DENVER | Transportation Thread - Page 196

bcp · #**3901** Posted **Sep 13, 2012, 12:20 AM**

cool...seems to me the 30/31 (downtown version) and the 43 should become one through-route across DT?

Cirrus · #**3902** Posted **Sep 13, 2012, 4:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Cirrus, we could get you a ridership report for all routes. Would also show you how many trips there are in total, might be an easier way to define "high frequency" and "low frequency."

I'm not all that worried about meeting a hard and fast rule, to the exclusion of something that just barely misses. My main goal is just to ID the routes that come often enough for schedule-less use by riders for most of the day, as opposed to just rush hour. 15 minute midday headways was just the most convenient standard, given only info easily found online.

If you have something better and it produces better results, that's great. But I don't really want to go in and dig through a bunch of different info just to come to the same result. I'm more concerned with the final product than with the means.

bunt_q · #**3903** Posted **Sep 13, 2012, 12:49 PM**

Oh I think that standard is great. I just thought there might be an easier way that clicking every schedule to see which had 15-min midday headways. But looks like you're done anyways.

And besides, if the goal is to know which routes effectively serve schedule-less riders, public perception probably plays a valuable role too. It's a rare person who's ever going to look at the schedules, 0 to 200. The only routes I would personally expect to hop on schedule-less would be Colfax, Broadway, Federal... the ones you captured. Even if by some fluke Wadsworth or 104th had 15-minute service, presumably because it was needed, what random joe schmoe would know that or expect it? Not I. Of course, I would stroll down to the 3 or the 38, maybe, expecting frequent service... and apparently I'd be disappointed, haha. Just thinking out loud. I've always likes the idea of separate branding of high frequency routes. But from what you're finding, there are so few, RTD might be better off not having it. The only surprised on your map (as compared to "common sense") are what's missing, not what's higher frequency than expected. Hmm.

Cirrus · #**3904** Posted **Sep 13, 2012, 3:06 PM**

Yeah. If I hadn't already done it that would have been great.

There are a bunch of routes, including Alameda, that have 15 minute service for good long stretches of time beyond the typical peak, but have gaps for a couple of hours where service drops to every 30 minutes. If it only dropped to every 20 minutes or something like that, I might include them. But 30 minutes is too long.

My thought here is that since FasTracks ignores the central city so much, it's actually going to be super easy to overlay these routes onto a FasTracks map. I'll need a name, though. "RTD Premium Transit Service" maybe? It's a bit of a mouthful.

Zmapper · #**3905** Posted **Sep 15, 2012, 3:45 AM**

RTD needs take a hint from these guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQry0DDKCGM

Zmapper · #**3906** Posted **Sep 20, 2012, 12:47 AM**

RTD just released their 2013 Service Changes: http://rtd-denver.com/proposedServiceChanges-January2013.shtml

Of special note are the two new routes 104X and 89. 104X will travel from roughly Tower and 104th Ave in Commerce City west to I-76 and then south to downtown. Route 89 will connect Stapleton to Anschutz Medical Campus along MLK Blvd.

bcp · #**3907** Posted **Sep 20, 2012, 4:21 AM**

sooo...thank you..and...this...

Quote:

D Line
It is proposed to discontinue service at the 29th and Welton Station to improve schedule adherence on this segment of the light rail system. The 27th and 30th stations are within walking distance of 29th Street. Delayed trains are affecting important connections with routes 12, 28, 38, 43, and AF.

is the best news i've read in a long, long time...station-spacing is insanely close on that line (and insanely far apart on the east line...)...so this will help with timing, flow and having people walk a block or two here and there without killing them...

unfortunately, RTD is still planning two stops in the 6 blocks between the current EOL and 38th and blake. Or, maybe, this is the start of something good?

The Dirt · #**3908** Posted **Sep 20, 2012, 6:27 AM**

They should replace the station at 25th with one at Park Ave.

The D line just doesn't work with a street car format.

wong21fr · #**3909** Posted **Sep 20, 2012, 2:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcp

unfortunately, RTD is still planning two stops in the 6 blocks between the current EOL and 38th and blake. Or, maybe, this is the start of something good?

Isn't the current plan in the Central Corridor to have this portion be served by a streetcar, or a single LRT vehicle, and the D Line is truncated to the DT loop?

SnyderBock · #**3910** Posted **Sep 20, 2012, 7:22 PM**

This is what they are studying. Plus extending the streetcar portion, throught downtown (using an unidentified additional funding source).

Zmapper · #**3911** Posted **Sep 23, 2012, 5:42 PM**

Has anyone else noticed that the destination sign on the SkyRide buses reads: "Ax - DIA Airport"? I found that rather amusing.

texcolo · #**3912** Posted **Sep 24, 2012, 12:56 AM**

Quote:

The formal comment period for the Twin Tunnels Environmental Assessment (EA), Section 4(f) Evaluation, and Portal to Portal Access Road Companion Report began on July 5, 2012 and concluded on August 4, 2012. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) thank all those who submitted comments on the EA and attended the public hearing on July 25, 2012. We are reviewing comments now and plan to issue a final decision about if and how CDOT will proceed with the Twin Tunnels project by November 2012. Responses to comments will be included in that decision document. If CDOT and FHWA decide to move forward with the Proposed Action, construction activities would start in November 2012 and continue through March 2014. The main construction activities that would require closure of I-70 would occur between March and October 2013.

The EA document remains available for download here.

What is CDOT proposing?

The Twin Tunnels project proposes to add a third eastbound travel lane between the Idaho Springs East Interchange (milepost 241) to the base of Floyd Hill (milepost 244) where a three-lane highway section currently exists. The project is approximately two and a half miles long and includes widening the eastbound bore of the Twin Tunnels. CDOT is considering three variations:

Cross Section. We are looking at a 50-foot or 56-foot roadway section in the western portion of the corridor. The difference is related to the width of the inside shoulder, and the decision is based on the maximum tunnel widening that could be achieved.

Alignment. We are considering whether to widen toward the median or the creek in some locations on the eastern portion of the corridor. Widening toward the median would fill-in the existing median, which would vary from the I-70 Mountain Corridor design criteria. Widening toward the creek would require walls up to 15 feet high along the creek banks.

Operating Scenario. We are considering whether to operate the new third lane as a managed lane or another general purpose lane like what is there today. A managed lane would impose a fee during peak periods of congestion; much of the time, the lane would operate with no fee.

Decisions about these variations will be made and described in the decision document.

source

You might stay out of the mountains starting next year.

PLANSIT · #**3913** Posted **Oct 1, 2012, 4:10 AM**

The proposed B-Cycle stations:

Source

bunt_q · #**3914** Posted **Oct 1, 2012, 11:15 AM**

I enjoyed the article that went with it. To summarize, bike sharing is for wealthy white yuppies (only).

The Dirt · #**3915** Posted **Oct 1, 2012, 1:56 PM**

To add, we should force this onto poor communities even if they dont want it, dont like it, cant afford it, but we should subsidize placing stations into unproffitable areas because it's good for them. This article made me want to register Republican.

PLANSIT · #**3916** Posted **Oct 1, 2012, 2:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

I enjoyed the article that went with it. To summarize, bike sharing is for wealthy white yuppies (only).

Yeah, I purposely didn't post the article. It's all just a bunch of nonsense coming out of the Lopez office.

bunt_q · #**3917** Posted **Oct 2, 2012, 2:18 PM**

Okay so now I understand the need for the giant parking garage at the federal station on the west line. Today is the first day I think I've ever driven Colfax from the west into downtown at morning rush-hour (jury duty). And it's sheer insanity. 30 minutes from Federal to Speer basically. So yes, I do think there's benefit to having that giant garage there, even if it is relatively close to downtown. It's no different than European cities piling parking garages around their urban cores. If even 10% of these cars piled up on Colfax didn't have to go into downtown proper, we'd all be better off for it.

Cirrus · #**3918** Posted **Oct 2, 2012, 2:28 PM**

Doesn't bother me. That area is a dumping ground for non-urban uses that's decades away from redevelopment. It's OK to have places like that. That station should have good bus facilities though, since 3 of the city's best buses converge there.

Someday, when downtown's parking lots have filled in, and the football stadium is ready to be relocated, and we tear down the Federal/Colfax interchange, that area will become downtown West Denver. When that happens it will make the CPV look like an afterthought. But that day is a long way away. RTD can land bank until then.

PLANSIT · #**3919** Posted **Oct 2, 2012, 3:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Okay so now I understand the need for the giant parking garage at the federal station on the west line. Today is the first day I think I've ever driven Colfax from the west into downtown at morning rush-hour (jury duty). And it's sheer insanity. 30 minutes from Federal to Speer basically. So yes, I do think there's benefit to having that giant garage there, even if it is relatively close to downtown. It's no different than European cities piling parking garages around their urban cores. If even 10% of these cars piled up on Colfax didn't have to go into downtown proper, we'd all be better off for it.

No parking garage is going in Decatur-Federal - RTD is planning to lease Stadium District spaces (1900 or so).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirrus

Doesn't bother me. That area is a dumping ground for non-urban uses that's decades away from redevelopment. It's OK to have places like that. That station should have good bus facilities though, since 3 of the city's best buses converge there.

Someday, when downtown's parking lots have filled in, and the football stadium is ready to be relocated, and we tear down the Federal/Colfax interchange, that area will become downtown West Denver. When that happens it will make the CPV look like an afterthought. But that day is a long way away. RTD can land bank until then.

The bus facilities are pretty standard right now - 4 bus pull-outs, waiting plaza, etc. Nothing special unfortunately.

And if I were a betting man, I'd say Sun Valley is closer to large scale redevelopment than most people think (less than 20 years). The four major land holders (COD, Stadium District, Xcel, and DHA) are all on board for it. DHA will most likely be the first to make a move as they redevelop Sun Valley homes closer to the station. And if they use their standard 33/33/33 product, they could easily develop 1000 units themselves. Also, alot of potential here for student housing along Lakewood Gulch (Auraria) and increased industrial flex use toward the south (along Weir Gulch).

PLANSIT · #**3920** Posted **Oct 2, 2012, 4:06 PM**

As far as the Colfax/Federal interchange is concerned, the city is developing an Alternatives Study. So far, the study has 4 alternatives recommended. It's important to note that the City/State has no money for this project. However, all of these alternatives (except At-Grade) were developed to utilize the Federal Deck/Bridge currently being replaced.

Partial Clover

Tight Diamond

Re-Established Grid

At-Grade