This issue contains updates on the Union Station project construction, plus reports of design meetings and decisions. There are also two corrections to the April 2010 News Summary provided by Tom Gougeon of Union Station Neighborhood Company. This News Summary starts with an invitation to a free event that USA is co-sponsoring.
On June 17th USA is co-hosting the event described on the image below with the American Society of Landscape Architects and the American Planning Association. This is an ideal time for USA members to learn more the social uses of public spaces and in particular about the proposed public spaces at DUS.
DUS Construction Update:
Construction is moving quickly at Denver Union Station as crews continue to excavate dirt on the site of the future underground regional bus facility. Crews also are continuing to remove old track from Wewatta St. Specific activities are listed below. To stay up to date with the latest construction information, become a subscriber to our e-updates. You can sign up by visiting the project website, www.denverunionstation.org. We appreciate your cooperation during these activities and apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.
April 26:
-The track removal operations continue moving south between 16th St. and 14th St./South Platte River.
April 27 to 30:
-Remove unused track, ties and turn-outs along Wewatta St. between 16th St. and 15th St.
-Removed materials will be relocated to the north side of 16th St. into the DUS construction area.
-Flaggers will direct loaders across 16th St. in coordination with RTD's mall bus traffic and pedestrians.
April 30 to May 3:
-Remove track, ties and turn-outs along Wewatta St. between 15th St. and 14th St/South Platte River.
-Removed materials relocated to the north side of 15th St.
-Flaggers will direct loaders across 15th St. in coordination with traffic light.
-Traffic on Wewatta St. will be shifted to the west.
-Pedestrians will be directed to use the sidewalk on the south side of Wewatta St.
-Driveway/alleyway access from Wewatta St. adjacent to 1400 Wewatta St. will be closed during the day. Access will be open at night and over the weekend.
Weeks of May 3 and May 10:
-Track removal and ITS installation in the intersection of Wewatta St. and 15th St.
-This activity will require lane reductions and shifts to accommodate the work.
DUS in the News:
Have you missed a recent news article or blog posting about the Denver Union Station project? Check out the weekly DUS News Digest by visiting the Media Center at www.denverunionstation.org.
DenverInfill following DUS Project:
DenverInfill.com, a website and blog dedicated to the promotion of Denver's continued growth and revitalization through infill development and other aspects of quality urbanism, is now following the Denver Union Station project. Rick Anstey is the newest DenverInfill contributing blogger and will be blogging about DUS from his Glass House residence overlooking the project. To read Rick's updates, visit www.denverinfill.com/blog/
Where can I get more information?
One of the best ways to get the latest information on the Denver Union Station redevelopment is to ensure we have your current email address. Our periodic e-updates will provide you with the latest information about the project. As full construction continues for the next four years, you will be able to stay on top of this exciting redevelopment project.
Website:
www.denverunionstation.org
Email:
info@denverunionstation.org
Phone:
Construction information: Hunter Sydnor, 303-209-9822
General information: Roger Sherman, 303-592-5465
DUS Construction Update
Construction activities on 15th St. and Wewatta St. will be ongoing for the next week. Crews will be removing unused track and installing communication fiber. Motorists and pedestrians traveling in this area should use caution and be aware of construction activity.
Saturday May 8, 2010 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
-Crews will be removing unused track
-There will be various lane restrictions
-Traffic patterns will be changing throughout the day
Tuesday May 11, 2010 - Friday, May 14, 2010 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. each day
-Crews will be installing communication fiber
-There will be various lane restrictions
-Traffic patterns will be changing throughout the week
Saturday, May 15, 2010 6 a.m. - 5 pm (if needed)
-Crews will asphalt pave the area affected areas
-There will be various lane restrictions
The retaining wall at the new light rail station will enable the light rail tracks to be raised several feet above the adjacent freight tracks of the Consolidated Main Line. The new light rail station will be built to the north of the retaining wall, and another retaining wall will be built further north of the light rail station, all of it in a line parallel to the freight tracks.
Since the last update, about half of the passenger train tracks behind the historic station have been removed and hauled away. For now, the tracks used by Amtrak’s California Zephyr remain in place. However, preparation work has started on new, temporary tracks near the building that will become Amtrak’s temporary passenger terminal, which is immediately north of the spot where Wewatta Street passes over 20th Street.
Note: For official construction notices, sign up to receive project updates and notifications at: www.denverunionstation.org and, in the lower right corner of the home page, enter your email address, then click on GO. You can also follow along with DUS construction updates, including photos, at the DenverInfill Blog (www.DenverInfill.com/blog/)
Two minor errors, submitted by Tom Gougeon, Principal and Chief Development Officer at Continuum Partners:
IMA will be occupying about 70,000 sq. ft. of space in the North Wing building initially, not 7,000. The North Wing building design is not 85% complete. I believe the reference was to the transit architecture and bus box elements being 85% complete. The North Wing is finishing schematic design at present, so is closer to 20-30% complete.
Thanks, Tom!
Discussion Items:
TIFIA/RRIF Progress Report - the following items are remaining to finalize the loans and they are almost done:
a. FTA Compliance Agreement
b. Budget and Draw Schedule
c. Finalize the Rating
d. Legal Opinions
e. Supplemental Indentures for each loan
f. Sample Invoice and Draw Approval
Finance Committee Report -
a. There is a DRCOG grant in the amount of $2.5 million that was slated to be available in 2012. It’s now possible that DRGOC would consider the grant for Fall of 2010. A letter needs to be sent from the DUSPA board by May 12th agreeing to spend this money. Officially the money is available from DRCOG for improvements to facilities that relate to the North I-25 Bus/HOV lanes. The bus box at DUS certainly can fit into this category.
b. The agreement with the financial consultant was amended to reflect some additional costs and approved by the DUSPA board.
Owner Rep Report-
a. Construction Progress – excavation of the bus box continues. The tail track removal has begun. The Amtrak station relocation has begun.
b. Plans/Approvals - The recent Landmark Commission meeting went well and the next step is Planning Board on May 5th. The items remaining to be addressed include the 18th Street bridge, the DUS canopy and the final plaza plans.
c. The final project budget was presented and approved by the DUSPA Board. The final total project budget is $481 million. This final version includes moving $8.7 million from the unallocated contingency category to change orders. This leaves $10 million in the unallocated contingency category. This is only 2% of total budget, but since the plans are significantly completed there is less risk of cost overruns.
d. A first draw that will cover costs through end of March is being prepared so it can be submitted at loan closing.
At the joint Planning Board and LPC meeting on May 5, 2010, two issues were discussed:
-The canopy between the historic building and the train hall, which was approved with the latitude of up to a 2’ encroachment into the 17th Street view plane.
-The two staircases and the pedestrian bridge between the north side of the Wynkoop Plaza and Wewatta St. This later issue was approved WITH CONDITIONS by the LPC (for the Wynkoop Plaza staircase), but the bridge and the Wewatta staircase approval by the Planning Board was deferred to the May 19th meeting (which will also consider the exhaust vents at the LRT).
The staircase from the pedestrian bridge to the Wynkoop Plaza is to be an integral component of the North Wing Building. It was stated that the staircase and the pedestrian bridge colors would be compatible with this building.
There are several considerations related to the design of the pedestrian bridge and the Wewatta staircase that require additional attention. Kristopher Takacs of SOM will respond to them at the May 19 Planning Board meeting. Two of the major considerations are the use of steel mesh for the primary fence material that spans the pedestrian bridge over the tracks and the very utilitarian (industrial) design of the Wewatta staircase. Other considerations include:
-The concrete paving on the bridge itself (not yet selected)
-Incorporation of the transit architecture vocabulary
-The transition between the staircases and the bridge
-Treatment of the west-end stairs and elevator
-Visual relief on the pedestrian bridge
-Integration of the bridge supports within the CRT platform
-The design shows a chiller attached to the west-end stairs that was questioned
Of interest was the possibility that a “kinetic plaza” could be added back in the future if desired and funded.
The Planning Board met to discuss open issues related to the Pedestrian Bridge from Wynkoop Plaza to Wewatta held over from the May 5th meeting. Considerations of these issues remained under review, so it was decided that these issues will not be addressed until the June 17, 2010 meeting.
The Planning Board did approve Urban Design package #2 which covered design issues from Wewatta Street to Denver Union Station including the Wewatta St. Pavilion, the CRT Train Hall, and the CRT platforms, vertical circulation and canopies.
As of May 26, 2010, l
In the photo above, you can see the conveyor system, the bulldozer and the excavator hard at work. Most of the hole has reached its ultimate depth. You can also see that “sheet pile” has been driven vertically into the ground in the bottom of the hole, forming two boxes. The insides of the boxes will be dug out. The sheet pile will hold back dirt and ground water so that utilities can be installed in an area under the floor of what will become RTD’s bus terminal.
You may wonder how the bulldozer operator knows when to stop digging. It’s easy. Kiewit uses GPS technology to pin-point the exact location of the dozer with sensors mounted on the blade. The operator knows the precise depth of the hole at all times.
In early May, renovation of Amtrak’s temporary terminal began at a small white building located at the intersection of Wewatta and 21st streets. DRG Construction, which is a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, is doing the work. Kiewit Construction has also started work on the temporary tracks for Amtrak’s California Zephyr across Wewatta from the temporary terminal. The terminal and the tracks are expected to be operational in the fall of 2010. At that time, Amtrak will move out of Union Station for the next 3-4 years.
Please remember, you can get updates on the project multiple times a week at http://denverinfill.com/blog/
For those of you that joined Union Station Advocates in late 2008 or early 2009, it is now time to renew your membership! Your continued support is much appreciated. Please keep an eye out for an email concerning your membership renewal or you can go to the USA membership webpage and renew today: http://www.unionstationadvocates.org/membership.html
Thank you for your continued support!
The Roundtables continue to be an effective and engaging meeting allowing our members to have informal discussions on important issues of the Union Station project. Led by
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