Fastracks moving fast: opening in 2016

interview with Pauletta Tonilas

The Eagle P3 Project, the East Line, the Gold Line to Wheat Ridge.  It could be an alphabet soup, if not for Pauletta Tonilas, RTD’s Public Relations and Information Manager, to sort it all out for “First Take with Lando and Chavis.”  The much-anticipated rail line to Denver International Airport, and other lines all open with a splash.  ”The whole thing will open together in 2016,” said Tonilas.

“We had a ‘half-way to opening day’ (milestone ) for the Eagle P3 East Line to the airport,” said Tonilas.  Other lines under construction are the Gold Line to Arvada-Wheat Ridge and a short segment of the Northwest Rail line reaching as far as Westminster.  (Buses take passengers further, to Boulder and Longmont.)

And like the lines themselves, all trains are not equal.  ”The East Line is going to be the heavier commuter rail – larger, heavier trains that carry more people.  They go at higher speeds and they’re better designed for longer distances,” said Tonilas.   

With five stops, “it will take about 35 minutes to get from downtown to the airport,” she added.

R.T.D. constructions updates are posted on line at www.rtd-fastracks.com.

Music on this feature is by Ike Quebec, “Favela” from the CD Soul Samba, and The Queen City Jazz Band’s 

“Rhythm King” from the CD Cruisin’ at 50.