G Line (RTD)
| Company type | Commuter rail service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | Regional Transportation District (RTD) |
| Headquarters | Denver , United States |
Area served | Denver metropolitan area, Colorado |
| Owner | Regional Transportation District (RTD) |
| Parent | Regional Transportation District (RTD) |
The G Line, which was referred to as the Gold Line during its development phase, is an electric commuter rail service operated by the Regional Transportation District (RTD). It links Denver Union Station with Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Although initially scheduled to commence operations in October 2016, the opening was postponed until mid-2019 due to challenges involving timing and safety systems related to grade crossing procedures that required waivers from the Federal Railroad Administration. This postponement affected RTD’s broader commuter rail rollout plans but ultimately facilitated the implementation of advanced wireless crossing technologies.
History
Conceived in the 1990s, the G Line was originally intended to extend from Denver Union Station all the way to downtown Golden. Construction, however, was divided into two stages: the first phase, financed through FasTracks, ended at the current western endpoint at . The second phase remains without funding and RTD has no immediate plans for extension, although it continues to hold the right-of-way toward Golden for potential future development.
The route of the G Line follows the former Colorado and Southern Railway corridor between Denver and Arvada, a line that ceased operations in 1943.
Under RTD’s FasTracks initiative, Denver Transit Partners operates the Gold Line through the Eagle P3 public–private partnership. The project received Federal Transit Administration approval in November 2009. Construction officially began on August 31, 2011, when US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a $1 billion federal grant supporting the endeavor.
Covering a distance of , the line’s construction cost approximately $590.5 million and comprises eight stations: Union Station, 41st Avenue, Pecos, Federal, Sheridan, Olde Town, Arvada Ridge, and Ward Road.
The "Gold Line" name commemorates the 1850 gold discovery by prospector Lewis Ralston near Ralston Creek, close to what is now Olde Town Station.
Delays
Although planned for a late 2016 debut, the G Line encountered delays due to complications with RTD’s distinctive automated crossing gate system, which had not yet received necessary federal and state clearances. On earlier lines, flaggers operated under a federal waiver as a temporary measure. After resolving timing issues and obtaining approval from the Federal Railroad Administration, the G Line opened on April 26, 2019, featuring quiet zones and operating without flaggers. Testing commenced in January 2018, with gate approval granted by the state’s Public Utilities Commission in March. Following FRA authorization in December 2018, RTD announced the official launch date.
Route
Beginning at Union Station in Denver, the G Line shares its northbound tracks with the B Line until reaching Pecos Junction station, where it branches westward toward its final stop in Wheat Ridge.
Stations
| Station | Municipality | Opened | Major connections & notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Rtds | Denver | April 22, 2016 | Template:Rint Template:RintTemplate:RintTemplate:RintTemplate:RintTemplate:Rint Template:Ric Template:Rint MallRide Template:Rint Flatiron Flyer |
| Template:Rtds | April 26, 2019 | Template:Rint Template:Rint Park and ride: 500 spaces | |
| Template:Rtds | North Washington | Template:Rint Template:Rint Park and ride: 300 spaces | |
| Template:Rtds | Berkley | Park and ride: 280 spaces | |
| Template:Rtds | Arvada | Park and ride: 330 spaces | |
| Template:Rtds | Park and ride: 600 spaces | ||
| Template:Rtds | Park and ride: 200 spaces | ||
| Template:Rtds | Wheat Ridge | Park and ride: 290 spaces |