Transit Museum/Car House
The Future – The Capital Expansion Plan
The Denver Transit Museum — The Facility
The building would feature turn of the century architecture inspired by structures used by trolley operations in the past. The Capital Improvement Project would feature:
- A facility to allow a regular maintenance program for all of the equipment
- A viewing area to see trolley maintenance activity
- A museum that depicts the history of Denver's transit history including photographs, educational narratives, interpretive exhibits, artifacts and an operating model trolley railroad
- A West Denver History museum display area dedicated to the preservation and display of West Denver multi-cultural history and artifacts
- Space to store, protect, maintain and exhibit the equipment noted in the following pages. The collection of historic trolley equipment would include the addition of RTD's vintage 1958 GM bus and their historic Brill electric trolley bus for display and interpretation.
- Operation of the historic GM diesel bus. It would become an interactive part of the museum that would include historic tours and public outreach from the museum. School children could be transported from Denver Public Schools and metro area communities to the museum aboard the bus.
- A Youth Education program
- A Caboose Park - A Santa Fe Railroad caboose (currently at Confluence Park) would be incorporated into a grassed picnic area next to the museum. Students, teachers, and chaperones could use this area for lunch and lecture during their visits to the operation as part of the Youth Education Program.
- Several small offices available for rent by local non-profits. Reasonable rent would not only benefit these organizations but provides a source of income to help maintain the building and increase activity at the facility.
- A community meeting room for use by local non-profits and neighborhood organizations as well as for trolley related functions
- Gift shop and ticket office staffed in part by local youth during times when school is not in session
- Trolley organization office
- A secure room for organization archives, valuables and a library
- Maintenance shop
- Appropriate facilities for our volunteers. This would include a lounge with a small kitchen counter, restrooms, lockers and room for training classes.
- A covered loading platform for trolley and bus passengers
- Improvements to trolley stops that will complement the sharp image of the rest of the operation and enhance the Greenway environment
- Installation of a wire on vintage, decorative poles to operate the equipment electrically, as it was originally designed for. This will provide a quiet and totally environmentally friendly ride with electricity provided from Excel Energy's Windsource program. It will also permit easier maintenance of the trolleys.
- An interactive, educational program about Denver's public transit history
- Year-round fun and affordable family entertainment
- A place for people of all ages and most physical abilities to experience the city parks and Platte River Greenway when walking or biking is not an option
- A great attraction to draw visiting tourists
- Environmentally friendly entertainment
- Youth Education program to hire local youth in the summer for museum guides, trolley conductors, and ticket sales
- Historic preservation of vintage, public transportation equipment
- Connections with six city parks by vintage transit
- Improvements to the neighborhood
- Complements and enhances the economic redevelopment of West Denver and the Transit Oriented Development near the Federal Blvd. light rail station
- A unique Denver attraction which will enhance the experience of visiting tourists and local residents
- An attraction for new and long time residents of the Central Platte Valley area
- Provides a meeting space and affordable office space for local non-profits
- Provides a connection with RTD's West Corridor Light Rail line for visitors from the west metro area. They could visit the South Platte River area attractions without using their automobiles by transferring to the Platte Valley Trolley at the Federal Blvd. station.
- Provides an investment in the neighborhood that will benefit future generations
Next: Plan Map