Denver Union Station is undergoing redevelopment that will
allow for the Regional Transit’s FasTracks to utilize the station for light
rail and commuter rail routes.
ColoRail has brought up a number of issues from
the beginning of the DUS redevelopment project. It’s one thing to make the
historic station as a hotel in
order to produce revenue and to draw travelers, but Denver’s leaders and
planners have to look at Kansas City as the example on how not to redevelop an
old train station. As a result, it is imperative that the Mile High City gets it right and doesn’t
end up with a major mess on its hands that would diminish its original role.
A Less Perfect (D.C.) Union Station
The Union Station in the nation’s capital has its own
problems:
- Navigating the D.C. facility is an issue
- Fixing up the plaza has run into years long delays
- DC’s DOT and Amtrak getting into a conflict over the former’s desire to build a streetcar stop at Union Station vs more slots for future Express HSR service from the latter
- Some bus companies wanting to stop in the parking deck as opposed to the streets around the station
Despite all of these problems, at least something is being
the way of renovation.
What This All Mean
For both cities, new stations may be built out of necessity
due to redevelopment issues in Denver and overcrowding in Washington, D.C. Both
cities have the chance to avoid this scenario if they just get their
renovations right.
DC is a big enough station that it may make sense for it to have two train stations. Denver is not, especially as the station area is even bigger than in DC. We are already spending too much money on overly elaborate light rail stations. We do not need to spend more on a second intercity station that would again only serve one or two trains.
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