After nearly three years of delay, RTD hosted the opening ceremony for the G-Line this past Friday at the new Wheat Ridge & Ward Station located at the intersection of 50th and Ward in Wheat Ridge, Colo. This is the latest expansion of the rail network managed by RTD, the transit authority for the Denver metro area. The ceremony featured local leaders from across the political spectrum and from all along the tracks.

The grand opening was celebrated as the beginning of a transformative period for the communities along the line that runs from Union Station in Downtown Denver to the suburbs of Arvada and Wheat Ridge. Celebrations and festivities happened at each of the seven new stations where RTD officials touted the 27-minute commute time from one end of the line to the other, the speed and capacity of the heavy commuter rail cars and the 2300 additional parking spaces at park-and-rides along the tracks.

Olde Town Arvada, the historic town center of the Denver suburb, was particularly vibrant as shopkeepers tried to attract new customers from the rail line that now runs into the center of the business district.

The opening of the G-line, while lauded as a massive accomplishment, has not been without difficulty and hardship. In fact, a ride on the G-line on Friday saw passengers take home foam model train cars upon which yellow lettering reads “G-line Grand Opening – 2016,” a festive giveaway that served as an ironic reminder that the project opened three years after officials promised service.

In addition, passengers looking out the windows of the commuter cars saw crossing guards along the streets crisscrossing the tracks despite guard rails that lower and lights that flash to warn drivers of the oncoming train. These workers are required by the federal government, who has the power to regulate heavy rail cars and remains unconvinced of the safety of the new guard rails.

Rides along the G-line are billed with a local fare, meaning commuters will be able to skip out on I-70 traffic and enjoy a speedy 27-minute commute for only $3, hopefully providing a convenient alternative to commuting by car. It is fitting for the G-Line to end at Union Station whose iconic neon sign shares a hopeful message with RTD, encouraging commuters to “Travel by Train.”