L Line (RTD)

"Yellow Line (Denver)" redirects here. For other uses, see Yellow Line.

The L Line is a light rail line which is part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver–Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The L Line opened as part of a service change in 2018 and is formed by a truncated section of the D Line, which formerly served the route.^[2]

L Line
Northbound L Line train at 18th & California station
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Regional Transportation District
Locale	Denver
Termini	30th & Downing 16th & California/16th & Stout
Stations	6
Service
Type	Light rail
System	RTD Rail
Operator(s)	Regional Transportation District
Ridership	339,000 (FY2023, annual)[1]
History
Opened	January 14, 2018
Technical
Number of tracks	1–2
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line, 750 V DC
Route map L Line highlighted in yellow Show interactive map Legend Future extension to Denver Airport 38th & Blake 35th & Downing 33rd & Downing 30th & Downing double track single track 29th & Welton closed 2013 27th & Welton 25th & Welton single track double track 20th & Welton 18th & Stout | California 16th & Stout | California This diagram: view talk edit Show route diagram

Route

The L Line's northern terminus is in Five Points northeast of downtown Denver. From 30th & Downing station, it runs southwest along Welton Street before turning down 19th Street. On trips toward downtown, the line runs along Stout Street;^[3] on trips leaving downtown, the line loops back at 14th Street before serving stations on California Street and then heading back to 30th & Downing along Welton Street.^[4]

Proposed extension

The Central Rail Extension Mobility Study Final Report^[5] proposed that the D Line stations from 20th & Welton to 30th & Downing and future extension stations be operated on an independent route. This route would operate from the downtown loop to a new terminus created by sharing the A Line's 38th & Blake station.^[6] Former D Line riders would have to transfer to the new L Line as the D Line's new northern terminus would be the downtown loop (nominally 18th & California station). The 14th & California station closed in 2004 could be restored to support the L Line at the Convention Center, allowing for transfers to Theatre District–Convention Center station.^[5] RTD's board of directors approved the introduction of the current shorter version of the L Line with the January 14, 2018 service changes. The L Line uses existing track between 30th & Downing station and the downtown loop.^[7]

Beginning on May 26, 2024, the L Line was suspended, as part of Phase 1 of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project,^[8] which involves rebuilding some of the oldest sections of RTD track.^[9] However, on 29 August, that phase was completed,^[9] and on September 29, the D, H, and L Lines returned to service.^[10]

Stations

Station	Municipality	Opening year	Major connections & notes
38th & Blake	Denver	April 22, 2016	Park and ride: 200 spaces
35th & Downing		—	Proposed
33rd & Downing		—	Proposed
30th & Downing	Denver	October 8, 1994	Park and ride: 27 spaces [11]
29th & Welton		October 8, 1994	Closed January 6, 2013
27th & Welton		December 19, 1995
25th & Welton		October 8, 1994
20th & Welton
18th & California (northbound) 18th & Stout (southbound)			Flatiron Flyer
16th & California (northbound) 16th & Stout (southbound)			MallRide
14th & California (northbound) 14th & Stout (southbound)		October 8, 1994	Closed November 27, 2004