RTD invites the community to join its 30 years of light rail celebration
RTD hosting family-friendly festivities this Saturday, Oct. 5 in downtown Denver
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) invites the community to celebrate 30 years of light rail service in Denver with a public celebration on Saturday, Oct. 5. RTD General Manager and CEO (GM/CEO) Debra A. Johnson and other local leaders will kick off the 30th anniversary event at 10 a.m. Festivities include a DJ and dancing to music from the light rail’s inaugural year, 1994, as well as food trucks, free cake pops (first come, first served) and other family-friendly activities.
The Central Corridor Line, which opened to the public on Oct. 7, 1994, operated between I-25 and Broadway to 30th Avenue and Downing Street along a rail alignment now served by the D, E, H and L lines. During the opening weekend more than 200,000 customers rode the new line consisting of a fleet of 11 rail cars. The original cars are still in service and sequentially numbered 101 – 111. They have since been refreshed with new floors, rust mitigation, exterior paint and decals to match the current RTD color scheme. The agency is in the process of converting the vehicles’ cloth seats to vinyl. The original cloth seats, once seen as premium, are less resistant to Colorado weather, which the vinyl seats can better withstand. The vinyl seats are also easier to clean and are a welcome upgrade for customers.
Saturday’s event will also celebrate the successful conclusion of the first phase of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project, which crews competed Aug. 29, three weeks ahead of schedule. RTD performed needed maintenance on the 30-year-old alignment to protect the community’s investment in light rail services as part of the agency’s Back to Basics strategic initiative.
“The launch of Denver’s first light rail line in 1994 built upon the city’s rich legacy of rail mobility that began in the 1870’s,” said GM/CEO Johnson. “That mobility remains critical to the region’s prosperity and vitality and also to the individuals and families who rely on public transit daily.”
Speakers kicking off Saturday’s celebration with opening remarks include GM/CEO Johnson, RTD Board Chair Erik Davidson, and Executive Director of Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Amy Ford.
Customers are encouraged to use RTD services to attend the celebration and avoid the need for parking downtown. The event will be held at 1514 California St., Denver, in the parking lot adjacent to the 16th•California Station. Customers can use RTD’s Next Ride app to plan travel to the event or visit the agency’s website and use the “Plan a Trip” tool.
Full event details are below:
What: Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of RTD Light Rail: Festivities for RTD customers, employees and the community to commemorate the Denver metro area’s inaugural light rail line
When: Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: 1514 California St., parking lot adjacent to 16th•California Station. Visit map.