FRA grants waiver to Denver RTD for grade-crossing repairs

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has granted the Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) a waiver extension to give the agency more time to fix problems with grade crossing equipment on two commuter-rail routes.

Service on the B Line and the University of Colorado A Line would have been suspended as soon as this weekend due to problems with crossing arms, The Denver Post reported.

The FRA originally gave RTD until Nov. 5 to correct timing issues at several grade crossings on both lines, the newspaper reported. Under the 90-day waiver extension, the lines can remain open, but RTD and operator Denver Transit Partners (DTP) must hold twice weekly progress meetings with the FRA Region 6 staff.

In addition, the agency and DTP must schedule monthly face-to-face progress meetings with the FRA staff. Furthermore, DTP must complete four action items outlined in a previous presentation to the FRA.

"We greatly appreciate the FRA granting the waiver extension, which is the direct result of the excellent working relationship between FRA, RTD and DTP," said RTD General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Dave Genova in a press release. "The University of Colorado A Line and the B Line trains have and will continue to operate safely while the remaining crossing issues are being addressed."

The A Line, which opened in April, serves 18,800 passengers on an average weekday, while the B Line shuttles 1,480 passengers on a daily basis.