RTD reopens downtown intersections to traffic, extends MallRide to Civic Center on 15th and 17th streets
RTD has resumed the Free MallRide’s service between Denver Union and Civic Center station, following the completion of rail reconstruction work along 17th Street. Yesterday, RTD reopened the final two intersections on 17th street at California and Stout to traffic and pedestrians. The project, which began in early June, was completed three weeks ahead of schedule, allowing the agency to extend Free MallRide service once again between Union Station and Civic Center beginning today.
The Free MallRide, which is currently on detour to 15th and 17th streets during 16th Street Mall construction, was “short-turned” at Champa Street in July and August while rail replacement work was underway on intersections in RTD’s Downtown Loop.
Completion of the rail replacement work means the MallRide can now resume operating the full length of 15th and 17th streets between Denver Union Station and Civic Center. The MallRide will continue in this configuration until the shuttles return to a portion of the 16th Street Mall in early October.
RTD plans to test MallRide shuttles on the first four completed blocks of the 16th Street Mall between Sept. 16 and Oct. 8, ahead of returning bus service from Denver Union Station to Curtis Street. The MallRide would still detour on 15th and 17th streets between Curtis Street and Civic Center Station.
The agency’s Free MetroRide service, which was temporarily restored to support the MallRide service during the downtown rail work, will continue to operate until service changes take place on Sept. 29. At that time, RTD will implement its approved service changes across the bus and rail network, to increase reliability, improve on-time performance, and resume routes and lines impacted by the downtown reconstruction project.
Visit the Free MallRide webpage for more information about the project and to sign up for text and email notifications about future and real-time rail and bus service impacts. The public is also encouraged to use RTD’s Next Ride app to plan trips, view active Service Alerts and see bus and train locations in real-time.