Mass Transit to hit Denver (Aurora, Greenwood Village: apartment complex, condo, moving)

[steveco.]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

That's great, livecontent, but people who have to show up to work on time to make a living to put food on the table don't have the luxury of being able to wait all day for a bus to arrive and make a hundred stops just to arrive at the light rail station to take them to work. And if there's one reason why the Denver light rail system has been so successful, it's because of the numerous park and rides conveniently located near freeway entrances/exits. It's takes people off the freeway and puts them on trains. Otherwise you end up with a light rail system like the one Phoenix is building, with very few park and rides (which are not even located near any freeway) and very few people who even live in walking distance to the light rail; a train going from nowhere to nowhere. All Phoenix's light rail will accomplish is put existing bus users on a train. In contrast, Denver's light rail takes freeway commuters and puts them on public transit for the first time. So I respectfully disagree; park and rides, even though they are surely ugly, are essential for the system to work right.

Keep in mind also that denver and phoenix are two very different places. Metro denver, even its suburban areas, is much more dense than Phoenix and its environs. It just recently exploded with growth and now is struggling to keep up.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by wanttomoveeast

um, ok, I do not believe that it is as simple as people moving closer to transit when they are faced with taking multiple buses and light rails just to get in on time. Many people have kids (yes, their choice) and cannot afford to live in the nice convenient areas of downtown. Me, I don't have kids, but wanted to own a home, supposedly the american dream. I could not have possibly afforded the nice convenient areas that I wanted to live in, so hence I'm in the burbs. I guess what I'm saying is that up and moving is not just a simple choice for some people.

You do not have to live in the downtown area to have excellent public transportation options. There are many other areas in Denver and there are many areas in the suburbs that also have excellent access to multiple buses and rail. Now with some of the rail systems in place, we have even more options in the suburbs.

The problem is when you live in an area of the suburbs which is far away from any major bus route ( I define a major bus route that runs frequently, seven days a week and in late hours and has many transfer points). If you make a choice to live in these areas then unfortunately you will have to wait many years for good bus service and maybe it will never happen.

However, there are some far out areas of the northern suburbs where a transit station will be built on the North and Northwest Corridors. If I was wanting to buy a new home, I would investigate these areas. When, the stations are operational there will be more feeder buses and call and ride access.

I live in the suburbs and I have access to a major bus line because I live in an older area of Arvada and there will be a station within walking distance. I can think of many areas to live in the suburbs and the city of Denver that are nice good areas to raise children and have excellent options for public transportation; you can also find new home construction. I can also think about areas in the suburbs and even in the city that are poor choices for public transit. Again it is about choice.

I want to point out. again, that Fastracks is not only about building rail. It is a multi-modal project with funds for more buses, more call and rides, more park and rides, light rail and heavy commuter rail. When I first came to Denver about 30 years ago, I was initially impressed by the park and rides and I believe that more should be built, expanded when necessary and reasonable. However, Park and Rides must be a part of the whole system and we cannot expend all our budgets on unlimited expansion of parking spaces. RTD is all about balances and complementary functions in a multi-modal system.

If you take the time and view the proposals for stations that will have park and rides (some will not), you will see that many stations have land slated for expansion of parking as the need arises and funds are available. You will see that they are labeled year 2030. It does not mean that they will be built in that year but that these areas will be anticipated to be fully utilized by that time with incremental expansions. So be assured that parking is not being ignored.

I would also like to say that I appreciate the people on this thread, even if they disagree, because of the intelligent and well though out discussions.

Livecontent

[Katiana]

livecontent, you do know a lot about mass transit in the metro area and I think we all benefit from your knowledge.

I do agree with vegaspilgrim, wanttomoveeast, et. all who say most people don't have hours to spend taking feeder buses to the express bus stops, and so forth. I think the reason my DH did not take the bus more when he lived in Golden was that his particular route was not served by a Park and Ride. In the morning, I had to take him to Table Mesa and Broadway in Boulder, which meant rousing two sleepy kids from bed to ride along. It was also a 10 mile round trip, which was about half the distance to work. Coming home, he could get a free transfer to catch a bus to Louisville and get off about 1/4 mile from our house. This extended the commute by quite a bit of time. All this happened a number of years ago; he has not worked in Golden for a long time. Perhaps connections are better now.

There is supposed to be a light rail station built in downtown Louisville. There is not much room for more parking in that area. However, many people in Louisville could walk home from downtown.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by Katiana

...
There is supposed to be a light rail station built in downtown Louisville. There is not much room for more parking in that area. However, many people in Louisville could walk home from downtown.

The Initial proposal for Fastracks included initially 400 parking spaces at the Louisville Station which is planned on the Burlington Northern Right of Way, east of Downtown, along hwy. 42. The station is still being planned but preliminary proposals are to be released shortly to the stakeholders. In addition, the City of Louisville has indicated in their development framework plans a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) around the station. This TOD will be an exciting part of the project as it will have denser development, more stores and should stimulate further development in Downtown.

I would imagine that it would look more like the current Littleton Station but with more close-in housing and retail. As in the current Littleton station, there will be feeder buses coming into the station, making transit to rail easier without a car. I think, with this TOD, this will become a great place to live in Louisville.

Livecontent

[wanttomoveeast]

Live: I guess what I'm saying re: Choice is that there are people living at poverty level (some made bad choices to get there) who are bound by their living, so therefore they do not have the choice to move to a nice neighborhood with a good school.

I do like what they are doing up north, I live up north. But I'm bummed that it's slated for a time when I'll be retired. haha, just kidding, but really it's that far out.

I didn't know about them budgeting for more park and ride space. That would be nice. I also freely admit that I made a bad choice in my home buy, because I did not consider or research mass transit. I was so used to it being easily accessible, I stupidly assumed it was that way all throughout Denver. I'll chalk it up to experience and won't make the same mistake again. Thanks for your posts.

[yodi]

City of Englewood is faced with the decision of adding more parking for riders at the Englewood station, or adding a new station in Englewood. They can't afford to do both.
Colorado Community Newspapers - Tough decision ahead for city
I hope they choose to build the new station.

[wanttomoveeast]

wow, that's exactly how the Wagon Road park n ride is, totally packed, with people parking all over the neighborhood and spilling into next door restaurants.

[ANAPA]

Originally Posted by wanttomoveeast

You know what's really funny are all the local people who just now figured out that Denver even has a mass transit. I've been riding the bus for years, and especially now that I'm in the burbs. When I lived downtown I walked more. But now I walk or drive depending on the weather exactly a mile to my bus stop. My firm pays for my eco pass, so what's to lose? I love reading and drinking my tea and watching the lines stack up on I-25 as we blow past on the HOV. I don't love the time I spend on the bus, but I'm trying to keep a positive outlook.

The best part about spending time on a bus or a rain is all the reading you can get done. I moved to a place where I have to drive everywhere and I miss all the books I used to burn through.

I haven't moved to Denver yet, but I did visit and stay this past weekend at the Hyatt at 7800 East Tufts Ave. How difficult would it be for me to get into downtown Denver from there using public transportation?

[wanttomoveeast]

Reading is ok, but for anyone like me, they'll understand that reading and riding in the back of a corrugated bus is not the best for motion sickness. lol.

I however, am making great progress fighting queen hives w/Daxter on my PSP.

For routes and such, go to rtd-denver.com. You can use their trip planner which is a start, but not always meant to be an exact guide. Another tactic would be to ask the staff (call them now if you wish) which buses they know of that go downtown and which are the closest to catch. I think all buses' destination is downtown if you are on the outskirts of Denver. Where it gets a little confusing is if you are donwtown and trying to get outside of downtown. Although I've had good luck with RTD customer service for the most part.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by ANAPA

The best part about spending time on a bus or a rain is all the reading you can get done. I moved to a place where I have to drive everywhere and I miss all the books I used to burn through.

I haven't moved to Denver yet, but I did visit and stay this past weekend at the Hyatt at 7800 East Tufts Ave. How difficult would it be for me to get into downtown Denver from there using public transportation?

You are in luck! The Hyatt is right near the main transfer station for the DTC at Ulster and Tufts. This station has numerous buses that connect with the rail stations which is the easier and fastest way to get downtown. The nearest rail station is at Belleview and it is connected by Route 27, 46, 105, 727 etc. to Ulster and Tuft. All these routes are crosstown and do not directly go downtown but will connect to some cross bus routes some places on the line that will go downtown. Many of these buses go also to other rail stations such as Colorado and Arapahoe and Orchard.

I am a frequently bus riding and I live in the Northwest suburbs. Most of these routes I have used and I have been at all the rail station. Many years ago I used this Ulster/Tuft transfer station when I was working; I am retired. It is heavily used and even more today because of the fuel costs. You can easily go to the transfer station and take the first bus to the Belleview station and take the first bus that leaves the station to the transfer station--you have many choices.

Your biggest problem will be walking down the parking lot at the Hyatt and to 11the Transfer station is just southeast on Ulster if you exit by the main circle of Ulster from the Hotel, though there are more direct routes through the parking lot. Buses pick up and depart on Both sides of Ulster. If you look at google map, you can see the big stop with the bus turnins.

You also must be aware that the trains run at late into the stations but the connecting routes to the transfer station may not all run as late. That is because the buses are mainly used for the office commuters, who work days at the DTC. So check the schedules.

The concierge at the hotel should have this information and if they do not then I would consider it a very badly run hotel. However I would check with RTD. Better yet, get this overpriced hotel to drive you to/from the very transfer station or even better the rail station, just down the road. Perhaps they offer this service but that would surprise me--that would require a leap of intelligence in hotel management.

Livecontent