Denver Union Station Multimodal Public Transportation Facility & Mixed-Use Development
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Abstract
Denver is quickly becoming the “Grand Central Station” for transportation for the Western
United States. Since the turn of the century Union Station, located on the edge of
downtown Denver, has been used as the railroad gateway to the Rocky Mountains. More
recently, with the addition of the Denver International Airport (DIA), Denver is being
recognized as a major hub for air transportation servicing the Western United States.
The city is projecting a population growth of almost one million people within the next
20 to 25 years. With this in mind, Denver’s public transportation provider, Regional
Transportation District (RTD), needs to expand their current system in order to meet
future demand.
For years Union Station has been the main railway station servicing the Rocky Mountains
and the west coast. It was recently placed on the National Historic Register and
purchased by RTD. It sits on a 19.5-acre parcel of land in the historic district adjacent to
downtown Denver making it a prime location for a regional transit facility. This facility
will seamlessly accommodate rail, bus, auto, pedestrian and bicycle movement throughout
the area and provide space for transit-oriented retail.
The focus of this thesis project is to respectfully incorporate the historic Union Station
building into the design of a state-of-the-art mixed transit facility that would accommodate
the growing needs of Denver and the surrounding area. The main intentions for this
facility are to provide easier access to various means of public transportation for residents,
commuters and tourists and create a positive awareness for more efficient means
of transportation. The underlying premise for this design is that transportation is an essential
part of urban life and allows for growth and development within a city. Without a
well-planned transportation system, a city would not be able to function on its own.