We will be staying at the Drury Inn, at the DTC. We would like to go into downtown Denver for 'Taste of Colorado' and seeing the area. How does the light rail system work? Would it be easier to drive my car, or use this sytem? I am from Southern Calif. and unfortunately we have no decent public transportation, so this is new to me!

Elaien

If you have the choice, you'd absolutely want to take the Light Rail instead of driving and parking downtown.

www.rtd-denver.com is the website; click Light Rail on the left for complete information on routes and fares.

Your hotel is nearest to the Dry Creek Station, which is in Zone C, a $3.00 fare one way to downtown. There are ticket machines near the station entrances - be sure to insert the ticket in the validation machine after purchasing it. You may be asked by a conductor to see your ticket during your commute, but that happens rarely - it's kind of the honor system here.

You can take either line F or H into downtown to the stop at the Denver Convention Center, then it's a short walk to the right up 14th St. to Civic Center Park.

I think you'll find Light Rail to be clean, safe and convenient and great alternative to driving.

The Light Rail (RTD) is the ONLY way to go especially for the Taste. Some adjustments to tekwriter's comments. When you look south across the street from the Drury you will see the NW corner of the RTD parking garage. The station is on the SE corner of the garage. You will need to cross at the stop light west of the Drury and walk aruond the west and south side of the office building on the corner. The station is elevated.

The tickets from the ticket machine do not need to be validated. There are posted time schedules on the platform that are easy to read.

ONLY the F and E lines run to downtown Denver from Dry Creek. F does to the center of downtown and E goes to Union Station. It is about a 45 min run to downtown.

F is your better choice. I would get off at 16th/Stout the next stop AFTER the Convention Center. The will put you on the 16th St pedestrian mall and catch a free shuttle bus to the south end at the turn around. Walk one block south and your are there. For your return trip the reverse except you get the train at 16th and California (Walgreens) You cannot miss it.

We don't have regular conductors on the trains. The security guards check tickets on a random basis but fairly frequently.

Finally, the is a daily pass for $5.25. Go to http://www.rtd-denver.com/FaresAndPa...htrail_service. You may not have time to order it. That pass does have to be validated. The validation is a time stamp and will be near the ticket machine.

King Soopers (grocery store) customer service sell a ten discount ticket packet if enough in your party to use ten tickets. One ticket per trip and need to be validated.

I thnk there is an RTD booth in the transportation area of the airport and you may be able to buy the daily pass there. Working off of vague memory for this one.

If by chance you take the E line and go to Union Station you just take the free 16th st mall shuttle bus south to the other end. Union station is the north end turn around of the 16th St Mall.

AND if on the wrong train coming home, the Broadway station is the hub of the system and all trains pass through Broadway. You can get off and catch the correct time there.

The line to/from Dry Creek is called the SouthEast Line and the end station going south is Lincoln and 18th and California going north.

Good luck it is easy to use.

Seremarcus,
Yes, the light rail is the best way to get to downtown.
Two things: 1. There are some discounts for students, seniors and children. Check the website or ticket machine for those. 2. Remember, DNC is in downtown this week (Mon-Thurs). Since the Taste starts on Friday, hopefully the DNC crowds will mostly be gone by then. But just wanted to make you aware of the possibility. With that said, the Taste is a wonderful event. And the rail is easy and efficient -- I use it each day for my commute. Have fun in Denver.

Seremarcus, Also, be aware that the rail runs a different schedule during the week than on weekends. Just check the website. Probably not a big deal -- but just wanted you to know. Happy travels.

Just got back from Denver. LOVED the light rail system! How convenient and easy it was to use. Sure wish we had something like that here in CA. Thanks for all the help, I would have avoided using it if not for your help here.

Taste of colorado was great fun!

Elaine