The Regional Transportation District broke ground on April 11 on a 1,000-space parking structure at 14th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard in Lakewood. The four-story structure will serve riders of the RTD FasTracks West Rail Line and the existing RTD bus system. The Lakewood-Wadsworth station is expected to be utilized by 5,530 riders on weekdays.

The structure is being built by Swinerton Builders Colorado and is scheduled to open in May 2013, along with the West Rail Line.
The parking structure is designed to maximize sustainable features such as low water-use landscaping, bicycle parking and provisions for future solar panels and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Swinerton will recycle materials during construction and implement a site-management plan for erosion control and handling all construction debris.

The FasTracks West Rail Line is a 12.1-mile light rail line that will serve Denver, Lakewood, Golden and Jefferson County, connecting Denver Union Station to the Jefferson County Government Center. It is scheduled to open for service in May 2013 with an expected daily ridership of 19,300.

“RTD is excited to have the Lakewood-Wadsworth parking structure under way and is looking forward to working with Swinerton Builders on one of the last elements of construction along the West Rail Line,” said RTD West Rail Line Project Manager Jim Starling.

FasTracks will build 122 miles of commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service, add 21,000 new parking spaces, redevelop Denver Union Station and redirect bus service to better connect the eight-county District.
FasTracks is projected to create thousands of construction and related jobs during the height of construction and will pump billions of dollars into the regional economy over the next 20 years.