The G Line was originally conceived in the 1990s as a rail line that would go from Denver Union Station to downtown Golden. But plans to build the line to Golden were split into two phases. The first phase was funded through FasTracks, and ended at the current terminus of . The second phase has yet to be funded, and RTD has no current plans to extend the G Line further. However, RTD owns the right-of-way out to Golden should it ever want to expand in the future. The G Line uses the former
Colorado and Southern Railway line which ran between Denver and Arvada until 1943. The Gold Line is part of the RTD’s
FasTracks expansion plan, and is operated by Denver Transit Partners as part of the
Eagle P3 public–private partnership. The line received a Record of Decision approval from the
Federal Transit Administration in November 2009 allowing the line to be developed. Groundbreaking for the line occurred on August 31, 2011, at a ceremony in
Olde Town Arvada where US Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood announced the approval of a
$1 billion grant to fund the project. The line is in length,
Delays The G Line was originally scheduled to open in late 2016, but was delayed due to crossing gate issues with the RTD's A and B lines. The automated crossing gate system, unique to the RTD system, failed to receive federal and state approvals and relied on flaggers on a federal waiver for the first two lines. After RTD solved timing issues with the gates, subject to
Federal Railroad Administration approval, the G Line opened without flaggers and quiet zones in place on April 26, 2019. Testing began in January 2018 and the state's Public Utilities Commission approved the automated gates in March. Pending FRA approval of the crossing systems in December 2018, the agency claimed it could begin operations as late as Q1 2019. On April 1, 2019, RTD announced the opening of the G Line on April 26 following approval from respective organizations. ==Route==