The Build Alternative was selected as the Preferred Alternative for the Denver Union Station project. The Build Alternative was found to best meet the purpose and need of the project.

The project elements that will be analyzed in the Build Alternative fall into three general categories:

• Transportation facilities including new or relocated RTD, Amtrak and Ski Train facilities;
• Infrastructure repairs and upgrades necessary to accommodate the transportation facilities; and,
• Basic user access to and egress from the facilities.

These elements are listed and described further below:

Light Rail

• Two light rail transit (LRT) tracks with platforms will be located at grade and adjacent to the Consolidated Mainline (CML) Freight Tracks.
• Two Light Rail Tail tracks will serve as a storage area for up to two light rail trains.
• A six-foot chain link fence is planned as a demarcation line between the LRT tracks and CML tracks.
• Approximately 50% of the platform area will be provided with canopy cover.

Passenger Rail

• The at-grade Passenger Rail Station will be modified from the existing 5-track station to an 8-track station. Trains will enter from the north and stub end between 16th and 17th Street. Two tracks will serve Amtrak and Ski Train and five tracks will be designated for RTD corridors planned under FasTracks. One remaining track will be available for incident management and future expansion.
• Modifications to the trackwork from 18th St. to 23rd St. will be made to accommodate new track switching movements.
• Three tunnels (passenger, baggage and express) exist beneath the passenger rail tracks behind Denver Union Station. Two of the three tunnels have been completely filled in by previous work not associated with the proposed undertaking.  The three tunnels will be removed.
• Canopies are planned over the passenger rail tracks; however, a specific design has not been finalized.

Regional Bus (RTD)

• A twenty two bay below-grade bus station will be provided in the right-of-way of 17th Street and will extend from the back of the historic building to the light rail station adjacent to the CML. Sixteen bays will be dedicated to RTD, four to the Downtown Circulator and two to other commercial carriers. The overall dimensions of the station are 775 feet x 150 feet. The Delgany sewer is located in the ROW of Wewatta Street, and will be impacted by construction of the regional bus facility.

16th Street Mall Shuttle

• The RTD 16th Street Mall Shuttle will continue to serve the DUS site. The shuttle will have a stop adjacent to the passenger rail along 16th Street, and will continue west with a turnaround adjacent to LRT.  16thStreet will be open to general traffic between Wynkoop and Chestnut Streets.

Downtown Circulator

• The RTD Downtown Circulator is a planned circulator bus which will travel along 18th and 19th Streets through downtown. The Circulator will have two stops within the below-grade regional bus facility. Buses will access the facility through a ramp from 18th Street.

Pedestrian Circulation

• A pedestrian bridge is planned over passenger rail just south of 18th Street. This bridge will provide access from numerous points on the site;  the 17th Street pedestrian space at Wewatta, the intersection of 18th and Wewatta, the front plaza space, platform 1,  the parking structure and passenger rail.
• Pedestrian circulation will be provided on 17th Street as well as below 17th Street within the regional bus facility to link passengers between light rail, regional bus and passenger rail.
• A pedestrian transit passage will be provided from the 16th St. Mall shuttle stop adjacent to the passenger rail to the passenger rail platforms.

Street Reconstruction

• 16th, 18th, Wewatta and Chestnut Streets will need to be reconstructed to accommodate the proposed transit improvements. 17th Street will need to be rebuilt over the below-grade regional bus facility.