About The Project

The Gold Line is a proposed 11.2-mile rail transit line that runs from Denver Union Station to Wheat Ridge, passing through northwest Denver, Adams County and Arvada. In July 2006, RTD began a comprehensive study of transit alternatives for the Gold Line. The finished product of this study will be an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft EIS was released on July 18, 2008, kicking off a 45-day comment period that ends on September 1, 2008. You can review and comment on the document from the DEIS section of this website. The Gold Line is part of FasTracks, RTD's voter-approved $4.7 billion, 12-year program to expand rail and bus service across the greater Denver metro area.

In July 2007, the RTD Board selected electric commuter rail along the BNSF/Union Pacific Railroad route as the Preferred Alternative for the Gold Line. Seven stations are proposed for the Gold Line, including 38th, Pecos, Federal, Sheridan, Olde Town, Arvada Ridge and Ward. Construction on the Gold Line is scheduled to begin in 2012 with the line opening by 2016.

Public engagement is essential to the success of the EIS process, and RTD has implemented a comprehensive public involvement program for the Gold Line.  For more information on how to get involved, click here.


Purpose and Need

The Purpose and Need statement establishes the benchmark from which all Gold Line EIS alternatives are evaluated. The Gold Line team finalized the Purpose and Need statement in September 2006.  The "purpose" is essentially the reason for the project.  The "need" statements should present the current and projected conditions that the project must address. 

The Gold Line Purpose and Need statement is as follows: 

Purpose
To implement fixed guideway transit on the Gold Line corridor between Denver Union Station and Ward Road.

Need

• Need for mobility improvements (improved travel time, travel options, and regional interconnectivity).
  


• Need to serve both traditional transit users and new users.
  
  
• Need to provide environmental benefits to the study area and the region.
  
  
• Need to be cost-effective and ability to be financed within the FasTracks program.
  
  
• Need to meet the voter mandate of the FasTracks program.

To download the complete Purpose and Need document, click here.