AURORA | Aurora doesn’t have its light rail line just yet, but residents will have another option for getting to the airport later this month.
Set to open April 22, the Regional Transportation District’s 23-mile University of Colorado “A” Line commuter rail will travel from Downtown Denver’s Union Station to Denver International Airport in less than 40 minutes, and connect with two Aurora-based stations along the way: Peoria Station and the 40th Ave. and Airport Blvd. station.
Aurora’s “R” light rail line that will connect from Nine Mile to the “A” Line’s Peoria Station does not open until later this year, but RTD spokeswoman Tina Jaquez said Aurora residents will find significantly cheaper parking options if they are planning a trip to DIA and need to leave their car overnight.
Jaquez said Aurora residents can park free for 24 hours at the Peoria and 40th Ave. stations and will be charged $2 a day after that for parking. They will also need to have $9 for the ride to DIA. Parking options at DIA start at $24 for 24 hours in the main garage, and $13 for nearby economy lots.
Located at 11501 E. 33rd Ave. in Aurora, Peoria Station will have 550 parking spots with 10 bike lockers and 10 bike racks. Travel time to DIA from Peoria Station will be about 20 minutes, and the station will also connect with RTD’s 37 and 45 bus routes.
But for the majority of residents who want to reach Peoria Station from two of Aurora’s biggest transit hubs — Nine Mile Station and the Centre Point and Sable stop — the 121 and 153 buses will be the only direct connection to Peoria Station until the full Aurora light rail line opens later this year.
Aurora residents can also travel from Peoria Station to Denver Union Station for a local fare of $2.60 and expect to arrive in a little over 15 minutes.
Aurora’s 40th Ave. and Airport Boulevard Station is located at 3900 N. Salida St. and will have 1,079 parking spaces. It will connect with the 37, 42, 45, 121 and 169 buses. From there, it takes about 13 minutes to get to DIA for $9 and 24 minutes to Denver Union Station for $4.50.
“We have been eagerly anticipating the opening of this commuter line with its two stops in Aurora,” said Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan in a statement. “This is yet another step in enhancing connectivity for the city to major job centers and the airport, and makes it that much easier for people to come to us.”
In addition, Aurora residents will be seeing some changes to their local and regional bus schedules from the A line opening April 22. The new 157 bus route will begin service April 24 from Centre Point and Sable in Aurora through the Community College of Aurora to Buckley Air Force Base. The new 483 bus will also be providing a new connection from South Parker Road to Nine Mile Station starting April 24.
With a travel time of 37 minutes, the “A” Line will serve a total of eight stations, including Union Station, DIA and several communities along the Interstate 70 corridor. Trains will run every 15 minutes, with service hours from 3 a.m. to 1 a.m. Travel on the “A” Line will includes local ($2.60), regional ($4.50) or airport ($9) fares.
The line to DIA will use new rail cars that will be the first of their kind in Denver. They are faster than light rail, with a top speed of 79 miles per hour versus 55 miles per hour. They are also larger and carry more people than light rail vehicles at 200 people. The vehicles will also offer level boarding to better accommodate travelers with luggage and accessibility needs.
The “A” Line starts running at noon April 22, with a variety of grand-opening celebrations and free rides through April 23.
To learn more about RTD’s “A” and “R” lines, visit www.rtd-denver.com/Fastracks.shtml.