rail on the same tracks would cut costs for RTD, and inter-city rail could be a great way for non-commuters to get to Denver and for Amtrak to expand its network
@idk-ol2it
7 ай бұрын
states pays for commuter amtraks ai Downeaster keystone
@raebearalvarez716210 ай бұрын
If the tax players demanded their money back for a tax that has not been used to do what it promised, it would have to scramble. I love my job, don't get me wrong. The boats needs to be replaced and the system completely overhauled
@chhewee Жыл бұрын
😌after they done handed out the millions to friends and loved ones they out of cash😅😅😅
@stewartdeerfield8 ай бұрын
Don't worry, the D's will come up with another tax increase to ensure this project gets delayed again. Oh, sorry, I mean the state will get more fed $'s as they support the failed admin.
@idk-ol2it
7 ай бұрын
when a highway is half built u dont say well it costed too much lets cut it
@stewartdeerfield
6 ай бұрын
Yep, you stop it before you start it.@@idk-ol2it
@JaredVonBaren6 ай бұрын
But why would you want it now if it is just a “homeless people moving platform” as I’ve heard so many call it?
@Ryan_hey
6 ай бұрын
Because train transit is the future. Anyone in Denver and Boulder can see how car traffic will only get worse. If you want less houseless people on the train, the platforms shouldn't be left wide open in the city center. A gated platform with ticket entry would prevent that.
Пікірлер: 26
I hope this is finished eventually. How the heck did it get so expensive to build???
@mozarab4495
Жыл бұрын
Largely because of freight rail monopolies like BNSF
@liambenson
10 ай бұрын
@@mozarab4495 is right, but the full answer is more complicated than that: first, after the 2004 vote, BNSF started using the CO-119/US-36 freight corridor more, and the price went up. Then the 2008 recession happened, and the price went up. Then the pandemic happened, and not only did the price go up but RTD ridership went down, and it still hasn't really recovered.
@escondidofilms
5 ай бұрын
Having their own right of way should have been the plan. Sharing track with BNSF should have never been an option.
@kyletopfer7818
4 ай бұрын
@@escondidofilms The BNSF has a line speed of less than 50 miles per hour anyway and large sections of only 30 miles per hour so it wouldn't be fast enough to compete with the bus anyway. Looks to me like Denver should copy Ottawa or BART and just smash it down the middle of the Turnpike with a short section of tunnel from Westminster.
A year later, the feds have swooped in and rescued the project, except Amtrak will be running the B line instead of RTD. Let's just hope it is fast, frequent and cheap when it's done (estimated 2027 start of service)
I'm surprised RTD isn't using right-of-way transportation to access via the 36. It's a highway with quite a bit of space on either side for transit development, hence why there are tons of bus-only exits. I'm sure there's a good reason why--I'm just curious.
Where has RTD spent the money they were given by the taxpayers for the B line?
@jonathangreenlee9805
2 ай бұрын
Funds went to the other money losing lines. This is why gov't agencies don't follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principals (GAAP) like other publicly funded organizations. CalTrans, etc are no exception to this exception. It allows mismanagement to greenwash the original goals. Go Bustang!
So, RTD promised a train, took the money, and then decided to not provide said train? I think that's called theft.
We wanted it, we voted on it, we never got it. We want our tax dollars back.
3:26 If you look at Amtrak you'll know why this won't work. The freight trains are *supposed* to pull over and let Amtrak trains through, but they intentionally make their trains too long to do that, so Amtrak is always the one that has to pull over.
Denver 7, please do a story on why the elevators and stairs are closed at Union Station? These elevators and stairs connect the underground bus gates with the tracks behind Union Station (tracks 1 to 7). This makes commuters coming up the East escalator go around the South end of the tracks to access tracks 2 through 7. Thank you
The only real timely solution here would be to secure Federal funding for this project; the Colorado Constitution's "Taxpayers Bill of Rights" says the state government cannot increase tax levels without a vote of the people, and since the people in Boulder and Longmont have such little trust for RTD, it is incredibly unlikely that they would ever vote to increase taxes to finish FasTracks. Now, Amtrak is expressing interest in opening a rail line along the Front Range, and if they were to utilize the CO-119/US-36 corridor it could help finish the B line; allowing RTD to operate their commuter rail and Amtrak to operate their inter-city rail on the same tracks would cut costs for RTD, and inter-city rail could be a great way for non-commuters to get to Denver and for Amtrak to expand its network
@idk-ol2it
7 ай бұрын
states pays for commuter amtraks ai Downeaster keystone
If the tax players demanded their money back for a tax that has not been used to do what it promised, it would have to scramble. I love my job, don't get me wrong. The boats needs to be replaced and the system completely overhauled
😌after they done handed out the millions to friends and loved ones they out of cash😅😅😅
Don't worry, the D's will come up with another tax increase to ensure this project gets delayed again. Oh, sorry, I mean the state will get more fed $'s as they support the failed admin.
@idk-ol2it
7 ай бұрын
when a highway is half built u dont say well it costed too much lets cut it
@stewartdeerfield
6 ай бұрын
Yep, you stop it before you start it.@@idk-ol2it
But why would you want it now if it is just a “homeless people moving platform” as I’ve heard so many call it?
@Ryan_hey
6 ай бұрын
Because train transit is the future. Anyone in Denver and Boulder can see how car traffic will only get worse. If you want less houseless people on the train, the platforms shouldn't be left wide open in the city center. A gated platform with ticket entry would prevent that.
Hyperloop!!!!!
@erikgustafson9319
Ай бұрын
Hell no