​Station Area Master Plans

N Line Station Area Planning in Thornton

RTD completed construction of Phase 1 of the FasTracks North Metro Rail Line which includes three stations in Thornton. Passenger service between Denver Union Station and the Eastlake at 124th Station began on September 21, 2020. The North Metro Rail Line provides the City of Thornton with a unique opportunity to redefine how we plan and develop new neighborhoods in close proximity to rail transit. To create a vision for how vibrant "transit-oriented" communities could be developed around these stations, the City has undergone a planning process for the areas around each station in Thornton and Northglenn. The resulting "Station Area Master Plans" provide a planning framework for future development and redevelopment around these stations and act as a blueprint for the City to move forward with policy, regulatory and investment decisions for these areas.   

Station Area Master Plans

The City has a master plan for each of the three operating N Line stations in Thornton, as well as a master plan for land around the station in Northglenn:

  • The 'Original Thornton at 88th Station Area Master Plan' was adopted on January 13, 2015 and focuses on the area around the future station at 88th Avenue and Welby Road.
  • The 'Thornton Crossroads at 104th Station Area Master Plan' was adopted on January 13, 2015 and focuses on the area around the future station at 104th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. 
  • The '2009 Eastlake Station Transit-Oriented Development Master Plan' (superseded) was adopted on February 24, 2009 and focused on the area around the future Eastlake station at 124th Avenue. This plan was updated in 2015.
  • The '2015 Eastlake at 124th Station Area Master Plan' was adopted on October 27, 2015 as an update to the 2009 plan. The plan focuses on the future commuter rail station located near 124th Avenue and Claude Court.
  • The '112th Avenue Station Area Master Plan' was adopted by Thornton City Council on February 28, 2017.  This plan was a joint effort between the cities of Northglenn and Thornton. The plan focuses on development around the future Northglenn at 112th Station.  

RTD FasTracks North Metro Rail Opened September 21, 2020

Phase 1 of the North Metro Line from Denver Union Station to the 124th Avenue at Eastlake Station is complete and passenger service to the public began on September 21, 2020.

Background

In 2004, Denver metropolitan area voters approved the RTD FasTracks program to expand rail service in the Denver metro region. One segment of this expanded rail service is the North Metro Corridor project ( N Line). The N Line is proposed to have nine stations total, including Union Station, when the entire line is complete. The first phase of 13 miles includes seven stations and runs from downtown Denver's Union Station to Eastlake at 124th Station in Thornton.

The remaining 5.5 miles of track, which includes the York at 144th Station and North Thornton at Hwy 7 Station is currently unfunded. Construction of this later phase will occur as funding becomes available.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

As part of the RTD FasTracks program, many of the stations along the region's rail corridors will seek to include elements of "transit-oriented development" or "TOD" within the station area. TOD elements aim to produce a pedestrian friendly environment with a mix of appropriate land uses that support all alternative forms of transportation.

Questions about the N Line?

For the most up to date information, see RTD's North Metro website at https://www.rtd-denver.com/fastracks/n-line.