Regional Transportation District officials are launching a major reconstruction of light rail track in central Denver, starting in May with a $152 million first phase that will rework five segments downtown and lead to a shutdown.
Closures are planned starting May 26, when all D and H line trains will be rerouted to Denver’s Union Station. L Line trains connecting the 30th Avenue/Downing Station to the Downtown Loop will be suspended.
There will be no light rail service operating in the RTD’s central corridor through September 2024, RTD officials announced on Wednesday morning.
The project is unprecedented since the RTD began light rail service in October 1994. While RTD officials between 2012 and 2023 directed 17 projects in the central corridor to replace sections of curved rail, switches, crossings, signals and other rail infrastructure, a project on this scale has not happened before.
After the first phase of reconstruction is completed in September, officials said, work crews will pause until 2025 and light rail services will resume during the pause.
“Maintaining RTD’s assets and infrastructure is essential to preserving the region’s previous investments in its mass transportation system,” RTD general manager Debra Johnson said in a press release.
“Managing and maintaining assets in a state of good repair ensures the long-term integrity of the rail network for all individuals who entrust RTD to deliver them to their destinations.”
Several segments of track along the central 5.3-mile corridor between the Interstate 25/Broadway and 30th Avenue/Downing stations require a full reconstruction, which entails removing all current rail infrastructure, concrete, ties, and ballasts, officials said. Work crews also are planning to address drainage systems beneath tracks before rebuilding each segment.
Rail and street intersections to be reconstructed during the first phase are at 15th and Stout Street, 17th and Stout Street, 15th and California Street, 17th and California Street, and Broadway and Welton Street.
Denver and RTD officials have been discussing street closures and traffic detour plans. Vehicle drivers downtown can expect rerouting to merge traffic into single lanes or around intersections.
RTD’s bus routes that operate along 15th and 17th streets may also be affected temporarily during the reconstruction work, agency officials said. As light rail trains are rerouted to Denver Union Station, RTD officials are planning to temporarily reintroduce a free MetroRide service along 18th and 19th streets with multiple stops.
Starting in 2025, later phases of the reconstruction will begin. These include a second reconstruction in RTD’s Downtown Loop and work along Colfax Avenue. A fourth phase will consist of work along Welton Street.
“The agency is ensuring that its 30-year-old system continues to provide reliable service for at least 30 more years and beyond,” Johnson said.
Before the reconstruction begins, transit riders are encouraged to sign up for agency service alerts and can find project information at rtd-denver.com/railproject.