N Line

Facts

  • Length: 13 miles, total in future will be 18.5 miles
  • Vehicle Type: Electric commuter rail
  • Stations: 9 total, 7 in funded section
  • Parking: 3,850 total spaces, 2,593 under construction
  • Frequency of Service: 20 min (peak) / 30 min (off-peak)

At a Glance

  • The N Line is part of RTD’s 2004 voter-approved FasTracks plan to expand transit across the Denver metro region.
  • The 18.5-mile electric commuter rail line will connect Union Station with Commerce City, Northglenn, Thornton, and North Adams County.
  • The 13-mile currently funded section will feature six new stations: 48th & Brighton•National Western Center, Commerce City•72nd, Original Thornton•88th,Thornton Crossroads•104th, Northglenn•112th, and Eastlake•124th.
  • The remainder will be built as funds become available.

Project Overview

  • 2001: RTD completed an investment study to evaluate north I-25 transit from Denver to Brighton.
  • 2005: RTD conducted a scoping study to build on previous analyses of the corridor.
  • 2006: RTD began an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process to analyze corridor transit options and purchased most of the North Metro Rail right-of-way from Union Pacific Railroad for $119 million.
  • 2011–2013: RTD issued a final EIS, identifying community benefits and possible impacts of a new transit service in the area; the team received a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Record of Decision. RTD committed funding to build the first phase from Union Station to the National Western Center. RTD received an unsolicited proposal to build the line, opened a competitive bidding process, and later awarded a design-build contract to Regional Rail Partners (RRP) to complete the line to Eastlake•124th, with options to extend as funds become available.
  • 2014: The N Line broke ground in March; design reached 56 percent completion in September; and the line received rail delivery and completed tie-in work at Union Station in November.
  • 2016: Construction underway on every project segment.
  • 2017: RTD Board of Directors awarded operation and maintenance (O&M) to RTD and approved a first-year budget for mobilization of O&M facilities.
  • 2018–2019: Installation of track, overhead catenary system wires, and signal/communications system throughout line. Overhead catenary system wires were energized, and trains began testing on the corridor.
  • 2020: The N Line opened on September 21.