G-Line Rail Testing To Arvada Begins

ARVADA, CO -- Arvada may be one step closer to a commuter rail line. After a judge approved limited testing of traffic crossing mechanisms on the new Gold or G-Line this week, the Regional Transportation Dept. announced that testing will begin Jan. 2.

Crossing arm timing glitches have prevented RTD from opening the commuter rail line, even though the Univeristy A-Line has been running for more than a year with human crossing flaggers assisting at the gates.

An administrative judge for the Public Utilities Commission ruled Tuesday that RTD can immediately begin crossing tests.

The 11-mile G-Line will connect Arvada and Wheat Ridge to Union Station in downtown Denver. The line was set to open in the fall of 2016 before crossing issues were discovered.

Arvada Mayor Marc Williams published an editorial Dec. 22 saying the PUC had kept the people of Arvada waiting for nearly 20 months over an issue of "literally seconds in wait times."

RTD said Arvadans and Wheat Ridge residents may hear horns blowing and rumbling trains as the rail line crossings are tested.

Image via City of Arvada