Denver's RTD to hold meeting on Central Rail Extension study

The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) will host a public meeting tomorrow to provide the latest information on the Central Rail Extension Mobility Study as part of its FasTracks project.

The study will identify the most feasible transit-rail route and operating plan to provide a direct rail ride with no transfers from the future 38th/Blake Station on the East Rail Line into downtown Denver, RTD officials said in a press release.

Expected to be completed late this year, the study will aim to create stakeholder and community consensus on implementing the extension.

The Central Rail Extension is funded through RTD's voter-approved FasTracks program, but according to RTD's most recent cash flow forecast, program money for the extension will not be available until well into the future, agency officials said. As a result, they are seeking ways to collaborate with city and county officials, as well as other partners to explore "creative funding sources" to help fund the line's construction sooner, they said.

The study will gather information to evaluate and screen potential alternatives, and determine how the Central Rail Line should interface with downtown Denver's transportation system, RTD officials said.