Connecting People with Community - Sponsored by the Niwot Community Association

Transit Users please check out the Fastracks EE

RTD has issued the environmental evaluation on the Fastracks program. It states that with the start of the train service, that Bolt service will be greatly reduced.

The NCA and NBA came out against a station in Niwot. If we lose local bus service on top of that, Niwot will actually lose out on transit service once Fastracks goes in.

Please take a moment to visit the comment page at http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/nw_13 and let RTD know that there are plenty of us who use the bus in Niwot and that we count on having access to transit service readily accessible from Niwot. If we need to get to Gunbarrel to get a train to Boulder, the service is no longer time efficient and ridership will decrease as locals get back in cars and thus reduce air quality.

The good news for Niwot is that Highway 52, Monarch Road, and Niwot Road are all under consideration for Quiet Zone crossings, reducing the noise impact from the train.

For more information on the Fastracks commuter rail program, check the website, http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_1

The comment period is only open until March 29 so please share your comments.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rob Beausire on April 16, 2010 at 10:51pm

Hi,

Having recently moved to Niwot, can you tell me why the local organizations were against a local train station?

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Permalink Reply by Elaine C. Erb on April 22, 2010 at 9:59am

My impression was that they viewed the train as a place people would drive to as opposed to an alternative to driving. Of course there needs to be a location for people to drive and leave a car as the Gunbarrel stop will offer. I would love to see Niwot gain a local access stop, one designed for people to walk and bike to then take the train to Longmont, Boulder or Denver. And a place where people would have the option to catch the train to come to Niwot for a bit of shopping, dining, or a jump off point for a bike ride.

I'm sure none of us want a train station here dominated by a large parking facility. My interest in a train stop is based on the fact that people will use transit when it's within 15 minutes. Niwot has a population with ready access to the train location. Since RTD changed service to the Bolt, offering more frequent bus access, I've seen a steady increase in ridership from Niwot. We're lucky to have such easy access to Boulder and Longmont by transit. I would hate to see the train start up and have us lose those options.

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Permalink Reply by NCA Secretary on May 8, 2010 at 7:37am

Any updates? It really would be nice if Niwot could have a stop (as apposed to a station) if the track is ever built out this far.

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Permalink Reply by Elaine C. Erb on June 17, 2010 at 5:38pm

RELEASE OF THE NORTHWEST RAIL FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION

Since 2007, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) has been studying the impacts
of providing rail service from Denver to Longmont in the Northwest Rail
Environmental Evaluation (EE) as part of the voter-approved RTD FasTracks program.
Northwest Rail (NWR) is a proposed 41-mile commuter rail line from Denver Union
Station to Longmont passing through North Denver, Adams County, Westminster,
Broomfield, Louisville and Boulder.

RTD is now releasing the Northwest Rail Final EE to the public. The release of the
document concludes the environmental study and planning phase for this project. This
action allows the project to move towards final design, construction, and operation
in accordance with the FasTracks financial plan.

As the project advances, RTD will continue to work with local, state and federal
agencies, local jurisdictions, stakeholder groups and members of the general public
throughout the Northwest Rail corridor to address issues or concerns relating to
this project. Updated NWR Corridor project information will continue to be available
on the project website at www.RTD-FasTracks.com; click on Northwest Rail Corridor.

Hard copies of the evaluation are available for review at:
City of Boulder Transportation & Planning
1739 Broadway Blvd., 2nd Floor
Boulder, CO 80306

Boulder County Transportation Department
2525 13th Street
Boulder, CO 80304

Longmont Public Library
409 4th Ave.
Longmont, CO 80501