Dismissed Alternatives

RTD was required to rigorously explore and objectively evaluate a
reasonable 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.

Alternative 7BB: Streetcar - Harlan

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.

Alternative 6DD: LRT-Sheridan/Ridge

Alternative 6G: LRT-Harlan/Ralston

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:

Alternative 4: DMU-BN/UP

Alternative 6B: LRT-Lowell/52nd

Alternative 6BB: LRT-Lowell/Ralston

Alternative 6D: LRT-Sheridan/58th

Alternative 6F: LRT-Lowell/BN

Alternative 7A: EMU/Streetcar

Alternative 7B: Streetcar-Lowell/52nd

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.