RTD G-Line Plan Blames Tall Buildings For Signal Problems

DENVER, CO – Spotty GPS signals caused by the tall buildings around Union Station were blamed for Denver's Regional Transportation District's struggles with signal communication, according to the Denver Post's analysis of the RTD "action plan" submitted to federal regulators last week.

"The document said Denver’s rising skyline around Union Station regularly blocks GPS signals the system relies on to keep the University of Colorado A-Line running smoothly and safely," the Post reported Monday.

RTD's plan includes a software patch that, along with other fixes, will bring the A-Line from Union Station to Denver International Airport into compliance with federal signal rules. If the feds accept the plan, RTD also said Friday it will be ready to open the long-overdue G-Line that will travel through Arvada and Wheat Ridge.

Federal regulators threatened to close the A-Line in November if RTD did not submit a detailed plan to get signals coordinated to federal safety standards at grade-level crossings. The Post reported that 22,000 people a day rely on the A and B lines. Currently, RTD has employed human signal guards to make sure traffic at intersections is safely managed.

RTD claimed that GPS signal communication required by federal rules, called "positive train control" was lost by repeated "PTC cut outs" on the RTD commuter line system, the Post reported.

RTD asked the feds to grant the same waiver under which the A and B lines run to the G-Line, which was supposed to open in 2016, the Post reported.

READ MORE in the Denver Post

Related: Federal Regulators Threaten To Close A-Line

Related: G-Line Trains Finally To Start Test Runs Through Arvada

Related: G-Line Train Testing Moves Forward In Arvada, Wheat Ridge

Related: G-Line Delays Are A 'Train Wreck' Says Arvada Mayor

Image via RTD

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