Progressive Railroading's Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in Colorado and Florida

COLORADO

Regional Transportation District (RTD)

Develops, operates and maintains a transit system in the Denver area. Light-rail service launched in 1994.

Route miles: 48 light rail

Rolling stock: 172 light-rail vehicles, average age 7.9 years; 66 commuter rail cars on order

Annual ridership: 23.8 million

Annual operating cost: $53 million light rail; $543.2 million total budget (2014)

Annual capital cost: $1.8 million

Number of stations: 46 light rail

RTD is building a $478 million transportation hub at Denver Union Station that includes an expanded light-rail facility to accommodate West Corridor trains and a new commuter-rail facility to handle existing services plus four new commuter rail lines: the North Metro, Gold Line, East and NW Rail corridors. Kiewit Western Corp. serves as one of the major contractors.

The agency also is overseeing the $2.3 billion Eagle project, which includes the following components: the 22.8-mile East Rail Line from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport; the 11.2-mile Gold Line, running from Denver Union Station to Arvada; the two-mile Northwest Electrified Segment from Pecos Station on the Gold Line to South Westminster Station in Westminster; and a commuter-rail facility. All the lines will operate electric multiple units. Denver Transit Partners serves as the primary contractor.

The $687 million I-225 light-rail corridor between Denver and Aurora is under construction, as well. The 10.5-mile line will run from the existing station at Nine Mile to Peoria/Smith Station. Sema Construction is building the first 1.5-mile segment from Nine Mile to Iliff, and Kiewit Infrastructure Co. is building the nine-mile segment from Iliff to Peoria/Smith.

Finally, the 13.3-mile North Metro rail line is under construction between Denver Union Station and 124th Avenue. EMU vehicles eventually will operate on the line serving Denver, Commerce City, Thornton and Northglenn. The primary contractor for the $343 million project is Regional Rail Partners.

FLORIDA

Miami-Dade Transit

Operates Metrorail, Metrobus, Metromover and paratransit services, and coordinates public transit service planning for Miami-Dade County, as well as parts of Broward and Monroe counties. Metrorail heavy-rail service launched in 1984. Metromover service opened in 1986.

Route miles: 25 Metrorail; 4.4 Metromover

Rolling stock: 136 rail cars, 30 years old, which are being replaced by cars being built by AnsaldoBreda, scheduled to be delivered in late 2016; 40 automated people mover vehicles, average age 9 years

Annual ridership: 21 million Metrorail; 9 million Metromover

Annual operating cost: $77 million Metrorail; $22 million Metromover

Annual capital cost: $54 million Metrorail; $5 million Metromover (2013)

Number of stations: 23 Metrorail; 21 Metromover

Between FY2013 and FY2014, Miami-Dade Transit has committed to the following capital projects: Lehman Yard rehab and expansion, Phase 1 ($1.2 million); infrastructure renewal plan ($12.5 million); rail vehicle replacement ($39.5 million); Lehman Center test track for Metrorail ($2.7 million); track and guideway rehab subset ($5.9 million); transit operations system replacement ($2 million); electronic signage information systems and WiFi implementation ($88,000); capitalization preventative maintenance ($78.1 million); Metrorail bike path ($160,000); and a Metromover fiber replacement ($441,000).

South Florida Regional Transportation Authority

Coordinates regional transportation and operates 50 trains each weekday and 30 trains on weekends and holidays, as well as 33 connecting shuttle buses. Service launched in 1989.

Route miles: 72 commuter rail

Rolling stock: 14 locomotives, average age 11.2 years, plus 12 brand-new locomotives; 26 rail cars, average age 12.2 years, plus 24 brand-new rail cars

Annual ridership: 4.2 million

Annual operating cost: $54.3 million

Annual capital cost: $25.9 million

Number of stations: 18

No capital project information available.

SunRail

A commuter-rail service operated by the Florida Department of Transportation, serving the Orlando metro area. Service launched in 2014.

Route miles: 32 commuter rail (Phase 1)

Rolling stock: 10 locomotives, 20 rail cars

Daily ridership: 4,300

Annual operating cost: $25 million

Annual capital cost: N/A

Number of stations: 12 (Phase 1)

In spring 2015, FDOT plans to begin advertising for contracts related to Phase 2 South, which will extend service from Sand Lake Road through Kissimmee to Poinciana. A north extension is planned from DeBary to DeLand.

Part 1: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Preface

Part 2: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Amtrak and transit agencies in California

Part 3: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in Colorado and Florida

Part 4: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in Georgia, Illinois and Missouri

Part 5: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in New York

Part 6: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in Tennessee and Texas

Part 7: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in Virginia and the state of Washington

Part 8: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Metrolinx in Ontario, Canada