RTD FasTracks Northwest Rail Corridor Project
| |
Environmental Evaluation Update
From RTD Project Manager Chris Quinn
I am pleased to update you on the activities of the Environmental Evaluation (EE) for the RTD
FasTracks Northwest Rail Corridor, which is a proposed 41-mile commuter rail corridor from Denver
Union Station to Longmont, passing through North Denver, Adams County, Westminster, Broomfield,
Louisville, and Boulder.
RTD initiated the environmental study in July 2007. Since then, the project has convened two series
of public workshops that took place in July and September. The workshops provided an opportunity
for us to hear about the issues of importance to you as RTD prepares to implement commuter rail
service along the corridor. These included the type of technology that RTD will use for its commuter
rail vehicles and the noise impacts that will be associated with operating commuter rail service
along the corridor.
As the Environmental Evaluation moves forward, the project will further address the noise impacts
of commuter rail along the Northwest Rail Corridor, including identifying appropriate noise
mitigation measures, and working with the local jurisdictions to possibly implement Quiet Zones.
The project is also currently refining station design and concept plans with each jurisdiction
and defining the track alignment along the corridor. We will share information and the results of
this work with you in another round of corridor-wide public workshops in the spring of 2008. We
anticipate distributing a draft of the Northwest Rail Environmental Evaluation in the spring of
2008 for public review.
As 2007 comes to an end and we begin a new year, I look forward to your continued involvement in
the Northwest Rail Environmental Evaluation. Opportunities for you to stay involved are included
on the back page of this newsletter. Your participation is an essential component of the study and
we welcome your thoughts, questions, and ideas.
The RTD Board unanimously approved the use of Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains on the Northwest
Rail Corridor at its October 16, 2007 meeting. The Board approved DMU technology along with the
‘Responsible Rail Amendment’ that requires RTD to consider environmental features, including fuel
efficiency and low emissions, to be amongst the top features of the vehicle purchasing standards.
RTD will continue to work with the local communities to address the noise concerns of residents
along the Northwest Rail Corridor. Please visit www.RTD-FasTracks.com or contact the project for
the full text of the Responsible Rail Amendment.
In comparing DMU and Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) technologies, the project conducted a cost and
environmental analysis and also considered public input. The RTD Board determined that DMU is
appropriate for the Northwest Rail Corridor because it is significantly less complex and less
expensive to implement than electric trains. These factors were major discriminators between the
two technologies. The complexity associated with EMU technology stems largely from the required
clearance to the overhead catenary wire that would result in the reconstruction of bridges along
the corridor, making the system prohibitively expensive.
While most environmental impacts for EMU were slightly less than DMU, the differences in the level
of impacts for the two technologies were not significant enough to outweigh the cost and complexity
issues, particularly when mitigation is considered. Although public support for the implementation
of EMU technology was stronger, RTD is committed to continuing to address the issues and concerns
the public raised at the September Public Workshops about DMU technology.
|
page updated 12/17/07
|