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Changes upset RTD commuters
Longer commutes, overcrowding and hours of standing in the cold are causing major headaches for bus and light rail riders in the Parker area.
By Chris Michlewicz
For most users of metro area public transportation, the opening of the Regional Transportation District's Southeast Light Rail line has been a blessing. But for some, the changes have created chaos, confusion and now anger.
Light rail was designed to be the backbone of transportation in the southeast metro area, with satellite bus lines bringing commuters to the train. Before the opening of the new light rail line last month, express line buses took passengers directly to downtown Denver or the Denver Tech Center.
Parker-area residents who previously took the P route bus line to downtown Denver say their commute time has more than doubled.
Riders are now required to take the 410 bus route, which starts in Franktown, to the light rail station at Lincoln Avenue. From there, they take the train through several stops before reaching the metro area. Some even have to board another bus at Broadway Boulevard or in downtown Denver to continue their commute to work.
Zane Johnson, a Parker resident who has used public transportation everyday for 12 years, said the problems with the new configuration are so bad, he is considering driving himself to work from now on.
"When I took the P route, it only took me about 50 minutes to get to work. Since light rail started, I have not done it in under two hours," said Johnson, who works in downtown Denver.
During a recent two-day period, he spent nearly seven hours either waiting or riding. Johnson, who starts his daily travels at the Pinery park-N-Ride, said the 410 bus is consistently late or simply does not show up.
The issue has affected so many former P route commuters, that an Internet blog was created to vent frustration, share ideas and mount support for a change.
O'Neill Quinlan, the RTD board member who represents the district that includes Parker, is extremely frustrated at the lack of urgency in correcting the problems. When he proposed a plan to address the issues immediately, Quinlan only received the support of two other board members.
"The opposition said we should let people figure out the system and then review it in January. They want to let things settle down before they make any changes," he said.
Many commuters say the problems need immediate, critical attention. The Nine Mile light rail station, which opened last month at Interstate 225 and Parker Road, has already reached capacity and has drawn more attention than the issues in Parker, Quinlan said.
Because of the largest reorganization of transportation service in Denver since the mid-1970s, Quinlan has received more complaints than ever before.
"I have had about 20 people contact me so far. I have never had 20 complaints about anything since I have been doing this."
Johnson suggested reinstating the old express bus lines until organizers can work out the kinks. The hang-ups are usually not related to the switch to light rail, but rather with the feeder bus lines, he said.
"One day, it took me an hour to get to the Lincoln light rail station," said Johnson, a resident of the Pradera subdivision. "There are too many stops, the buses are not on time and then we sit in traffic on Lincoln."
Once he gets to the light rail station, Johnson has the choice of running for the waiting train or catching the next one 15 minutes later.
The evening commute is a different animal. Some people have waited for an hour in below-freezing temperatures because of the siege of travelers who converge on the shuttle bus back to Parker. The poorly-designed arrangement results in overcrowded buses and constant frustration for most passengers, Johnson said.
"It would be fine if they would let light rail run, but forcing people from outlying areas to ride it is an inconvenience for a whole bunch of people. It has created an awful situation," said Johnson.
RTD will review the new light rail and bus system and make changes where they are deemed necessary in January.
In the meantime, Quinlan said he is working with Parker commuters on a resolution. He has joined those on the P route blog to find answers to the numerous questions being posed.
Contact Chris Michlewicz at cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.com
Light rail was designed to be the backbone of transportation in the southeast metro area, with satellite bus lines bringing commuters to the train. Before the opening of the new light rail line last month, express line buses took passengers directly to downtown Denver or the Denver Tech Center.
Parker-area residents who previously took the P route bus line to downtown Denver say their commute time has more than doubled.
Riders are now required to take the 410 bus route, which starts in Franktown, to the light rail station at Lincoln Avenue. From there, they take the train through several stops before reaching the metro area. Some even have to board another bus at Broadway Boulevard or in downtown Denver to continue their commute to work.
Zane Johnson, a Parker resident who has used public transportation everyday for 12 years, said the problems with the new configuration are so bad, he is considering driving himself to work from now on.
"When I took the P route, it only took me about 50 minutes to get to work. Since light rail started, I have not done it in under two hours," said Johnson, who works in downtown Denver.
During a recent two-day period, he spent nearly seven hours either waiting or riding. Johnson, who starts his daily travels at the Pinery park-N-Ride, said the 410 bus is consistently late or simply does not show up.
The issue has affected so many former P route commuters, that an Internet blog was created to vent frustration, share ideas and mount support for a change.
O'Neill Quinlan, the RTD board member who represents the district that includes Parker, is extremely frustrated at the lack of urgency in correcting the problems. When he proposed a plan to address the issues immediately, Quinlan only received the support of two other board members.
"The opposition said we should let people figure out the system and then review it in January. They want to let things settle down before they make any changes," he said.
Many commuters say the problems need immediate, critical attention. The Nine Mile light rail station, which opened last month at Interstate 225 and Parker Road, has already reached capacity and has drawn more attention than the issues in Parker, Quinlan said.
Because of the largest reorganization of transportation service in Denver since the mid-1970s, Quinlan has received more complaints than ever before.
"I have had about 20 people contact me so far. I have never had 20 complaints about anything since I have been doing this."
Johnson suggested reinstating the old express bus lines until organizers can work out the kinks. The hang-ups are usually not related to the switch to light rail, but rather with the feeder bus lines, he said.
"One day, it took me an hour to get to the Lincoln light rail station," said Johnson, a resident of the Pradera subdivision. "There are too many stops, the buses are not on time and then we sit in traffic on Lincoln."
Once he gets to the light rail station, Johnson has the choice of running for the waiting train or catching the next one 15 minutes later.
The evening commute is a different animal. Some people have waited for an hour in below-freezing temperatures because of the siege of travelers who converge on the shuttle bus back to Parker. The poorly-designed arrangement results in overcrowded buses and constant frustration for most passengers, Johnson said.
"It would be fine if they would let light rail run, but forcing people from outlying areas to ride it is an inconvenience for a whole bunch of people. It has created an awful situation," said Johnson.
RTD will review the new light rail and bus system and make changes where they are deemed necessary in January.
In the meantime, Quinlan said he is working with Parker commuters on a resolution. He has joined those on the P route blog to find answers to the numerous questions being posed.
Contact Chris Michlewicz at cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.com
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