LAKEWOOD — Officials and others say the arrival of the W Line in Jefferson County a year ago is making mass transit west of Denver a lot easier while enriching businesses along its route.
They point to the growth of several companies resting on or near the 12.1-mile light-rail corridor and a new vibrancy in the West Colfax area as proof the $707 million project was worth the investment.
“I think we are still in the process of discovery about the line,” said Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy. “More and more people are riding it every day because they are finding it convenient. There is so much ease and comfort to it.”
Some say, however, the W Line — formerly known as the West Rail Line — is leaving many low-income and working families behind.
“Many people we’ve talked to say the line was built for tourists and to get people to and from Broncos and Rockies games,” said Zoe Williams, transit organizer for 9to5, an advocacy group for working women.
9to5 said in report released this year that since the W Line opened April 26, 2013, the Regional Transportation District cut key bus routes that working families depended on to get to jobs, food and medicine.
The W Line extends from Denver Union Station to the Jefferson County Government Center, traversing through Denver, Lakewood and Golden.
Without the buses to transport them, some working families can’t get to W Line stations to get on the train. Also, the fares charged by RTD for a W Line ticket are too high for them to afford on a regular basis, 9to5 said.
The rail line is also stoking gentrification of many neighborhoods along its route, upping rents and forcing out low-income housing, the group said.
“Many neighborhoods are getting less affordable, and many long-time people there are being shoved out,” said Scott Kerr, director of homeless services for Bayaud Enterprises, which offers job training for people with disabilities.
Williams and Kerr, along with about 20 others, walked much of the W Line route Saturday to protest RTD’s fares, which include $79 for a monthly local pass and $2.25 for a local one-way fare.
Williams said her group is working with RTD as part of the agency’s review of its entire fare structure. “We will be there, every month, to make sure a fare structure is produced so everyone can afford to ride the W Line,” she said.
The W Line was the first light-rail line completed under the $7.8 billion metro-wide FasTracks mass transit project.
Since it opened for service, it has averaged 14,000 riders daily, with passenger numbers steadily increasing, according to RTD. By 2030, it is projected the W Line will carry 30,000 passengers daily.
The W Line’s passenger numbers helped push RTD to an all-time record in ridership in 2013, with 101 million passengers system-wide, said RTD spokesman Scott Reed.
RTD also reinstated many of the bus routes that were originally scrubbed by the W Line, said Reed. “That’s pretty routine for us, to bring back routes after a review of a new route or service,” Reed said.
RTD and local officials say the opening of the W Line has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Riders have commented frequently about how convenient it is to get to sporting and cultural events, the easy access to the Auraria campus and the easy transfer to get to southeast Denver and the Denver Tech Center,” said Phil Washington, RTD general manager and CEO.
The W Line is helping to stoke at least $100 million of planned retail projects along West Colfax, said Bill Marino, executive director of the Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District.
Terumo BCT, maker of blood collection and storage technologies, is building a new $40 million headquarters in Lakewood, and First Bank is undergoing a $20 million expansion on West Colfax, Marino said.
“These will bring hundreds and hundreds of new jobs. And while I can’t say the W Line was the sole factor behind this, it is absolutely on the triggers for why all of this is happening,” Marino said.
At least five new restaurants have opened in the W Line’s wake, and the 40 West Arts District on West Colfax is seeing more and more foot traffic thanks to the rail service, he said.
“People want to take the train downtown, and then people want to buy in the neighborhoods where the arts district is emerging,” Marino said.
Judy Cybuch, owner of The Everything Gallery in Lakewood, said she expects to see more people in her business as development grows along the W Line.
“I think it is a good addition to Lakewood,” Cybuch said. “It makes it a lot easier to commute downtown, and getting all those cars off the streets is good for the environment.”
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907, mwhaley@denverpost.com or twitter.com/montewhaley
