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Printable VersionDismissed Alternatives
RTD was required to rigorously explore and objectively evaluate areasonable range of alternatives during the Gold Line Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS). As the range of alternatives was narrowed, they
underwent multiple levels of increasingly detailed and quantitative
analysis. The goal was to eliminate flawed or unsupported alternatives
from consideration. At each level of technical analysis, the support of
the public, local municipalities and regulatory agencies was also taken
into account. This process allowed RTD to identify the Preferred
Alternative that was included in the Final Environmental Impact
Statement. Summarized below are the various alternatives that were
eliminated at each level of EIS screening.
Alternative Dismissed in Level 4 Screening
During the fourth level of screening, the team optimized both remaining alternatives to improve their performance and conducted even more detailed evaluations. The team established the number of stations for both of the two remaining alternatives and determined station-specific parking demand. Various footprints for station platforms and parking were also evaluated.
Alternatives Dismissed in Level 3 Screening
The third level of evaluation provided more detailed answers to many questions including ridership, environmental consequences, ways to avoid property impacts, feasibility of the implementation of the alternatives, and more detailed cost estimates. It also provided the first glimpse at other key evaluation criteria such as parking demand at preliminary station locations.
Alternatives Dismissed in Level 2 Screening
Level 2 Screening analyzed alternatives based on a number of preliminary quantitative criteria, including environmental impacts/benefits, community impacts/benefits, projected ridership and travel time. For a full list of criteria and the results for each alternative evaluated, click here. The following alternatives were eliminated at this phase:
Alternatives Dismissed in Level 1 Screening
Level 1 Screening, commonly called Fatal Flaw Screening was a primarily qualitative analysis of alternatives to determine if there are significant issues (e.g. cost, environmental impacts, not constructable).
Electric Commuter Rail Alternatives
Click here to view a map of all electric commuter rail alternatives considered
during Level 1, including the one selected for further evaluation.
| ALTERNATIVE | DESCRIPTION | REASON DISMISSED |
| Alternative 3A | Electric commuter rail paralleling the BN/UP corridor to the South | Cannot meet legal requirements; may exceed FasTracks budget due to property acquisitions, environmental impacts and grade separations. |
| Alternative 3B | Electric commuter rail paralleling the BN/UP corridor to the North | Cannot meet legal requirements; may exceed FasTracks budget due to property acquisitions, environmental impacts and grade separations. |
| Alternative 3C | Electric commuter rail on a new arterial street | Cannot meet turning radius or legal requirements for operating on street alignments. |
Diesel Commuter Rail Alternatives
Click here to view a map of all diesel commuter rail alternatives considered during
Level 1, including the one selected for further evaluation.
| ALTERNATIVE | DESCRIPTION | REASON DISMISSED |
| Alternative 4A | Diesel commuter rail paralleling the BN/UP corridor to the South | Cannot meet legal requirements; may exceed FasTracks budget due to property acquisitions, environmental impacts and grade separations. |
| Alternative 4B | Diesel commuter rail paralleling the BN/UP corridor to the North | Cannot meet legal requirements; may exceed FasTracks budget due to property acquisitions, environmental impacts and grade separations. |
| Alternative 4C | Diesel commuter rail on a new arterial street alignment | Cannot meet turning radius or legal requirements for operating on street alignments. |
Light Rail Alternatives in the BN/UP Corridor
Click here to view a map of all light rail alternatives using the BN/UP route considered during Level 1.
| ALTERNATIVE | DESCRIPTION | REASON DISMISSED |
| Alternative 5 | Light rail on the BN/UP right-of-way | Union Pacific Railroad will not allow light rail trains to operate in its right-of-way. |
| Alternative 5A | Light rail paralleling the BN/UP corridor to the South | May exceed FasTracks budget due to property acquisitions. |
| Alternative 5B | Light rail paralleling the BN/UP corridor to the North | May exceed FasTracks budget due to property acquisitions. |
Light Rail Alternatives Using City Street Routes
Click here to view a map of all light rail alternatives using city street routes considered during Level 1, including those selected for further evaluation.
| ALTERNATIVE | DESCRIPTION | REASON DISMISSED |
| Alternative 6A | Light rail north on Pecos to the BN/UP corridor | Narrow right-of-way for long stretches on Pecos and major property acquisitions. |
| Alternative 6C | Light rail north on Federal to 52nd | Federal is a congested state/US highway. |
| Alternative 6E | Light rail north on Sheridan to 44th | Wadsworth is a congested state highway. |
