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Light rail is versatile. LRVs can operate on the street downtown, as shown here, making frequent starts and stops in city traffic. Away from downtown, on tracks separated from streets and roads, light rail vehicles can travel 50 miles per hour or faster. |
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Denver's light rail line is designed to connect major activity centers, such as the downtown core, sports stadiums, the Union Station transportation center, etc. A light rail vehicle rolls past the Denver Convention Complex. |
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Outside the downtown and rolling along its own protected right-of-way, a Denver LRV hits top speed. Where the light rail crosses a street at grade, automobile traffic is stopped by flashing red lights and alarm bells. |
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Political and governmental action were required to bring light rail to Denver. The Colorado state legislature passed a bill creating a Regional Transportation District (RTD) to solve Denver traffic problems. Voters in the Denver Metropolitan area then approved a .5 cent sales tax to finance transit improvements. At first the Denver RTD only operated transit buses, but in the 1980s the Regional Transportation District Board of Directors (elected by the people) began planning and building the light rail line. |