C Line (RTD)

C Line (RTD)
Overview
Locale	Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area
Operation
Opened	April 5, 2002
Operator(s)	Regional Transportation District
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Electrification	Overhead lines
Route map Legend Amtrak Union Station      E Line Pepsi Center/Elitch Gardens INVESCO Field at Mile High Auraria West West Corridor Light Rail (2013)      D Line      F Line      H Line 10th & Osage 6th Avenue Freeway Alameda I-25 I-25 & Broadway      E Line      F Line      H Line Evans Englewood Oxford/City of Sheridan Littleton Downtown Littleton/Mineral      D Line C-470 Santa Fe Blvd and C-470 (2017) Lucent Boulevard and C-470 (2017)

The C Line—also referred to as the Orange Line, because the line is colored orange on maps—is a light rail line which is part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The line was added to the system on April 5, 2002, to coincide with the opening of the Central Platte Valley Spur. Initially, C trains operated seven days a week, but ran to Mineral Ave. only during peak hours and sporting events. At all other times, C service operated to I-25/Broadway. On May 3, 2003, C trains began operating to Mineral Ave. at all times. With the opening of the Southeast Corridor on November 17, 2006, weekend C service was discontinued except for certain sporting events, with the new E line operating seven days per week. On January 11, 2009, the midday service pattern between Union Station and I-25/Broadway was resumed and evening service discontinued.

The C Line's northern terminus is at Union Station in Denver, runs on a railroad right-of-way south to its junction with the D Line at 10th & Osage Station, and shares track with the D Line until both lines reach their southern terminus at Mineral Avenue in Littleton.

In addition, the C Line provides access to the sports venues of Denver—Coors Field, the Pepsi Center, and Invesco Field at Mile High—Six Flags Elitch Gardens, and LoDo, as well as access to the western portion of the Metropolitan State College of Denver campus.

Stations

Name	Opening Year	Interchange	Municipality	park-n-Ride?
C Line (Littleton/Mineral-Union Station)
Littleton/Mineral	2000	D Line	Littleton	Yes
Littleton/Downtown	2000	D Line	Littleton	Yes
Oxford/City of Sheridan	2000	D Line	Sheridan	No
Fare Zone Boundary
Englewood	2000	D Line	Englewood	Yes
Evans	2000	D Line	Denver	Yes
Fare Zone Boundary
I-25/Broadway	1994	D, E, F, & H Lines	Denver	Yes
Alameda	1994	D, E, F, & H Lines	Denver	Yes
10th/Osage	1994	D, E, F, & H Lines	Denver	No
Auraria West Campus	2002	E Line	Denver	No
INVESCO Field at Mile High	2002	E Line	Denver	No
Pepsi Center/Elitch Gardens	2002	E Line	Denver	No
Union Station/Lower Downtown (LoDo)/Coors Field/16th Street Mall	2002	E Line Amtrak Ski Train(out of service FREE MallRide (16th St)	Denver	No

FasTracks

Main article: Fastracks

The 2004 voter approved FasTracks plan will add 2.5 mi (4.02 km) to the Southwest Corridor (C Line and D Line). It will also add a station with 1,000 parking spots at C-470 and Lucent Boulevard in Highlands Ranch. There may also be a station at C-470 and Santa Fe Boulevard. This extension may open as soon as 2017.