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2007 June Trip to Denver
Day 1 June 7th
This would be my first trip to Denver since 1983. That time I rode in on the Rio Grande Zephyr a couple of months before its demise and would leave the next day on the San Francisco Zephyr to Sacramento to attend a meeting of Citizens for Rail California (now RailPAC).
I was going to Denver in order to attend a meeting of the Institute of Management Consultants Rocky Mountain Chapter which I am a member of. I wanted to take the train both ways but I ended up flying to Denver but did return on the Zephyr. One aspect of this trip was that I was avoiding renting a car. Rental car rates tend to be high and since I planned to ride all of Denver’s light rail lines, I decided not to get a car.
Trip to the Airport by Transit.
Originally I had planned to walk from my house about a half mile to the bus stop to start this journey. However, it had rained for the past 24 hours so my wife decided to give me a ride to the nearest TRAX (light rail station) at Murray Central so I would not have to walk in the rain.
It takes about 15-minutes to get to the nearest TRAX station from our apartment. I said goodbye to my angel and walked over to the platform and bought my ticket.
I only had to wait about 3 minutes before my train pulled in. Being rush hour it was a typical 4 car train of Siemens SD100 cars. Because the bus boarding is where I am transferring is near the front of the train I boarded at the first set of doors and boarded car 1005. I was surprised as normally this train would be standing room only but was not as full today possible because of the rain that started to fall again.
My trip on TRAX would be short as I was going only to the Meadowbrook Station which is 2 stations to the north. It was a good thing it was a short trip since I had to stand since there was some woman that sat at the edge of her seat and would not allow anyone to sit next to her and it was the only available seat. Fortunately I was only carrying my duffle bag which was not heavy, a garment bag with my suit for tonight, and my backpack with laptop in it on my back.
Four minutes later we arrived at the Meadowbrook TRAX station but there was no sign of the 56 bus which I would take to the airport. Since it was raining I went to the nearest shelter but there was 3 people smoking up a storm so I walked across the way to another one that had nobody waiting in it.
A few minutes later bus 0137 a 1991 Gillig Advantage Low Floor rattle trap pulled up and all the passengers waiting got on. Over the course of our journey that takes just 43 minutes we had a total of 15 passengers. The route is not the most scenic route in SaltLake mainly passing through older residential and industrial areas.
At the Airport
Arrival at the airport was about 3 hours before my flight was supposed to leave and I do mean supposed. There are two terminals at SaltLakeAirport; Terminal two is for Delta and Terminal One is for everyone else. I went over to the self service area of the Southwest Terminal to check in my duffle bag, and then took it over to the security people. Next it was over to the security line which is always busy in this terminal. If I wasn’t checking luggage I actually go over to the Delta terminal since security is usually a breeze over there.
I actually cannot complain about how long security took. I talked to my wife on the cell phone for about five minutes and about a moment later I was to the point where you TSA your ticket and ID. We where then directed over to the conveyor belt that they wanted us to use. This was my first time traveling with a laptop so I let a couple of people go ahead of me since it was a new experience trying to take these through the security lines. I have to say that all the fellow passengers I met where really nice.
A couple of minutes later I was through security and first headed to the magazine stand and picked up three magazines to read during the trip then on to Burger King for my breakfast. I was glad later that I decided to eat at this point since my lunch opportunity would get blown away thanks to the weather. After I finished my breakfast I decided to go ahead and head for my boarding gate.
About an hour before our plane was scheduled to leave the boarding area started to get busy but with four flights leaving within 45 minutes of each other it was hard to decipher how many where waiting for each flight. The first flight leaving was to Portland and Spokane which I have ridden a couple of times. It was scheduled to leave 30-minutes before our flight was scheduled so I figured our plane should be pulling in about the time it pulled out. However, that plane left and there was no sign of our plane.
Right about the time our plane was scheduled to leave the counter person finally announced that our plane was running 15-minutes late due to Tornado warnings along its route. This did not bother me because I had 55-minutes from the time the plane was supposed to arrive and the next bus left.
Just to set the record straight, I hate Southwest’s cattle call boarding system. Many frequent Southwest flyers refer to it as “miracle airline” where people go on wheelchair bound and then walk out of the plane. Our plane had many pre-boarders as there was a family with a couple of blind members, seven wheelchairs, and at least 5 families with really small children.
Even though the plane was no where in sight, the people started getting into the lines (For those unfamiliar with Southwest they have A, B, and C boarding’s depending how fast you get your boarding pass and who you know). There was a couple in the B line that waved over one of the people who brought a wheelchair to the gate who turned out to be friends of the couple. He proceeded to say “don’t worry; I will get you a pre-board pass.” Another customer said, “Are you going to get us all pre-boarding passes?” to which the guy just ignored.
Finally our planed rolled in, and everyone got ready for the cattle car. Unloading passengers was very quick so in no time at all they where announcing pre boarding. A few minutes later they said they would start taking “A” boarding passes and the rush was on. We did not get too far because it was taking a lot of time to get all the pre-boarders ready and the couple who was not entitled to be in the pre-boarding where in the way of everyone.
Finally The Plane Trip
At this point it was pouring rain and there was water leaking between the jet way and the plane and sure enough I got hit it just as a nice slash of water fell down. Once I made it into the plane I found a window seat on the right side of the plane just ahead of the wing. Our flight today would be on a 737-700 that has wingtips at the end of the wings. This is the first time I have flown a 737 with the tips. At first I thought it was a -900 series and that would mean I have flown every series of 737 but it was not to be.
The first 2/3 thirds of the flight went pretty good. We had a nice flight crew including one flight attendant that looked like my niece. The last third of the flight would not be that fun.
My only other time flying into Denver was in 1995 just before StapletonAirport was to close. There was a blizzard in Denver at the time and the flight had the worst turbulence I had every encountered. There was a good looking girl sitting next to me that I was starting to get to know. However, just before landing she lost her lunch and was too embarrassed to talk after that.
Well the turbulence this time was just as bad. I thought we where going to have a repeat of my last flight since I once again had an attractive girl sitting next to me, but this girl didn’t loose her lunch. At one point the dropped a little and we all slammed back down into our seats and at that point I think many people thought we were not going to make it.
Even though I could see planes taxing below us we where still up in the air and I wondered what was going on. We went pass that area and finally touched down. Apparently there is a large taxi area for planes at Denver.
The DenverAirport
Once we got to the gate I had just over 15-minutes to before my bus was supposed to leave or I would have an hour wait. So I got off the plane quickly then had to wait for two elderly people going very slow who would not move to once side to let people past. Finally I got past them and went over to the people mover that takes you to the main terminal. I could watch the minutes just ticking away.
Once off the people mover I found the baggage claim area. The trouble was there are four different areas with baggage carousels and no information where ours would be. I went to one section and saw it was all United. I then found the RTD desk so I first bought 2 Day passes before continuing to find my luggage. After looking at several of the carousels I found the one that was for our flight and as luck would have it my duffel bag came off rather quickly. I walked quickly out to the bus boarding area but figured I had already missed my bus. However, when I got to the terminal I realized that there was an AT bus there but looking at the head sign I realized this one was the short turn but looking at the schedule realized he was supposed to be ahead of my bus.
Transit Adventure to the Hotel
A couple of minutes later another MCI Commuter Cruiser came around the corner and sure enough it was the AT bus heading to Nine Mile Station and beyond. I boarded bus number 1943 and handed the driver my day pass. He said he has never seen one but proceed to punch it and I paid the remaining $2.35 cents. Even though I had a duffle bag and other stuff the driver never mentioned he was going to open the luggage bay. After I was half way to the back of the bus the driver says to someone “I guess you need me to open a luggage bay?”
I had to sit in the second to last row. While waiting for the bus I had called my wife to tell her I made it to DenverOK but got her work voicemail. A few minutes later she called me back to check on me. Just before we left a couple with children sat in the very back seat. The husband had just been transferred here from apparently someplace warm because they all had shorts on and it was cold today and they had no clothes to change into. It was a fairly quick trip to the Nine Mile Station, which I was glad about since all I had a view of was the freeway and it was hard to tell where we where and were we where going. We made one stop at a freeway off ramp not for passengers but to pick up a RTD driver and go back on the freeway.
It only took about 30-minutes and we arrived at the Nine Mile Light Rail Station. After I got off the bus and started heading to the elevator in order to reach the tracks that are in the middle of Interstate 225 I realized that the driver had punch not June 7th on my Day Pass but June 6th but it was too late as he was gone. Of course it wouldn’t matter anyway since RTD drivers don’t carry day passes. So I went ahead and bought a one way ticket to the Dry Creek Station.
I bought the ticket, walked over to the elevator and went up to the platform. First thing I noticed was there was no train on the platform. However I looked beyond the platform and saw two trains sitting at the end of the tracks. The first train pulled up with two cars but it was an “H” train heading to downtown. Once he left a one car train pulled up and it was my “G” train.
I boarded the train but did not get the car number I was on and after a couple of minutes the train departed. It seemed like the train was going slow considering we where in the center of the freeway but later trains would go faster. After a few minutes we took the cross over that takes the train over Interstate 25 and connects with the main part of the TREX project line. In no time at all we had arrived at the Dry Creek Station and after getting off the train had to take an elevator up then take the bridge (only open for three days) across the freeway to where my next ride was waiting.
Sitting waiting for me to arrive was what RTD calls the Call N Ride. You can either call ahead and arrange pick up or arrange it with the driver. However, if you are coming off the light rail, the bus will pass through the station every 10-minutes during rush hours and every 30-minutes off peak but like me, you have a good chance of catching the bus right at the bus bay. I boarded a cutaway number 919L with the “L” signifying that this route is contracted through Laidlaw Transportation.
I told the driver where I needed to go and within a minute we where off. It only took five minutes and we arrived at my motel the Extended Stay Deluxe Tech Center South. I asked the driver if he could pick me up at 3:30pm but we made it 3:25pm since he had other pick ups at that time and I said no problem.
After getting off the little bus I headed into the hotel. I was hoping they would allow me to check in early. According to their website check in is at 3:00pmand I was there at 2:30pm. Since I have already had a long day I wanted to take a quick shower before putting my suite on.
I approached the front desk person and told her my reservation and she said she would just have to go and inspect the rooms before checking me in since their occupancy has been so high. I hope she only had to inspect my room and not the all the rooms because I wanted to get to my room. A few minutes later she came back and said my room was already. By this time someone else had shown up to check in.
I headed up to the room which was on the second level all the way at the far end of the hallway from the elevator. I quickly put my things away and took a quick shower. After that my suit went on and I prepared to head back out to catch the bus.
Heading to 30th/Downing
At 3:15pm I headed down the elevator and out to the road and waited for the bus to show up. At about 3:26pm he came around the corner, pulled to a stop and I got on. He said he had a couple of other pick ups but I would be at the station in no time and I told him no problem as I had plenty of time. He then drove over to an office park and waited for someone. A few minutes later a girl got on board who was waiting at the neighboring complex and said she figured she would walk over while we waited. After a couple of minutes the driver left and within five minutes we are back at the Light Rail Station.
When we pulled up there was a big celebration going on and the driver said it was to celebrate the opening of the bridge over to the Light Rail line that just opened three days ago. After taking a few pictures of the celebration, I walked across the bridge and bought a round trip ticket to downtown and back.
A couple of minutes later an E-line train pulled up and we where on our way to downtown. Since this train goes to Union Station and not to the upper downtown are I figured I would get off at 10th/Osage and take a D line train to 30th/Downing from there. You cannot see too much from these train as these tracks where part of the TREX project which rebuilt Interstate 25 which we parallel. While you can see a few things from the train it is not as good as if you where not along the freeway.
Once you get to the Broadway/I-25 station you know parallel freight railroad tracks. In fact once you pass the Alameda station you travel past the Union Pacific’s engine house plus see a lot of old Union Pacific (some still painted for Southern Pacific) waiting for there call to duty that will never come.
I got off at the 10th/Osage station where there was a long line of new Union Pacific locomotives sitting idling. After only a minute or two waiting for the next train I decided I will take whatever train comes along that is heading to downtown and switch from there. There was many gang bangers running around and I did not want to put my safety on the line.
As it turned out the next train was a “D” train but it was only going to 18th/California. However, I decided to jump on it anyway just to get out of this area. I boarded car number 228 which is a Siemens SD160. We passed the Convention Center station where I would get off on the way back. I got off at the 18th station and waited for a train heading to 30th/Downing. About a minute after I arrived the wind picked up and it felt like I was going to get blown back to the convention center, it was blowing hard!!
Two trains came and went that where turning around at 19th then finally a 30th/Downing train came by. I board car 217 and we where on our way. Boy what a change in just a couple of blocks. We went from typical downtown area plus lots of new condos and apartments going up to a very rundown part of the town that looked like many towns I encountered in the south.
I was hoping to catch the next train back to downtown that leaves a minute after this train arrived however; the platform at this station is not a center platform but instead is side platforms. So once you get off the train you have to walk around the train to cross over to the next platform and catch the other train which was impossible to do in less than a minute so once the doors opened on the train I had come in on, I hopped back on board.
While the train was sitting here a transit police officer boards and starts checking tickets. I pull out my ticket and show it to him. He gives it back to me and then asks for it back. He then says this is a one way ticket, its expired and starts getting nasty. I then realize I gave him my previous ticket from earlier in the day then reach back into my pocket and gave him the right ticket. He gives me a dirty look and moves on. One guy left the train as he boarded then gets back on after the officer gets off.
To the Convention Center Station and On to my Dinner
This is another area I would not want to be after dark. As part of fast tracks the line is to be extended another mile in order to hook up with the commuter rail line to the airport. Hopefully that neighborhood will be better than this one. Once we left I noticed that the train runs between the sidewalk and the street where cars are parked. I think this is the first time I have seen a light rail line that runs almost as if its part of the sidewalk. Right now there is a good piece of single track running; you have to wonder what they are going to do once the train is extended.
Once we hit the first main stop in downtown the train filled up very quickly so I gave up my seat since I was getting of in just a couple of stops. It seemed like it took forever for the train to live the station at 18th/Stout. Finally after sitting here for about six minutes or more we finally started to move. The next station stop at 16th/Stout was quick and then we arrived at the convention center station where I got off.
From the station I had a three block walk to the Denver Athletic Club where my dinner was being held. At least Denver blocks are not like Salt Lake City blocks as it only took me a few minutes.
Food At Last
My dinner for the Institute of Management Consultants went well, hopefully I made some good contacts but for the food we got, it was overpriced. After the meal we had an opportunity to get to know each other and learn what is happing in our chapter (called the Colorado Chapter but covers much of the Intermountain West). I was hoping it would end early enough that it was still light out and sure enough, we left just about 8:15am so I had no problem getting back to the Convention Center in daylight.
Heading Back to the Hotel
One thing I noticed on the walk back that I was too busy to notice walking the other way is that the convention center has a giant statue of a bear looking into the convention center. I thought that look cool and gave the building a very distinct look.
I got to the convention center station and only saw one other person in the area. I made sure to find a well lit area. The first train to come by was a “D” Line train but right behind it was my “F” train that would take me back to the motel. Once the train pulled in I boarded SD100 car 107.
I was hoping it would stay light out long enough for me to walk back to the motel from the light rail station (since bus service ends at 8:00PM) but because of heavy cloud cover to the west it was dark by 9:00PM.
I couldn’t decide which station I wanted to get off at whether it should be Arapahoe or Dry Creek. While Dry Creek would be a shorter walk there was nothing along the route and I was hoping to find a convenience store to buy some Pepsi and snacks for the next couple of days.
The train pulled into the Arapahoe Station so I decided to go ahead and get off. I figured the longer walk wouldn’t be that bad. I cross the freeway and ended up at the bus boarding area. I could take a bus to Arapahoe Street and see if I saw anything but it wouldn’t be here for another half hour. So I decided to go ahead and walk and hope I would find something.
Walk Back to the Hotel
The only problem was the most direct routes went into an office complex and I wasn’t sure where it headed so I had to go completely to the far end of the parking garage that was beyond the bus boarding area to get to the surface streets. The first street was Yosemite and I knew it cross the freeway so it would do me no good (actually I should have taken it as I would have found a convenience store.
So I walk to the next street which was up hill but didn’t bother me as I walk at least an hour a day. The only bad thing about this walk is that I am in my good shoes and suit. The next street would get me to my hotel so I started walking south toward Arapahoe. As I was walking I passed one of the nicest looking apartment buildings I have seen, but I would later find out it should be as it cost almost twice as much as we pay now in Salt Lake City.
It took about 15-minutes and I arrived at Arapahoe so I still beat the bus. The only problem was that there were no convenience stores that I could see. There was a Target, on one corner and nothing on the other corners then car dealerships down the block. I could have gone into Target but I was caring several items and didn’t want to walk around with them in the store.
I crossed Arapahoe and continued to walk towards the hotel. At one point I hit some construction were it appears they are putting in ADA sidewalk drops in front of Target. Since I saw no sidewalk going north I crossed the street here but that wasn’t the best idea. For about a half block I was forced into a traffic lane by the lack of sidewalk and a guard rail, fortunately only one car went by during this section.
The only other business I encountered was a Mexican restaurant but I decided not to head in there. It only took me a few more minutes to walk back to the hotel. However while walking the last block there was no sidewalks and I one point I hit a muddy area and my nice dress shoes when all the way into the mud.
I was glad to finally get back to the hotel. I used the back entrance and as I was heading to the elevator the night front counter person was cleaning and greeting me. She was a very cute slender brunette with a great personality. I then headed up to the room and called this long day over as I jumped into bed to get ready for my next day of adventure.
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