Lincoln's Temporary Amtrak Station is now open, ribbon cutting on Thursday

Update: The new station is open and tracks have already been removed from the old station site, but the ribbon cutting has not happened yet. Be at the new station Thursday, June 28 at 10 am for this event. Mayor Beutler will be speaking about the need to bring commuter service and better interstate trains to Lincoln. His office was able to confirm that the new station is accessible to people walking and biking. Taxis cannot wait by the station, but are close by. Make sure you have a flashlight or headlights. Lighting through construction sites cannot be considered to be dependable.

Construction sites can also move. If this post is more than a month old, check the route before going to the new station. You can do this through the Haymarket website or check the route ahead of time.

Calling All Arvada Residents

Arvada's Gold Line Advisory Committee
Wednesday, June 28 at 5:45 pm (Doors lock at 6 pm.)
Arvada City Hall
8101 Ralston Road
(enter through the police entrance off of Ammon Street)
Bus: 52. The 72 goes by here, but you may have to leave early if you are taking this bus. The 52 connects with other buses at the Arvada Park-n-Ride. Personally, I will walk over from the 100 which stops about fifteen minutes away.

The City of Arvada has established a citizen committee to help them understand what residents want to have happen with the Gold Line. I am going to be attending their next meeting to find out more of what they do, what level of influence they have, and their opinion of FasTracks.

One of RTD's bus planners will be at the meeting. Hopefully, bus riders can connect to RTD through this representative so that we can have more of a say in reorganizing bus routes that we did in Lakewood.

FasTracks Citizen Advisory Committee to Meet in Aurora

Wednesday, June 20 at 6 pm (Meeting will end by 8.)
FasTracks Citizens Advisory Committee
15151 E. Alameda Parkway
Aurora, CO
Bus: 130, 133, 153
Also within reasonable walking distance of the 3.

RTD is going to report on the I-225 Light Rail project and the RTD Board's decision not to try to pass a sales tax increase in November.

I can't go, so I will not be able to report what happens. If any of you go, can you leave a couple of sentences in the comments? Thanks.

I am not sure that telling the advisory committee anything helps, but it is good to know what our fellow citizens are concerned about.

On Monday, Apple announced that new versions of the iPhone would no longer have public bus and train information. No information if upgrading from iOS 5 to iOS 6 would erase already existing information from your phone or iPad. Third party apps will still be available, but why buy a phone from a company that does not respect you. In addition, the iPhone does not have newer 4G.

I have a friend who has an Android smartphone that he really likes. There are options.

Walk score has created a page to help spread the word at www.walkscore.com/change. You can send tweets and share on Facebook through that page.

Talk to Your RTD Director

RTD is holding another round of telephone town halls from Wednesday, June 11 through Thursday, June 28. To participate call 1-855-269-4484. To find out which RTD district you are in, go to
http://www3.rtd-denver.com/elbert/BoardOffice/boardDistrictMap.cfm 

Monday, June 11
6:15 pm - Lee Kemp (District I)
7:30 pm - Kathi Williams (District K)

Wednesday, June 13
6:15 pm - Bill James (District A)
7:30 pm - Angie Malpiede (District C)

Thursday, June 14
6:15 pm - Bruce Daly (District N)
7:30 pm - Barbara Deadwyler (District B)

Monday, June 18
6:15 pm - Bill McMullen (District E)
7:30 pm - Tom Tobiassen (District F)

Wednesday, June 20
6:15 pm - Matt Cohen (District M)
7:30 pm - Larry Hoy (District J)

Thursday, June 21
6:15 pm - Kent Bagley (Distict H)

Monday, June 25
6:15 pm - John Tayer (District O)

Wednesday, June 27
5:00 pm - Jack O'Boyle (District G)
6:15 pm - Lorraine Anderson (District L)

Thursday, June 28
6:15 pm - Jeff Walker (District D)

Again, please call 1-855-269-4484 at the time listed next to your RTD representative to connect to the town hall for your district.

Public meetings are being held now about August service changes

It looks like we are going to get a mix of service reductions and improvements with lots of service adjustments. Of note, the 15 will double during the day on Saturdays, and people should look at the changes to the light rail schedule to make sure that the adjustments work for them. Also, pay attention if you live in Commerce City.

A reminder, if you can attend any of the following meetings and write a report about it for this blog and the members of Social Action for Transit, I might be able to get a gift card as compensation.

Thursday, June 7 at 7 pm
Commerce City Recreation Center
6060 Parkway Drive
Commerce City
Bus: 40, 48, 88

Wednesday, June 13 at 12 pm and 6 pm
RTD Administration Offices, Room T & D
1600 Blake Street
Denver
Any bus that goes to Market Street Station, 15th or 17th. You can take the free Mall Shuttle from all light rail trains.

Wednesday, June 13 at 1 pm
Ross Cherry Creek Branch Library
305 Milwaukee Street
Denver
Bus: 46
Also within walking distance of the 1, 3, 79L, and 83L.

BRT Model on Display Now

An example of a BRT model will be on display today until Thursday in a variety locations in the north metro area.

Right now it is at the Westminster Park-n-Ride on the west bound side of US 36. It will be there until 6 pm.

Tomorrow, June 6, it will be at the Boulder Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway, from 8 am to 1:30 pm. From there it will go to the Longmont Park-n-Ride at 8th and Coffman where it will be from 3-6 pm.

On Thursday, June 7 is will be at the Broomfield Park-n-Ride at Gate B during the morning rush hour from 7-9 am. I think that Gate B is the gate for regional buses going to downtown Denver. During the evening rush hour it will be at the Louisville/Superior Park-n-Ride from 3-6 pm. I think it will be on the south bound side of the highway.

Just a note that this is the second time that RTD has displayed a possible BRT model for the Denver area. They ended up not buying the first one although it was a system that would have worked very well.

Ride the bus from Lyons to Longmont and you could win a $25 gift card

Ride the YL bus the week of June 11-15, and you could win a $25 gift card to a Lyons business. To be eligible, you must board the bus anywhere between the first stop at 4th Avenue and Broadway and the stop at US36 and McConnell Drive. The last stop is across from the U Pump It station. A volunteer will take down the contact information for the people who want to participate in this contest. Buses leave at 6:37 and 7:07 am each day of the contest.

As an added bonus, this bus is free if you are a Lyons resident because you are eligible for an EcoPass. You contact the Town of Lyons at 303-823-6622 for more information.

More Free Buses in Boulder County (and Grand)

A free shuttle will begin carrying passengers from Nederland High School to the Hessie Trailhead tomorrow, Saturday, June 2 at 8 am. This free shuttle meets RTD's N route which connects Boulder and Nederland. Unfortunately, while dogs can take the free shuttle, they can't take the N. The shuttle runs 8 am to 8 pm on Saturdays and Sundays until Saturday, September 16.

The Hessie Trailhead provides access to the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area.

Have fun!