The third and final major transit element of the Denver Union Station plan is the commuter rail station. The light rail station and the regional bus terminal are the other two transit elements we’ve already reviewed. The commuter rail station will be the closest transit element to the historic station, located immediately to the west of Union Station where the Amtrak and light rail platforms are today. Commuter rail involves trains similar to those used by Amtrak—they’re bigger and longer than light rail and come in electrified (overhead wire) or diesel engine varieties. RTD doesn’t yet have any commuter rail trains in operation, but later this year the first FasTracks commuter rail lines (Gold Line to Arvada/Wheat Ridge and East Line to Denver International Airport) will begin construction. Eventually, the commuter rail platforms at Union Station will accommodate not only the Gold and East lines, but the North and Northwest (Boulder) lines, as well as Amtrak, private excursion trains (such as the Ski Train) and room for future lines/expansion.
The commuter rail station area includes several components. First, the commuter rail platforms will be surrounded and partially enclosed by a large canopy shelter. This is the area often referred to as the Train Hall or the Train Shed, and should not be confused with the Great Hall inside the historic structure. Then there’s the Wewatta and Union Station Pavilions, and the pedestrian plaza/bridge over the tracks north of the platforms. Here are two images that give you the layout in this area. On the left is an illustrative image that shows the historic Union Station structure, the north and south “wing” buildings to either side, the white canopy Train Hall over the platforms with the oval opening in the center, the Wewatta and Union Station Pavilions directly on the 17th Street axis, future private-sector development buildings south and west of the Train Hall, and the parking garage structure straddling the tracks off to the north. The image on the right identifies which train lines will utilize the eight platforms within the commuter rail station.
The first element one would encounter after crossing Wewatta Street from the west is the Wewatta Pavilion. Like the Chestnut Pavilion, the Wewatta Pavilion will include escalators, elevators, and stairs to provide vertical access to the underground bus terminal. The area surrounding the pavilion also functions as a public space, with room for outdoor cafe patios for the adjacent buildings, ticketing machines, landscaping, seating, and other plaza features. Along Wewatta in this area will be the primary drop-off point for vehicles and queuing areas for taxis and other private shuttles. Below are two images that show the Wewatta Pavilion in plan view (left) and street-level view from across Wewatta Street (right):
The train platforms will be surrounded by a dramatic swoopy canopy, 500 feet long and 180 feet wide, that will provide some cover from the elements while still keeping the whole Train Hall area generally open air. Within the Train Hall, the center platforms under the “hole” in the bigger canopy will have lower canopies to provide shelter, information signs, and the like. The height of the big canopy goes up to over 40 feet on the ends but dips down to around 21 feet in the center to not block the view of the big windows and neon lights of the west facade of the historic station. The four images below show the Train Hall area from different angles:
Between the Train Hall and the historic station is the Union Station Pavilion. Like its counterparts, it offers multiple options to access the underground bus terminal below. A new door in the center of the historic structure will allow one to walk from inside the Great Hall directly out to the Train Hall and go either to the commuter rail platforms or down via the Union Station Pavilion to the bus terminal. Here are two images that show the Union Station Pavilion area:
The three main pavilions are not the only ways to get underground to the bus terminal. The center two platforms within the Train Hall—those sandwiched in between the other two sets of tracks—will have their own stairways and elevators down to the bus terminal.
The final element is the pedestrian plaza/bridge over the commuter rail tracks just north of the Train Hall. The original DUS plan called for the private-sector development building north of the Wewatta Pavilion (Block B) to be “L” shaped like its counterpart to the south. At that time, a wide plaza spanning the tracks was planned (called Kinetic Plaza) that would be incorporated into the facade of the building. The Union Station master developer team is currently evaluating the feasibility of the portion of that building spanning over the tracks. In the event the building over the tracks is not built, the plaza will be narrowed to a pedestrian bridge. Either way, the plaza/bridge will provide vertical access to the east down to Wynkoop Plaza, to the north down to the corner of Wewatta and 18th, and to the south down to the two center commuter rail platforms. Additionally, the Denver Union Station Project Authority is currently evaluating the feasibility of the parking garage that spans over the tracks farther north. Consequently, the plan for the area around the pedestrian plaza/bridge is still somewhat in flux. The issue in both cases is that the building/parking garage over the tracks must be built within the next couple of years before the new commuter rail station becomes operational; otherwise, to build either structure over active tracks in the future would be extremely complex and most likely prohibitively expensive. Anyway, here are two images that show this pedestrian plaza/bridge area:
That pretty much covers the commuter rail station area. Next, we’ll take a look at the plans for the public spaces within the Union Station transit district, followed by a wrap-up of the private-sector developments that will eventually complete the entire project and make the Union Station district one of Downtown Denver’s best urban places.
Ken,
Are they doing anything to renovate the Union Station structure itself? The interior of Union Station has seen some minor changes in the past few years, but really needs a good overhaul…
Derrick: yes, the historic station will be renovated, although it may occur in phases with funding coming from several sources. Here’s my unofficial view of how this will happen: There is a bit of money from FasTracks in the DUS budget for restoring the structure, but that will likely go first towards life safety, utilities, and other basic systems issues with the building. The wings, which will most likely be leased out to private businesses, will be restored as part of the tenant finish/upgrades. The Great Hall clearly needs some attention and that will probably be restored before all the trains start rolling in, although I’m guessing they’ll have to seek some grants or foundation money to help pay for it.
I lived in Eastern MA, and used the commuter rail to Boston on a daily basis into North Station (where the Boston Garden, AKA TD Garden is). It was conveniently located near Haymarket Square and the Green Line subway stations where you could get virtually anywhere around the city from there. I’m glad to see Denver investing in its infrastructure and can’t wait for the Northwest line to be built (I live halfway between Denver and Boulder). I’ll definitely use it to commute to work in Boulder and to enjoy games at Coors Field and the Pepsi Center, or have dinner with friends in LoDo.
Great stuff. Can’t wait to see the project when it’s complete.
Thanks for a once again comprehensive presentation. I do question whether there is adequate shelter from the elements. They need to learn from the experience of the RTD stations that in some cases offer very little shelter. I’d like to see more (partially) glass enclosed booths with seating.
I am also keen on seeing the Union Station building itself restored to a hub of activity. It’s going to take a lot more than just cosmetic upgrades.
I arrived in Denver last Sunday evening aboard Amtrak’s #6 and came across this blog looking for an answer to ‘what was going on at Union Station…..what happened to the other tracks?’
I appreciate the detail you are providing and this project interests me, someone who has not lived in Denver for 25 years, very much.
I am concerned about the placement of the Amtrak platform however. The artist’s renderings seem to suggest that Amtrak passengers are going to just stroll from the Great Hall out the door and straight across two active commuter train tracks. Surely this is not the intention is it?
David, when you walk out the door from the Great Hall, to get to the Amtrak platform, which is one of the two center platforms, you’ll have to either: 1.) walk to your left and around the end of the tracks and then back down the Amtrak platform or 2.) go down the Union Station Pavilion escalators/stairs/elevators to the pedestrian concourse in the bus terminal and then (after a very short walk) back up via stairs/elevators to the Amtrak platform.
That sounds much better! – Safer too.
Thanks.
Great review series, so far. This has been really enjoyable to read.
I do have a question, though: what is the Great Hall in Union Station going to be used for, when this is all built out? My concern is that the actual interior of that great structure will be a bit of a vestigial organ to the actual transit options; folks waiting for their busses will be in the bus box, and folks waiting for the trains will be out on the platforms in good weather. Small kiosks or other shopping/dining options would work really well in that space, and offer a reason to go inside of Union Station if some time needs to be killed waiting for transit.
Just curious to know if you’d heard any speculation about it.
Great question, Alex. While the exact programming for the Great Hall as not been determined yet, just about everyone agrees that, in addition to general waiting/seating, there should be some kind of food/beverage and other appropriate retail, if not something more destination-oriented, like a bookstore, art exhibits, etc.
the first time I stepped inside the hall I was really impressed with the size of the space. I would love to see the station more incorporated into the downtown with a restaurant or two similar to Grand Central in New York which has four or five restaurants that many people go to regardless of whether they are taking the train. Also think the idea of a book store, art gallery, florist, market etc are great as well. These kinds of things will help give the an illusion that the station itself is a bustling hub of activity downtown despite what I imagine initially will not be an overwhelming amount of passenger travel.
Bookstore? I would certainly hope not. The Tattered Cover pioneered this area in 1994, and deserves the increase in business that the final redevelopment will bring–it certainly does not need another bloody, soulless, national chain bookstore sucking business away from it (can you tell I used to work there?). Rather, a specialty food store (something like Marczyk or Tony’s) seems like a much better alternative for retail in the Great Hall.
Perhaps the TC itself should move across the street.
My friend is working for the architecture firm who is renovating the interior of the historic Union Station. Of what I know, there are plans for a hotel to be put into the upper floors and bring back the caboose restaurant in the basement.
A hotel inside Union Station? That seems kinda odd, considering the fact that there is quite a lot of commercial space planned around it. I was hoping for a more creative and welcoming staircase leading up to the pedestrian bridge and train hall. They look almost identical to the outdoor stairs of the Convention Center. Will there be escalators to complement them?
Seems to me that they could merge the proposed parking garage and “on-hold” b block building north of the ped walkway into one mixed use building. You could have ground level retail right of the kinetic plaza, then something like 5 levels of parking and 3 levels of office above that. Would be a horrible missed opportunity to create a really interesting space just north of the trian hall.
Ken,
Well done as always. Two comments/thoughts:
I am concerned about the size of the rail facility relative to the potential traffic. When you consider each line will probably run every 10 minutes during rush hour, it seems both the rail terminals are possibly undersized to handle such traffic – too few platforms. Consider also that these terminals are dead-ends and trains must back out before another train can off and on load at the platform. If there are break downs, it could get messy. It would be nice to see how many rail lines there will be further away from the terminals, closer to Coors Field and beyond, to get a sense of how they might relieve congestion. Anyone who has traveled by air to destination cities like Chicago and Atlanta know that a large percentage of those travelers commute to and from the airports by commuter rail due to the convenience and cost savings. I expect the east line, and any connection to it, will be extremely busy for as much as 20 hours per day.
I really think a large parking facility should be built – on the order of 2,000+ cars – on the east (you would say north) end of the rail terminal (and over the tracks). It’s an excellent site due the access from Wewatta via Park Avenue or Speer, it’s proximity to LoDo, Coors Field, Pepsi Center, the commuter stations, etc. If it was built, it might be able to lessen the need for parking facilities when the rest of the area is developed. To incentivize and help make this viable, the city could free up some of the Coors Field lots for development that are farthest away from the stadium, forcing people to start using the garage.