* For example, POITRA created and maintained the public information websites for the Southeast Corridor MIS (TREX), the North Metro Major Investment Study (MIS) and the US36 Corridor MIS beginning in 1998. The North Metro Corridor Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is part of the Regional Transportation District's (RTD) new FasTracks Project, which is advancing several corridors to the design phase.

North Metro Corridor on Yucca Way Photosimulations RTD FasTracks, Denver, Colorado The North Metro Corridor is one of several proposed transit corridors in the Denver Regional Transportation District's (RTD) FasTracks program that have been evaluated throughout the Metro area as Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). Most of the corridors originate in downtown Denver's Union Terminal (DUT) and radiate out to the suburbs. POITRA has provided several types of services on nearly all of these corridors at some point in their long histories.* The North Metro Corridor takes advantage of abandoned or little used frieght rail corridors that served Denver's northern suburbs. Because of the length of the line and possible interaction with commercial freight rail a heavy commuter rail concept was proposed. Both Electric Multiple Units (EMU) and Diesel Multiple Units (DMU) were evaluated. As part of the NEPA 4f evaluation some neighborhoods older than fifty years and in close proximity to the existing freight right-of-way and the proposed North Metro Corridor needed to be evaluated. One such location was on Yucca Way near 88th Avenue. The North Metro Corridor runs in the existing freight rail corridor just behind the residences

POITRA artists created custom 3D models of the DMU and EMU commuter vehicles. Potential RTD colors and marking combinations were developed uniquely for both by POITRA.

Photosimulations | Mouse-over images below to toggle: E 1 2 3 4 5 6		4. Photosimulation of Proposed Commuter Corridor: EMU Alternative corridor with eight foot sound walls featuring the EMU overhead catenary system and EMU Vehicles.

Photo-simulations proved to be the best medium for accurate evaluation and for confident presentation to public. Many factors would potentially affect this location. DMU and EMU vehicles have different height profiles; EMU have the additional hardware of a catenary system adding to the visual, DMU are louder and the noise source higher on the vehicle, which translates to taller sound barriers if barriers are required. A major visual factor was introduced by the existing landscaping along the backs of many of the residential properties. Deciduous trees at summer are tremendous view blocks but in winter they are not. Poitra Visual's illustrations of bridges, catenary systems, additional railroad track and sound walls reassured the public that this new transit service could be an attractive addition to their communities.” K.P., P.E. URS Corp North Metro Project Manager The simulation would need to reflect all of these variations including images with and without walls and with and without the POITRA model transit vehicles to show how the momentary presence of the vehicles affects the view impact. POITRA survey photographs were made with the trees devoid of leaves to illustrate the maximum view impact. From a standpoint of creating a high quality and accurate visual simulation this presented the most difficulty. All of our new corridor elements needed to be visible through masses of bare branches making preparation of the photograph very work intensive. POITRA artists prepared the base photograph to recieve the elements of the proposed corridor using traditional digital painting techniques. This included separating foreground elements such as the houses, trees and fences from the background material. POITRA created a 3D model that included EMU and DMU sized sound barriers, the EMU catenary system and both types of vehicles. The model was camera matched, lighted, rendered and composited with the base photograph in numerous different combinations to cover all the possible conditions. The finished simulations were used in meetings with Fastracks public stakeholders, on the project website, in newsletters and in the EIS document. « BACK

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