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THE TRAINS ARE COMING!!!
THE TRAINS ARE COMING!!!
Ok, so maybe we at TBF are a bit over-excited at the prospect of a major cultural transportation shift in the northern Lakewood, Colorado area.
This is a big deal. See schedule below.
(If uou think we're over-excited now? Wait till opening day on April 26-27, 2013)
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THE BACK FENCE NEWSLETTER
The Newsletter Featuring Livable Community Items That Readers Value and Highlights of Happenings Along the West Corridor on the RTD West Rail Line Serving Golden, Lakewood & Denver. |
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The "W" Line Opens in:
113 Days.
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Hi Everyone! This is Bill Spriggs and I have found several news articles, links and blogs that I wanted to share along THE BACK FENCE & beyond in the Weekly Edition, January 03, 2012. |
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West Corridor, Denver & Region
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THE TRAINS ARE COMING!!!
RTD will begin the initial phase of testing of light rail trains on the "W" Line. This is to ensure all at-grade crossings operate correctly when a train is approaching. Tentative schedule below is for each street crossing with dates.
Testing at each crossing takes 1-2 days and multiple crossings will be tested per day. Below is a tentative schedule of when each crossing will be tested. Dates are subject to change due to the best laid plans of mice and men sometimes go astray. Come out of your hibernation burrows and enjoy the preview.
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Crossing
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Duration (days)
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Start
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Finish
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Zuni
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1
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1/3/2013
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1/3/2013
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Decatur
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1
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1/3/2012
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1/3/2013
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Knox
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1
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1/4/2013
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1/4/2013
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Perry
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1
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1/4/2013
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1/4/2013
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Harlan
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2
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1/5/2013
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1/6/2013
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Lamar
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2
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1/5/2013
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1/6/2013
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Pierce
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2
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1/5/2013
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1/6/2013
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Teller
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2
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1/5/2013
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1/6/2013
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Carr
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2
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1/5/2013
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1/6/2013
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Estes
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1
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1/7/2013
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1/7/2013
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Garrison
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1
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1/7/2013
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1/7/2013
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Independence
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1
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1/7/2013
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1/7/2013
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Oak
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2
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1/8/2013
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1/9/2013
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Quail
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2
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1/8/2013
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1/9/2013
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Collins
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2
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1/8/2013
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1/9/2013
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8th
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2
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1/8/2013
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1/9/2013
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North E.
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2
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1/8/2013
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1/9/2013
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North W.
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2
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1/10/2013
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1/11/13
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Ulysses
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2
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1/19/2013
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1/20/13
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Earl Johnson
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2
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1/19/2013
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1/20/13
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TheDenverPost
RTD Fare System Goes High-Tech in 2013 With New Smart Card Program
By Jason Pohl, Jan 01 2013
The new year will usher in big changes for Denver's light rail and bus system. On Tuesday, the Regional Transportation District will begin implementing phase one of a $15 million overhaul of its fare system to include an electronic "smart card" that officials say will speed boarding times, eliminate counterfeit tickets and significantly reduce cash transactions from both riders and employers.
BizJournal/Denver
Wind-Energy Tax Credit Extended in Fiscal Cliff Deal; 'Good News,' Says Vestas
By Mark Harden, Jan 02 2013
Congress late Tuesday voted to extend a tax credit on wind energy that many said was key to the survival of Colorado's wind-power industry.
READ MORE...
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TheAtlanticCities
The Best Green Ideas of 2012
By Kaid Benfield, Dec 3 2012
As we look back on the year that was, let's honor some of the outstanding issues and accomplishments for community sustainability that came to light. In many cases, naming a particular item one of the best of 2012 may be a bit (not completely) arbitrary: by definition, sustainability is seldom a single "event" that occurs wholly within one calendar year. But, in each of these cases, something caught my attention this year.
TheTransportPolitic
Openings and Construction Starts Planned for 2013
By Yonah Freemark, Jan 01 2013
This year, more than $64.3 billion worth of transit expansion projects will begin construction, continue construction, or enter into service in the United States. It's a huge investment, much of it the product of extensive state and local spending. READ MORE...UrbanTimes
Top Built Environment Trends from 2012
By Josh O'Conner, Dec 30 2012
The past year has sparked a number of conversations about cities and the built environment; it seems that more than ever we are seeing people engage the places they live rather than waiting for community to form on its own. Here are a handful topics that received considerable attention in 2012
GristDotOrg
Peer-to-Peer Sharing Went Big in 2012 - and so Did Opposition
By Susie Cagle, Dec 28 2012 This year, ride-sharing services Lyft and Sidecar amassed millions in new funding. Uber, which lets passengers hail idle town cars with their smartphones, expanded to new cities from San Francisco to New York. And Airbnb, which makes it easy for people to rent out their homes or rooms for short periods, expects to be filling more rooms per night than Hilton by the end of the year.
GristDotOrg
Living Large in Small Houses
By Alyse Nelson, Dec 30 2012 My husband and I think we've found a way to pay off our mortgage early, without taking on an extra job or working nights. We've decided to construct a rental unit - a "mother-in-law suite" - within our home. If it pans out as we hope, the rental income will let us pay off our loan 10 years early. And who knows: It could give us a chance to live closer to family as we, or they, get on in years.
ThisBigCity
Six Kickstarter Projects for Cities
By Jillian Glover, Jan 02 2013
Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. It has funded a diverse array of endeavors ranging from indie films, music, stage shows and comics to journalism, video games and food-related projects. Urban enthusiasts and public spacemakers are also embracing Kickstarter to gather financial support for projects that enhance city life and raise awareness about urban issues.
READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities
Will Avis Destroy Zipcar?
By Rebecca Greenfield, Jan 02 2013
If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em. That seems to be an increasingly popular mantra these days, and that's exactly what Avis will do, as the aging car-rental giant announced Wednesday morning that it plans to acuire Zipcar for $500 Million.
READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities
What Really Matters for Increasing Transit Ridership.
By Eric Jaffe, Jan 02 2013 For years, many transportation experts thought the success of a city's transit system depended directly on the strength of its central business district. Surveys supported this idea (one from 1988 showed that four in five "choice" riders worked downtown) and it's still considered the traditional view. So as cities began to decentralize and transit ridership began to decline, it was only natural to see the former as the cause of the latter.
READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities Urban Trends We Hope Die in 2013
By Sara Johnson, Dec 31 2012 Keeping track of emerging trends across the world's major cities is pretty much our job here at Atlantic Cities, but not every new idea or enthusiasm is worth repeating. Many, in fact, have already outlived their usefulness. Below, our collective plea to stop the (urbanism) madness and start getting real in 2013. |
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International (when available)
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TheNewYorkTimes
China Opens Longest High-Speed Rail Line
By Keith Bradsher, Dec 26 2012
China began service Wednesday morning on the world's longest high-speed rail line, covering a distance in eight hours that is about equal to that from New York to Key West, Fla., or from London across Europe to Belgrade, Serbia.
READ MORE...
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Weekly Film (when available)
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YouTube
Winter Biking: 9 Things You Need To Know
By 50 Corridor
Bicycle enthusiasts Ken Walker and Bob Gong share their top winter bike commuting tips in a video produced by the Highway 50 Corridor Transportation Management Association in Sacramento, CA
 | | Winter Biking: 9 Things You Need To Know |
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Things you need to know along the West Corridor
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RTD US 6th Ave Bridge Lighting Ceremony!
On January 23, 2013, RTD will host a ceremonial lighting of the 6th Avenue Bridge. Join them for this exciting event as the switch is pulled and the bridge is illuminated for the first time. The ceremony marks the end of construction activities and signifies the start of testing and countdown to the Grand Opening on April 26, 2013. For more information, contact Katie Angell at Katherine.Angell@RTD-Denver.com.
[Note to below: I'm enclosing the full text of one section from a Friday Report from the City of Lakewood because it involves an important built environment connectivity change along the West Corridor adjacent to the West Rail Line.]
Preparing for a roundabout
The City received funding, including a $1 million grant from the state, to build a roundabout at the intersection of Lamar Street and West 14th Avenue and to add a section of sidewalk and bicycle lanes. The work will improve safety at the intersection and provide better access for pedestrians and bicyclists to the upcoming Lamar Station for the West Rail Line. This intersection has an unusually high rate of accidents, and they are some of the most dangerous kind, which are collisions at a right angle. The roundabout will eliminate these kinds of accidents and slow vehicles in the intersection. Properly designing the improvements to match the surrounding area will require collecting land survey information along 14th for 400 feet east and west of Lamar and along Lamar for 400 feet north of 14th to south of West 13th Avenue. The City needs residents' help by allowing surveyors to collect information on their property. Residents with concerns can contact Ken Nyhoff, Lakewood's engineer for the project, at (303) 987-7939/kennyh@lakewood.orgAdded Information. See the short video below
How to use a roundabout Michagan DOT Aug 10 2011  | |
How to use a roundabout
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Denver Union Station
Construction Cam
Wish You Could Find an Apartment/Condo near a Light Rail Station? As part of TBF's continuing efforts to bring TOD's to the West Corridor & elsewhere, this link from Walk Score.com will now be a permanent feature. Thanks.
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Commercial Real Estate Assemblages, Land or Buildings Available on The West Corridor
Please note: TBF does not
own or sell any real property.
Prices displayed may not be correct.
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>4917 West 11th Ave Assemblage [sold]
Sold, See Press Release
>10th Avenue Light Rail Assemblage
>1010 Sheridan Blvd TOD Site
>5310 West 10th Ave TOD opportunity
>13th Ave & Newland, Ideal TOD property
>5830 West Colfax Ave
>1025 Ammons Complex
>6990 West Colfax Ave Pad Site
THE BACK FENCE supports a corridor wide, regional vision, with individual nodes of unique "places" within that corridor. We hope that the listing of commercial properties available will help to speed this vision to fruition sooner. Learn more about this vision below from the Center for Transit-Oriented Development.
West Corridor Vision
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Residential Real Estate Agents
who get the "big picture" of
transit-oriented living of
walkable, sustainable
neighborhoods.
JIM SMITH REALTOR, GOLDEN
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Things You Need to Know Around the Region
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The Transit Alliance Citizens' Academy is now Accepting Applications for the Spring 2013 Class!
Please note that the Academy application process is competitive as they only have 50 slots available and usually have 100 applicants or more. Please be sure to answer all questions thoughtfully and thoroughly as the selection committee selects participants primarily upon application responses. The Spring 2013 Citizens' Academy will be held on Wednesday evenings for seven weeks beginning on March 6th and ending on April 17th. Classes will be held at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM each week.
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| The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of William A. Spriggs and no one else. |
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