 |
  |
  |
  |
|
 |
|
|
|
For Immediate Release • June 30, 2011
Staff Contact: Rigo Leal, Public Information Officer, 303-651-8840
View the most recent Press Releases.
JUNE 30, 2011 - Construction work has begun that will lay the foundation for a new RTD transportation hub on Coffman St. between 9th Ave and Longs Peak Ave.
Work to repair broken concrete began on Monday and includes new concrete bus pads designed to withstand the constant use from by heavy regional and local RTD (Regional Transportation District) bus traffic. During construction, automobile access through this area is severely reduced and drivers should exercise caution when traveling this stretch of road.
RTD is taking advantage of rehab work that was planned in this area as part of the City's regular street maintenance program. RTD is using contractors and pricing negotiated by the City that is less expensive than RTD going it alone.
The normal bus stop near the park-n-Ride lot next door to the Memorial Building has move a few hundred feet south to accommodate this work.
Once concrete construction is completed, work will start on overlaying Coffman St. with new asphalt. Included in the overall hub plan is to restripe the park-n-Ride lot to create more parking spaces.
All this work is in preparation for relocating the Longmont RTD transfer center from 6th Ave. and Kimbark St. to the regional transfer center at 8th Ave and Coffman park-n-Ride at Roosevelt Park. The local Longmonster buses that currently meet at at the Kimbark location will move over to the 8th and Coffman location starting on Monday, August 22.
Over the summer, the City and RTD will be reconfiguring the existing parking lot at the 8th & Coffman park-n-Ride to accommodate more vehicles. The local Routes 323, 324, 326 and 327 at 8th and will create a new bus hub for Longmont with all the local routes connecting at the same location as the BOLT, J, L, and FLEX regional routes, which provide service to Boulder, East Boulder/CU, Denver, and Loveland/Fort Collins/CSU respectively. The proposed improvements will cost RTD $200,000 annually and is expected to create more reliable local transit service for Longmont.
The second phase of improvements will include an overhaul of the four existing local routes to serve the newer activity and population centers in Longmont, while providing more effective bus service for the city. Improvements in local transit service have already been seen during the first part of this year by implementing the newest technology for routing and linking trips on the Longmont call-n-Ride, a door-to door service offered by RTD within the city limits.
A third phase is the construction of a new bus/rail transit hub at 1st Avenue and Main Street. This new park-n-Ride, to be built using RTD FasTracks revenue, will be the new transit center for Longmont and will include all bus service and future rail service. The planned completion date for the 1st and Main transit hub is projected for early 2016.
-END-