Whenever the Northwest Rail (B Line) in Denver is mentioned, it only brings frustrating news. The RTD's Northwest Rail project, which voters agreed to fund with tax increases back in 2004, has only completed one-seventh of its plan and is now stalled.

The original plan was for a 41-mile commuter rail line starting from Denver Union Station and extending through Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder, and Longmont. The ambitious plan that promised to solve the northwest traffic issues has now only resulted in the first 6 miles being opened, and that only to Westminster.

That section, which finally opened on July 25, 2016, has only four stations: Denver Union Station, 41st·Fox, Pecos Junction, and Westminster 72nd. Moreover, it operates on a single track with electric rail (25kV AC), making future extensions complicated as negotiations with the existing freight train BNSF railroad are necessary. The budget has already exceeded hundreds of millions of dollars, and no one knows how much more will be needed.

Operations are also problematic. Although it runs from 6 AM to 11 PM daily, having only one train per hour is hardly public transportation.

One train per hour? Is that sufficient for commuting? Perhaps that's why the number of passengers is low, and only short two-car trains are in service.

At this point, the term 'a line that is better off not existing' seems fitting. The area around Westminster Station is quite pathetic. Bus transfers are inconvenient, and the promised transit-oriented development (TOD) is just a pipe dream. The plans for apartments and commercial spaces to bring vibrancy have effectively stalled, leaving only a parking lot.

People have now given up. Instead of waiting an hour, they drive a few miles south to the G Line. There, the service frequency is double and much better. So who would use the B Line? RTD has now proposed a 'peak time service' with three trains in the morning and three in the evening to Longmont, but that has nothing to do with completing the entire line; it's merely a temporary fix.

Ultimately, this project started with grand ambitions but is now half-abandoned, hindering transportation in Denver's northwest region. Residents have paid taxes, time has passed, and all that has returned is a half-completed 6-mile rail line. It's time for RTD to show real commitment instead of making excuses about budgets and track sharing.

Otherwise, Northwest Rail will remain not as 'the future of Denver's transportation network' but as 'a case of administrative failure in Denver.'