Project History

Summary
The West Corridor is a 12.1-mile light rail transit corridor between the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver and the Jefferson County Government Center in Golden, serving Denver, Lakewood, the Federal Center, Golden and Jeffco. 

The West Corridor travels through a series of parks in Denver on the east end of the alignment, through residential neighborhoods along 13th Avenue in Lakewood, through the Lakewood Industrial Park, onto the Denver Federal Center site, and along 6th Avenue to the Jefferson County Government Center on the western end of the project. 

Environmental Planning
The West Corridor completed the Environmental Impact Statement in 2003 and began Final Design in November 2005. During Final Design, an Environmental Assessment was prepared that addresses all environmental impacts due to changes from the original EIS document. It will be the first corridor to be completed in the FasTracks program, opening in early 2013.
 
RTD broke ground for the first time on the FasTracks program when the West Corridor began construction May 16, 2007 with removal of the old trolley tracks along 13th Avenue, followed by the relocation of utilities along the line.

Light Rail construction activities began in April 2008 at Kipling Street where crews built the Light Rail Bridge that will carry light rail as well as pedestrian and bicycle traffic over Kipling Street at 13th Avenue.

Public Involvement/Information
Public Involvement has been crucial to the West Corridor. During construction, public information will be provided in a variety of ways. We encourage you to use this site to learn about the project and welcome your comments and feedback.

Completion
The West Corridor will be the first FasTracks rail corridor completed. Construction will be completed in late 2012 and the West Corridor Light Rail Line will open to the public in early 2013.