Over the objections of Jefferson County commissioners, RTD directors voted unanimously Tuesday to construct a single track on the west corridor light-rail line between the Federal Center in Lakewood and the Jeffco government center in Golden.
The Regional Transportation District estimates that passenger demand on that west-line segment will only be enough to support train service every 15 minutes when the rail line opens in early 2013.
The rest of the west line, from the Federal Center into Denver, will have two tracks and operate as often as every five minutes.
Before the vote, Jefferson County Commissioner Kevin McCasky, speaking for his board, told RTD directors that consultants hired by the county predict far more demand for train service from the government-center station and that RTD should restore enough funding to at least provide service every 10 minutes.
“I cannot live with the decision,” McCasky said after RTD directors passed the measure with 15-minute service.
The decision violates the promise made to voters in 2004 that they would get more frequent service, he said.
RTD general manager Cal Marsella said his agency is sympathetic to Jefferson County’s concerns but that RTD faces a deadline in bidding for as much as $290 million in federal money for the west line and that bid might be jeopardized if a proposal – with the 15-minute frequency – is not submitted soon.
The full cost of the west line is expected to be $635 million.
Building the single track instead of two for the end-of-line segment will save about $36 million, Marsella said. The measure passed by directors Tuesday includes “triggers” that call for RTD to add more train cars and a second track if passenger demand warrants it.
If Jefferson County’s report convincingly shows there will be more initial passenger demand at the government-center station than predicted by RTD, then the agency will attempt to restore more frequent service for the opening of the line, Marsella said.
Staff writer Jeffrey Leib can be reached at 303-954-1645 or jleib@denverpost.com.
