The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has approved the removal of all crossing attendants, or flaggers, for all of the Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) 16 at-grade crossings along the G Line, which travels from Denver Union Station through Adams County, Arvada and Wheat Ridge.
The flagger removal reflects the final approval by the FRA and Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that the G Line’s wireless crossing-gate technology is acceptable and effective.
Denver Transit Partners (DTP), which operates the rail line for RTD, will start removing the flaggers in a phased approach as early as July 22. A date for this process to begin will be determined once RTD receives formal written approval from the FRA. While flaggers will no longer be stationed at each crossing on a routine basis, RTD and DTP may reinstate them as an added safety measure as conditions require.
“This is another significant milestone for the G Line and the Eagle project,” RTD General Manager and CEO Dave Genova said. “Now that the flaggers will no longer be stationed at the grade crossings, we ask everyone to be our partners in safety.”
RTD and DTP urge all pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers to be aware of and obey all signs and safety alert devices at every at-grade railroad crossing. Warning devices such as gates, flashers and signage are in place for the public’s protection, and it is dangerous and illegal to disobey or disregard these warning devices.
“People should always look both ways before entering a grade crossing and be aware that a train could arrive on any track from any direction at any time,” DTP Project Director John Thompson said. “We can’t emphasize enough that there are dire consequences if people try to beat a train or are distracted while walking through a crossing. Please be safe around our trains.”
