R-Line, W-Line services reduced

The Regional Transportation District’s Board of Directors on Tuesday decided to reduce the frequency of two light-rail lines: the R-Line to Aurora and the W-Line to Golden.

The RTD originally proposed more cuts than those passed Tuesday, but residents and riders complained. The reduction in service will be implemented in January.

The changes for the RLine involve a reduction in weekend service, reducing frequency from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes. Weekday service will remain the same.

The initial proposal for the R-line originally included a cutback in frequency during weekday off-peak hours south of the Florida Station and eliminating all weekend service in that region.

The W-Line will see a reduction in frequency from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes between Federal Center Station and Jefferson County Government Center-Golden Station on weekday evenings, Saturday evenings and all day Sunday. The original proposal for the W-Line was to cut frequency in the morning, early afternoon and evening.

RTD suggested the changes after a study gauged riders per hour. The W-Line had approximately 141 riders per hour and the R-Line had approximately 41 riders per hour. The two routes have the lowest and second-lowest numbers of riders per hour of all lightrail routes.

According to RTD spokesman Nate Currey, 41 passengers boarding the RLine per hour is not even half of what the RTD board has determined should be the minimum.

“We are in the business of moving people,” director Kate Williams said. “Not moving buses or trains.”

Board member Tina Francone compared running empty trains to paying for electricity in a building nobody lives in.

Bob Broom, who voted no, said he believes six months is not enough time to gauge the effectiveness of a route, especially with the amount of development that is taking place in the area.

Treasurer Natalie Menten said she would be open to re-evaluating the changes made to frequency at a later date. “We make changes every four months,” she said. “We can look at some of these in four months.”

Board chairman Larry Hoy said he wants effort from Aurora.

“I think Aurora needs to step up and help,” he said. “We’ll jump in, and we’ll stand right behind you.”

RTD board members who voted against the changes Tuesday were Bonnie “Ernest” Archuleta, Natalie Menten, Broom and Paul Solano.