In the last ten years, public transportation has become a mainstream form of transportation in the metro area. Eight rail lines service 53 stations along Denver’s Southeast, Southwest, West, and East rail corridors. Almost anyone can quickly get to major hot spots like Denver International Airport, the Theater District, Convention Center, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Pepsi Center, the 16th Street Mall, and Park Meadows Mall. Hop on board and get where you need to go fast – no stop lights, no traffic, fast. Learn more about the advantages of light rail living in Colorado.
Living on the Light Rail allows you to experience the city without the hassles of commuting. From Westminster to Lone Tree, Golden to Aurora, or Littleton to the 16th St Mall, there are few places that Light Rail doesn’t reach and with new lines opening in 2017, it is probably one of the best ways to travel. Not a believer yet? Here are the top 5 reasons to use Light Rail to get around Denver.
Light Rail Reliability:
No matter how nasty the streets, Light Rail is running. Snow, rain, wind, sleet all mean very little to the electrically powered trains. Even in the worst weather, they can still make it from point A to B with no trouble making them the most reliable most of transportation in the city.
Light Rail Cost Effectiveness:
The longest run that Light Rail provides is from Union Station to DIA. It is 37 minutes long and costs a whopping nine dollars. Taking a Lyft or Uber will run anywhere from $25 to $150 depending on distance and surge pricing. Want to stay around town? Be prepared to spend less than a cup of Starbucks. Anything short of the airport run will cost you $4.50 or less. Check out current Light Rail fare pricing: Light Rail Fares.
No Car Payments:
Even with excellent credit, the cost of keeping and maintaining a car in Colorado is on the rise. Even though fuel prices have dropped from the outrageous prices of ten years ago, even compact cars can chew a significant hole in your bank account. This doesn’t even include insurance, oil change, tires (which usually runs about $700 – $1k per set), and tune-ups. By taking Light Rail every day for your commute, not only will you reduce your traffic stress levels, but you may virtually eliminate the need for a commuter car.
No Parking Payments:
With no car comes the huge benefit of no parking fees! With many lots in LODO charging anywhere from $8 – $15 an hour for parking, not even employer reimbursement breaks can make it worthwhile to fight for parking spaces. Light Rail will save you more per day than the cost of owning a car for a month.
Rising Home Prices:
Light Rail is expanding in all directions and areas. One day, it may even rival New York City or London in the number of trains moving passengers back and forth. This is an added bonus not only for homeowners around existing lines, but for proposed track pathways as well. Some residents near the upcoming G-line and R-line have seen the value of their homes skyrocket by almost $100k!
Light Rail has made commuting around the Denver area much easier on so many ways. It is fast, reliable, and definitely cost-effective. Coupled with the staggering number of RTD Buses, it truly is the best way to travel.