That approval ends the Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)process, and begins the next phase of the project: final design and construction.

The 11.2-mile-long Gold Line is proposed to run along the BNSF/Union Pacific railroad route from Denver Union Station to Ward Road in Wheat Ridge, passing through northwest Denver, Adams County and Arvada along the way. The line has seven stations, located at 41st Avenue, Pecos, Federal, Sheridan, Olde Town, Arvada Ridge and Ward Road.

RTD will work with a private partner to complete the final design, construction operation and maintenance of the Gold Line. This private partner will also provide some of the financing for the $590.5 million project.

The Gold Line is still on schedule to open to the public in 2016.

"We are thrilled to reach this milestone," said Liz Telford, RTD project manager for the Gold Line EIS. "This is great news for both RTD and the community, and it marks a very important step in making the Gold Line a reality."

Read more about the Gold Line Project. Construction on the West corridor project is already under way. The West Corridor will be a 12.1-mile light rail transit corridor between the Denver Union Station in downtown Denver and the Jefferson County Government Center in Golden, serving Denver, Lakewood, the Denver Federal Center, Golden and Jeffco.