Residents protest proposed FasTracks station

Residents protest proposed FasTracks station

By Kristin Wright-Bettner
Staff Writer

Thornton residents upset over safety issues and a seeming lack of answers from RTD protested a proposed FasTracks station at 144th Avenue and York Street along the future north metro line at a May 31 public meeting.

The station would be located about 1,000 feet north of Rocky Top Middle School.

About 150 people attended the station planning meeting, and tempers rose as questions about how Regional Transportation District officials intend to address safety issues were met with answers that were unsatisfactory to parents.

"We're in the planning process," said RTD's manager of public safety Dave Genova in response to a resident's question about what RTD has done in advance to keep children near the proposed station safe.

Concerns include how children will be able to safely cross the tracks on their way to school and the potential for increased crime.

Similar security concerns were raised about the proposed station at 88th Avenue near Skyview High School.

"This is an absolutely ludicrous idea on the back side of a K-12 school where we already have drug issues," said nearby resident Michael Miller, who raised the possibility of increased gang and drug activity.

Debra Perkins-Smith, environmental lead for the north metro project, said they do not have specific answers to safety questions right now because of where they are in the process - they are currently nailing down what the issues are and will focus on how to address them in the next step.

"We've been keeping track of issues," Perkins-Smith said. "We're not avoiding answering them. We'll be answering them farther in the process."

Genova said RTD does a variety of safety studies, and station designs include specific safety requirements. He added that all RTD train systems have armed security guards that ride the trains and do station patrols.

Several residents questioned the need to have six stations so close together - RTD is considering stops at 88th, 100th Avenue area, 112th, 124th, 144th and 162nd avenues.

RTD board member Noel Busck said ridership is a significant factor when considering station locations.

"If there's going to be ridership at 88th and 144th, we have to get people on the train," Busck said.

The RTD board makes the final decision on station locations, and Busck said in an earlier interview that he anticipates that decision to be made before the end of the year. Busck also said if a station is located at 144th it will likely be a kiss-n-Ride - a small station with minimal parking.

Thornton City Councilman Erik Hansen said while the city has no authority over where stations end up, it could work with RTD on mitigation and safety factors.

A public meeting is set for 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13 to further discuss safety issues and transit technology. The meeting will take place at Skyview High School, 8990 York St., Thornton, 80229.