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ORGANIZING FOR EFFICIENCY: THE DENVER TEAMWORK EXPERIENCE

The Regional Transportation District's (RTD's) first light rail system, the Central Corridor, is a 5.3-mi (8.5-km)-long at-grade rail line that runs from a southern terminus, through the central business district (CBD), to a northern terminus in metropolitan Denver, Colorado. This first line is the spine of a planned regional rapid transit system and was designed with simplicity and the ability to expand as demands require. RTD modified and accentuated its organization in order to design, construct, and implement this transit system to ensure it would be both usable and acceptable to the Denver metropolitan communities. To enhance RTD's experience in light rail transit (LRT) construction, administration was conducted in-house, whereas design and construction management were performed by professional consultants and construction contractors. A small but very motivated RTD team was created and trained in construction procedures and standards, quality assurance, project management, materials management, and RTD's procurement and contracting procedures. This team, which included an operations superintendent, worked together, communicating and coordinating all activities to meet the priorities set by RTD's general manager to ensure that the objectives of safety, quality, budget, and operational effectiveness were achieved. As construction progressed, a larger integration/activation team evolved and a small operations start-up team was created. Operations, training, maintenance, safety certification, and staffing plans were developed, and operations personnel became involved in preparations for revenue start-up by participating in the integrated systems testing and activation. All equipment was tested, safety was certified, and revenue service was simulated to ensure that all LRT system elements functioned together to provide a safe, reliable, and efficient service. RTD's light rail system started revenue service on October 10, 1994. Typical of all new systems, the first few months were tests of flexibility and patience. It was a time of learning; adapting to equipment problems, customer needs, procedural problems, and training needs; and preparing for expansion and growth. By using the experienced professionals, technology, and innovations available, RTD has inaugurated a successful light rail system and now is looking to the future for further expansion.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures;
  • Pagination: p. 327-341
  • Monograph Title: SEVENTH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, NOVEMBER 12-15, 1995. VOLUME 1
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00716793
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0309061520
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Jan 30 1996 12:00AM