Phase I represents the initial build-out of the Vision Plan Alternative and includes the following Light Rail Transit (LRT) Elements:

LRT Alignment

The light rail alignment will be placed below grade in an open trench from Cherry Creek to the intersection of 16th Street and the Millennium Bridge. The alignment will transition into a tunnel along 16th Street and will continue to the proposed open air station west of Denver Union Station. The alignment will re-enter the tunnel on the north side of the station and will remain in the tunnel under 18th Street to a point just west of Chestnut Street. After Chestnut Street, the tunnel alignment will split into two directions: one line will head south and the second line will head north.

The line heading north will transition from a tunnel to an open trench and will continue as an open trench to the north edge of the study area. This alignment will accommodate the Gold Line planned as part of FasTracks. There will be two alignment options evaluated for the Gold Line north of 18th Street. Under Option 1, the alignment would be located on the west side of the Consolidated Mainline (CML). Under Option 2, the alignment would be located on the east side of the CML.

LRT Station

The LRT station will be below grade and open air, directly adjacent to Wewatta Street on the east side and centered on 17th Street. The station will be approximately 30-35 feet below Wewatta Street. Access to the station will be from the platform ends and will include stairs, escalators and elevators. A connection to the existing tunnel that runs below passenger rail also will be provided. A new at-grade pedestrian concourse will be created that will run between the passenger rail platforms and the LRT station. This pedestrian area will connect 16th Street to 18th Street and will act as a major circulation element for the site.

In addition to the elements described above, the station will include a number of passenger amenities, such as canopies for weather protection and shading and ticketing equipment. All aspects of station design will conform to ADA guidelines.

Passenger Rail Elements

The passenger rail tracks will remain at their existing location: at-grade on the west side of DUS. However, the following improvements will be made:

• Improvements to the track throat near 20th Street that will allow trains to access any of the tracks leading into or from the Denver Union Station property;
• Three new at-grade platforms will be constructed, with associated canopies and passenger access and amenities, to provide a total of six passenger rail platforms; and
• Vertical circulation escalators and elevators to the platforms from the existing (central) tunnel to provide connections with the LRT station.

Bus Elements

The regional High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) bus will maintain the existing stop located behind DUS.  A new boarding plaza for regional HOV bus service will be located west of the existing station. However, the stop located just north of 16th Street may need to be eliminated to maintain pedestrian access to the passenger rail tracks.