My version of a fantasy (not future) map for Denver rapid transit if it had been done right. The structure of rail system more or less follows current and future alignments of Denver’s real system with a few key differences.

1. the entire fantasy system uses the same technology unlike the real system (light rail south and heavy rail north). I’d lean towards heavy rail (perhaps keeping the Silverliners but reconfiguring them in a more metro like interior layout. Conversely rolling stock could be a completely new heavy rail train like Hyundai Rotem or Alston X’trapolis. 25k AC power would be used so tracks and platforms could be shared with Front Range Passenger Rail-not depicted). W-line remains light rail- see below.

2. Union Station tracks would be below grade and through running (why didn’t Denver actually do this?? 🙄). Quad tracking from Union Station to Broadway (the Platte Valley section) is added to accommodate 4 lines plus Front Range Passenger Rail.

3. In my fantasy system a six station subway tunnel now exists from Union Station to 8th and Broadway running via 16th and Broadway exists with tops at Union Station Underground, 16th/Larimer, 16th/California, Civic Center, 12th/Broadway and 8th/Broadway. Lead tracks would enter the tunnel from both north and south of Union Station. Union Station would have the current (real) track alignment as well as fantasy subway tracks aligned with 16th street.

4. W line merges with L line to become Light rail line 1 and is completed north to 38th/Blake. Uses Flexity Freedoms or some new light rail technology. A new light rail line (Light Rail Line 2) is added from 23rd/Colorado to Belmar in Lakewood and largely follows the new Light rail line 1. Light rail line 2 assumes that city park golf course is infilled with actual useful, dense development. A new station (Auraria) is added where the heavy rail lines meets light rail lines 1+2 for connections.

5. A new Boulder Light Rail from US36/Flatirons to Boulder Junction running via the US36 median, west on Baseline, north on Broadway (serving CU), East Walnut (serving downtown Boulder) terminating at Boulder Junction.

6. real B line merges with D line becoming the fantasy B line and is completed from Longmont to Highlands Ranch Town Center (near its real proposed terminus of Lucent Blvd). Additional stops (not currently officially proposed in B-line plans) at Longmont Twin Peaks, East Boulder, 116th Ave, and Downtown Westminister.

7. G-line starts in Downtown Golden, but now through runs Union Station south to Castle Rock. Routing is along side the new B line (current D-line) and diverges at Mineral running south to Castle Rock. New fantasy stations at Downtown Golden, McIntyre, Highlands Ranch Pkwy (at US85), Sedalia, North Castle Rock, and Castle Rock.

8. A-line is more or less the same alignment but runs with no stops between the airport and Peoria (the new E line outlined below will serve stations between airport and Peoria). Infill stop added at 27th and Broadway. Fantasy A-line uses downtown subway terminating at 8th and Broadway.

9. R-line becomes E-line and is built all the way to DIA, Peoria Station is moved a few thousand feet east so trains can serve the station and through run to airport without switching direction (as they would now have to at Peoria). This line serves the local stops between Peoria and the airport. Alignment runs through Fitzimmons and not on the fringe of it like current R-line. The line runs via an elevated section from 2nd Ave to Florida instead of the street running/at grade mess that is the current R-line alignment around Aurora Mall. Aurora Mall is redeveloped into a new mixed use TOD. The line returns to serving Ridgegate in the south and Lone Tree Town Center is merged with Ridgegate as these stations are extremely close together.

10. E-line becomes the C-line and runs from Civic Center via the subway, turning south at Union Station and Generally following what was the now defunct F-line. A few changes along this route include a few station relocations. 10/Osage moves south to become 9th/Osage better serving Burnham Yard Redevelopment. Alameda moves north better serving Baker. University Station moves southeast to be actually at University Blvd. Southmoor moves north to be closer to Hampden. And Lonetree Town Center and Ridgegate are merged as mentioned.

11. H-line becomes D-line and runs from Civic Center via the fantasy downtown subway, Union Station, the Platte Valley quad tracks and essentially following the current H-line, being paired with the new C-line until 225. The line now terminates at Aurora Metro Center instead of Florida.

12. N-line becomes F-line, is build to 160th (CO 7)(current real proposal). Terminus is now 8th/Broadway via the fantasy downtown subway. Not any real tweaks to this line otherwise.

13. RapidBus lines put on here for reference. RapidBus are a mix of BRT and enhanced bus lines that are frequent (at least every 15 min weekday morning-evening) with fewer stops. Unfortunately the app i was using didn’t really allow me to label the bus routes so the routing of these are a bit hard to decipher in some cases.

Tell me what you think. I used Tennesine for this. It has quite a few limitations but is free to use.