RTD Board Approves Updated FasTracks Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMedia ContactPauletta TonilasFasTracks Public Information Manager303.299.2469 (office)303.250.4846 (mobile)Pauletta.Tonilas@rtd-denver.comRTD Board Approves 2012 FasTracks Financial Plan andVotes for Phased Rail and Bus Rapid Transit forNorthwest Service AreaDENVER, March 27, 2012—The Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors tonightvoted unanimously to approve the 2012 FasTracks Financial Plan as well as the staff’srecommended “hybrid option” for the Northwest Corridor, which would build rail and bus rapidtransit (BRT) in the Northwest service area in a phased timeframe. The vote was 14 – 0, withBoard Member Larry Hoy not in attendance.Each year, RTD updates its FasTracks financial plan, including sales and use tax forecasts,construction inflation assumptions, operations and maintenance (O&M) costs and capital costs.This year, the capital cost for the FasTracks program has increased from $6.8 billion in 2011 to$7.4 billion in year-of-expenditure dollars (YOE) by opening day (2022). This includes buildingNorthwest Rail to Church Ranch and bus rapid transit (BRT) in the northwest area, but doesn’tinclude building rail from Church Ranch to Longmont. That final cost will be determinedfollowing future negotiations. Both the cost and schedule assume a successful 0.4 percent salesand use tax election in November 2012.Most of the remaining FasTracks program is scheduled for completion by 2020, including the I-225 Line, North Metro Line, U.S. 36 BRT, Northwest BRT, and the Southeast, Southwest, andCentral light rail line extensions. The Northwest Rail to Church Ranch in Westminster will becompleted by 2020-2022. Northwest Rail from Church Ranch to Longmont is projected to becompleted in the 2026-2032 timeframe, as funding for construction and service becomesavailable from the existing FasTracks 0.4 percent sales and use tax approved by voters in 2004.RTD Board Chair Lee Kemp said, “This strategy keeps us on track with our commitment toimplement the whole FasTracks vision through a fiscally responsible approach. It allows us tomeet the more immediate transit needs in the northwest area through bus rapid transit, while

making the ultimate long-term investment in Northwest Rail as our cash flow allows and astransit needs grow.”The Board also approved RTD’s Annual FasTracks Report to the Denver Regional Council ofGovernments (DRCOG). DRCOG will now review the report, which includes the 2012FasTracks Financial Plan. Approval is expected in June.Hybrid Option for Northwest Rail LineOn March 5, RTD staff recommended a hybrid option for the Northwest service area to the RTDBoard. The hybrid option keeps the Northwest Rail Line to Longmont in the FasTracks plan andadds BRT service in the near-term to address immediate transit needs. Commuter rail will bephased in incrementally while RTD also implements a BRT system. In this option, the NorthwestRail Line would be extended another six miles from south Westminster to Church Ranch Blvd.,also in Westminster, by 2020-2022 while the BRT system would be provided by 2020. The firstsegment of the Northwest Rail Line from Denver Union Station to south Westminster (71 st Ave.and Lowell Blvd.) is already funded as part of the Eagle P3 project. This first segment is 6.2miles and scheduled for completion in 2016. Eagle P3 is also building the East Rail Line toDenver International Airport and the Gold Line to Arvada and Wheat Ridge. Between the twosegments, RTD would complete 12 of the 41 miles of Northwest Rail by 2022, which is 30percent of the rail line.With the hybrid option, none of the other FasTracks projects would be affected or delayed. It is,however, dependent on a successful 0.4 percent sales tax election. The RTD Board has notmade a formal decision on whether to pursue an election this year.Last week, a majority of the RTD Board FasTracks Monitoring Committee endorsed the hybridoption on a 13-2 vote which moved the plan to tonight’s full Board meeting.RTD’s FasTracks transit expansion program will build 122 miles of commuter rail and light rail,18 miles of bus rapid transit service, add 21,000 new parking spaces, redevelop Denver UnionStation and redirect bus service to better connect the eight-county District.# # #Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RideRTDBecome a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RideRTD