Sea change for transportation as Denver goes intermodal
Denver is in the midst of a many multi-multi-million redevelopment of the historic 19th-century Union Station area. Except for the landmark station, which will remain, little else will be recognizable on the 20-acre site. The old station, which might become a retail complex like other grand old railroad stations, will be the centerpiece of a 21st transportation system. The buzzword is “intermodal,” and changes are well underway to make that happen.
Rendering of the Union Station redevelopment site. (Denver Union Station Project Authority)
Amtrak has moved to a temporary platform to the north, lightrail platforms are underway and historic tunnel will give way to underground. The final produce, which I hope will see completion, makes me happy, but I admit that I’ll be sorry when the tunnel that once linked multiple platforms disappears to make way for an underground bus station.
Union Station in all its Beaux Arts glory has withstood the test of of time, though traffic has plummeted.
The original Union Station at 17th and Wynkoop was built in 1880 to accommodate the Union Pacific, the Denver & Rio Grande Western, the Denver, South Park & Pacific and the Colorado Central Railroads. At its peak, 80 trains a day used this classic depot. Now there are two, the east- and west-bound California Zephyr. Sometimes, they are even on time.
Changes
- New $57 million lightrail station, two blocks west of the historic station, with two platforms and three tracks is due to open in July.
- The 16th Street Mall shuttle route will be extended to connect with lightrail. When that is completed, lightrail will be shifted the new platform.
- The current lightrail platform next to Union Station, will be replaced by the second phase of the underground bus station.
- A new lightrail line from Denver International Airport will eventually also come into the redeveloped transportation center.
- One option for walking between the historic terminal and the new lightrail platform will be underground, but through the bus terminal rather than through the historic tunnels. A second options is walking at ground level along a new landscaped section of 17th Street above the bus depot.
- The new bus station, which will replace the existing Market Street Station (also underground), will have 33 bus bays and parking slots for six more buses. Access will be by three sets of escalators and elevators to 17th Street.
- Commuter train lines, part of RTD’s FasTracks program, will arrive use new tracks just west of Union Station, with an open-air commuter rail station to be built over the easternmost portion of the underground bus terminal.
- Amtrak is now using a temporary station closer to Coors Field and is expected to return to Union Station within about two years.
