Comments for DenverInfill Blog

Comment on Denver Union Station Update #99 by Nathanael

Nathanael — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:26:09 +0000

Incidentally, trivia from the FEIS and the ROD:
- the tracks will be numbered 1-8 starting at the station
- the Gold Line may use both track 6 and track 7
- the current Amtrak platform at the temporary station will become “track 9″ and will be used for “storage” by Amtrak (perhaps of private cars, cars travelling only from Denver to Chicago, spare locomotives, or similar things)
- There will be five tracks in the “throat” east of the station. In regular use, the East Corridor and North Metro will operate out of one pair of tracks on the south side; the Gold Line and Northwest Corridor will operate out of another pair of tracks on the north side; and Amtrak will operate out of a single track in the middle. The East Corridor/North Metro trains will only cross Amtrak to get to the maintenance depot. Nobody except Amtrak will ever cross freight tracks.

Comment on Denver Union Station Update #99 by Nathanael

Nathanael — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:17:16 +0000

I suspect the renderings are from the west end. Only five of the tracks reach the 16th Street end of the platforms. One (NW Rail) reaches 17th St. Two (which are basically intended for future services) only reach 18th St.

Comment on Denver Union Station Update #99 by Nathanael

Nathanael — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:13:10 +0000

Not counting the light rail, there are two sets of three tracks and one set of two tracks. The set of two tracks is in the middle. The sets of three tracks are on each side, and each set has one “short” track. Each of the “short” tracks ends on land, before the bus box.

The set of two tracks also has a narrow platform in between them for Amtrak bagggage, fuel, etc.

I’ll draw some ASCII art: —- for a set of tracks, “p” for platform:

ppppppppp
ppp—— NW Rail
p——– Gold Line
ppppp—- ????
ppppppppp
p——– Amtrak/Ski Train track
ppppppppp Amtrak baggage
p——– Amtrak/Ski Train track
ppppppppp
ppppp—- ????
p——– North Metro track
p——– East Corridor track
ppppppppp

I can’t quite match this up with the pillars we’re seeing. We should be seeing
- nearest us, the pillars for the East Corridor platform;
- then for East Corridor & North Metro tracks;
- then for North Metro/Amtrak platform;
- then for Amtrak tracks & baggage (I doubt the baggage platform gets its own bridge, it’s supposed to be narrow)
- then for Amtrak/Gold Line platform;
- then for Gold Line & NW Rail tracks;
- then for NW Rail platform.

I think they haven’t finished the pillars for the East Corridor platform yet.

Also, there’s some mystery because Amtrak’s trains board from a different height from the new commuter trains, so either Amtrak’s platforms will be lower, or Amtrak’s tracks will be higher, and I don’t know which!

Comment on Denver Union Station Update #101 by Ted

Ted — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:30:30 +0000

I wonder if the prairie grasses planted in the mulch planters will continue to grow in clumps over time, or spread to form a natural grass “turf”? Either way it’s an interesting way of contrasting ornamental tall-grass varieties with the more manicured Kentucky Bluegrass.

Comment on Denver Union Station Update #101 by Andy Vuong

Andy Vuong — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:14:58 +0000

I was a little surprised too about the grass, but it does provide a nice splash of Green…and when you get up close and sit on the planter…the ones fill with grass look more inviting in my opinion.

Comment on Denver Union Station Update #101 by Andy Vuong

Andy Vuong — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:10:08 +0000

The large coverage structure currently fenced off is Chestnut Pavilion – is is where people will enter and exit the Bus Box below. There will be a similar structure on Wewatta street to exit that side of the box.

Mall Riders will always board the shuttle in their current location (towards the Millennium bridge) but will eventually be dropped off next to the entrance of Chestnut Pavilion.

Comment on Goodbye Empty Lots, You Will Not Be Missed by Dave

Dave — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:20:29 +0000

Yes thank you for the great update! Can’t wait to see these projects under construction. A little disappointed though that the Alta City House is only four stories considering its location. Other than that its all terrific news that these lots are going away.

Comment on Goodbye Empty Lots, You Will Not Be Missed by UrbanZen

UrbanZen — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:30:57 +0000

I say that 8 of those 12 lots are under construction by the end of the year and have cranes on-site. That’s not even including the construction of the trian shed itself. The whole Union Station, Riverfront and Ballpark area is going to look like Dubai during the mid aughts.

Comment on Goodbye Empty Lots, You Will Not Be Missed by DJango

DJango — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:14:30 +0000

Well; there is still obviously no shortage of surface lots downtown but there has been a sizable improvement in the problem in recent years. Hopefully there will be much more eradication of the problem in the next several years.

Comment on Denver Union Station Update #101 by Dan

Dan — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:18:23 +0000

Wow! They really did a wonderful job with the plaza. I’m actually a tiny bit surprised to see they chose to plant grass in the teardrop planters instead of something interesting. Maybe that’ll change? Meh…doesn’t matter. It’s just great to see it finally filled with people!!
On to the next milestone…