An Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, is a comprehensive study that evaluates potential impacts – positive and negative—of various alternatives under consideration. Preparation of an EIS is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The purpose of preparing an EIS is to provide decision makers with key information on alternatives under consideration with regard to their potential impacts to the built, natural, and social environments that may occur within the project study area. The EIS is intended to help public officials make a decision between project alternatives based on an understanding of the environmental consequences of each alternative.
The transportation elements of the Vision Plan from the Denver Union Station Master Plan are referred to as the Vision Plan Alternative in the Draft EIS. The first phase of build-out is referred to as Phase I. The Draft EIS evaluation includes the No Action Alternative, the Vision Plan Alternative and Phase I.
The primary elements of the Vision Plan Alternative include:
Relocating light rail and passenger rail facilities below grade;
Relocating RTD regional bus operations from Market Street Station to below Denver Union Station;
Adding a new bus deck at-grade (over the passenger rail and light rail stations); and
Relocating the 16th Street Mall Shuttle stop to the new bus deck.
The primary elements of Phase I include:
Constructing the light rail alignment, which will include open trench sections and tunnel sections;
Constructing an open light rail station between 16th and 18th Street on the west side of DUS;
Adding three at-grade passenger rail platforms adjacent to the existing passenger rail platforms;
Improving the passenger rail track throat at 20th Street and removal of the tail tracks;
Reconfiguring the 16th Street Mall Shuttle turnaround; and
Constructing a new boarding plaza for the regional HOV bus service located just west of the existing stop behind Denver Union Station.
The Draft EIS will be circulated for review by interested parties including citizens, community officials, and public agencies for a period of 45 days. The public review period will begin in early January and extend through mid-February 2006. A public hearing will be held in February 2006 to encourage public comments on the document.
The Denver Union Station Master Plan was developed to establish a Vision Plan for:
guiding the public transportation improvements needed to expand and establish Denver Union Station as the region’s multimodal transportation center; and
guiding the anticipated private redevelopment of the Denver Union Station property.
The Denver Union Station Master Plan’s alternatives screening process identified transportation issues and evaluated a range of transportation alternatives to address the future needs for a downtown multimodal center. The conclusions of this screening process recommended a phased build out of public transportation improvements, with the ultimate build out referred to as the Vision Plan Alternative and the initial improvements to be implemented referred to as Phase I of the Vision Plan Alternative (Phase I).
The Denver Union Station Master Plan was developed by a public-private partnership. The public partners are: the City and County of Denver (CCD); the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT); the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG); and the Regional Transportation District (RTD). The private partners are collectively known as the "Union Station Alliance." Individually, the team members are: Jones Lang LaSalle; Parsons Brinckerhoff;. Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP; Civitas, Inc; Continuum Partners, LLC; CRL Associates, Inc.; Ross Consulting Group; Goodbee & Associates, Inc.; H.C. Peck & Associates, Inc.; Hermsen Consultants; Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc.; RMC Consultants, Inc.; EME Solutions, Inc.; PKM Design Group, Inc.; Preservation Partnership, Inc.; and The Lund Partnership.
The Master Plan process spanned two years and was completed in September 2004. Throughout the process, the public was invited to share ideas through town meetings, mailings, a website and other public outreach efforts. Public participation included the work of a 60-member Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and a 99-member Union Station Advisory Committee (USAC) representing the interests of 36 stakeholder groups.
The Master Plan was endorsed by the Union Station Advisory Committee (USAC) and then sent through the approval process for each of the four agencies. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) approved the Denver Union Station Master Plan on September 16, 2004, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Board of Directors approved the plan on September 22, 2004, followed by approval by the Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors on September 28, 2004. The City and County of Denver approved the Master Plan, rezoning of the site and designation of the station as a Denver Landmark on October 4, 2004.
This project is committed to public involvement throughout the process. You can sign up for the project mailing list and be notified about upcoming town meetings and public events. See the 'What's New?' section for upcoming public meetings.
