RTD Ticket Vending Machines will accept credit cards at all Light Rail Stations

RTD continues its commitment to offering variety and convenience for passengers

Denver – The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has recently completed the installation of new Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) with credit card readers at all Light Rail platforms. Credit card usage will be available starting Sunday, April 28, which will allow for easier fare payment in a safe, secure and efficient arrangement for light rail passengers.

New touchscreen ticket vending machines have been installed at every light rail station in downtown Denver, the Central Platte Valley, and Southwest  Lines. The Southeast Line will be upgraded with new software and hardware, so that all TVMs will have the capability to accept all major credit cards, including American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.

At select light rail platforms where multiple TVMs exist, a credit card-only TVM has been installed, allowing riders to quickly purchase their fare prior to boarding the light rail train. At least one TVM at every station will continue to accept cash and coins.

The weekend of April 26 – 28 is not only the opening of the much anticipated RTD FasTracks light rail line – the W Line – with service between Denver, Lakewood and Golden, but also marks the start of credit card acceptance at all light rail stations, and the scheduled Service Changes across the bus and light rail system.

For route and schedule information, please call RTD’s Telephone Information Center at 303.299.6000. Call 303.299.6089 for the speech and hearing impaired. Visit RTD’s website at rtd-denver.com.

Click here for past RTD news releases.

Find Out the Latest About the RTD FasTracks Train to DIA

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) and its contractor, Denver Transit Partners (DTP), are in full construction of the East Rail Line.

Road closures will affect very little of Northeast Denver, but please be aware that delays may happen as new light rail tracks are installed from Union Station in Downtown Denver out to Denver International Airport.

Click here to view the January 2013 Monthly Construction Newsletter and to obtain a printable copy.

FasTracks update March 2011

Completing the Vision – FasTracks Financial Plan Decision

On March 8, the RTD Board of Directors approved the 2011 FasTracks Financial Plan. With this approval, the Board is assuming a ballot initiative in 2012 for a 0.4 percent sales and use tax increase with the flexibility to seek an election in 2011 if conditions are supportive. Included in the 2011 Financial Plan is $305 million in short-term funding for the projects not yet in construction or under contract. The plan for spending these funds includes:

• U.S. 36 BRT – Complete managed lanes to Interlocken ($90 million)
• North Metro – Complete from Denver Union Station (DUS) to Stock Show Complex ($90 million)
• I-225 – Complete from Nine-Mile to Iliff ($90 million)
• Northwest Rail – Complete Longmont Station ($17 million)
• Central Corridor – Additional technical analysis ($0.5 million)
• Southeast Corridor – Final design & federal environmental process ($9 million)
• Southwest Corridor – Relocate Union Pacific Railroad track ($8.5 million)

RTD is evaluating a number of “triggers” to determine if 2011 is, in fact, a viable year to pursue an election. These triggers includes:

• Economic conditions
• Gas prices
• Level of support from stakeholders for a 2011 election
• Level of private financial support for a 2011 campaign

The Board will make a decision no later than the May 3 FasTracks Monitoring Committee meeting on whether to pursue a sales tax election in 2011. For more information on the next steps or to see past presentations, click here .

Eagle P3 Named North American Transport Deal of the Year

Finance Magazine named the Eagle P3 project the 2010 North American Transport Deal of the Year. The article applauds RTD’s use of a public-private partnership and cites how the deal between RTD and Denver Transit Partners sets an example for large transit authorities from Washington DC to Los Angeles. To read the full article, click here.

WTS Honors RTD FasTracks with Small Project of the Year, Diversity Awards

The RTD Systems Engineering Division received the Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS) Small Project of the Year Award for an innovative systems upgrade solution as part of the four-car platform extension project completed in December 2010. The project consisted of expanding power and signal system needs allowing RTD to operate four-car light rail trains to increase rider capacity. This work entailed relocating signal, communication equipment and associated duct banks at the Pepsi, INVESCO Field at Mile High, Oxford at City of Sheridan and Littleton Mineral stations.

The Diversity Leadership Award was presented to Jacobs Engineering, the prime contractor serving as RTD’s FasTracks Program Support Consultant. Jacobs has shown commitment and dedication through its inclusion of small, disadvantaged businesses and a diverse team as it provides flexible, innovative services to the FasTracks program.

Please join us in congratulating the teams for their work and innovations in the implementation of FasTracks.

FasTracks Attracts Worldwide Attention

The FasTracks program is important not only to the Denver metro region, but people around the world as well. More than 10 visitors from the Ukraine visited Denver Union Station (DUS) on March 15 to learn about RTD, the FasTracks Program and DUS as part of a program through the Golden Rotary. On March 23, four visitors from Germany visited DUS as part of the American Council on German McCloy Fellowship Program with the City of Commerce City. The groups also toured other areas of Denver during their visits.