LOOK: Civic Center Station is almost ready for the masses

The facility is a hub for 18 routes and is expected to handle 15,000 passengers every day.
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Civic Center Station is almost ready to open, Dec. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) denver; colorado; denverite; kevinjbeaty; transportation; rtd; buses; civic center station;

Inside Civic Center Station, which is almost ready to open, Dec. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

After more than a year of work (and some slight detours for city bus routes), Civic Center Station is ready to reopen to the public.

The new facility boasts some sleek new outdoor shelters that officials say are meant to mimic the iconic coverings at Union Station. The terminal's new sign at Broadway and 16th Avenue is visible all the way down the 16th Street Mall, similar to the Union Station sign's presence above 17th Street. Downtown Denver's two central corridors are now bookended by transportation signs.

A free Mallride bus lined up outside the new terminal. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

On a media tour this morning, officials said the facility will allow for seven free Mallride buses (an increase from the previous five), which will help maintain consistency of service all day along the 16th Street Mall. In total, the facility is a hub for 18 routes and is expected to handle 15,000 passengers every day. The construction budget was $28 million.

As noted by Streetsblog, the station doesn't yet reach its full potential. Bike racks won't be installed until next year, and real-time arrival information doesn't make it from buses to screens in the terminal.

The station officially opens for business on Sunday, Dec. 17.

A free mallride approaches Civic Center Station. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
See that camera? There are 120 of them around the plaza, an attempt to preempt wicked Colfax's encroachment into the new facility. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Inside the new Civic Center Station. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Inside the new Civic Center Station. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
The 16th Street Mall seen from Civic Center Station. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Free Mallrides circle in a never-ending loop outside. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
The terminal also offered an interesting angle of morning light gleaming through the Capitol. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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