Work on a $1 billion light rail line that will serve travelers and employees of Denver International Airport officially got underway last week.
Aurora mayor Ed Tauer helped break ground Aug. 26 for the East Corridor commuter rail line, a 23-mile corridor running from downtown Denver through Aurora to DIA. The line is the largest in the FasTracks rail expansion, which is being funded by a sales tax increase passed by metro area voters in 2004.
Due to budget constraints, RTD formed a partnership with a private contractor, Denver Transit Partners, to build the East Corridor Line. It’s expected to open in 2016, according to RTD officials.
“The start of work on this ambitious design-build project represents one giant step in fulfilling the RTD board’s unwavering commitment to completing the entire FasTracks network,” said RTD board chair Lee Kemp. “This is one major step forward in getting all of these corridors built.”
The East Corridor is part of the so-called FasTracks Eagle P3 project, which includes work on two other corridors in the light rail project. Once the entire Eagle P3 project is underway, it’s expected to create up to 5,000 jobs per year.
RTD officials also announced they’re creating a workforce development program to help train future workers to help build out the corridor.
The Regional Workforce Initiative Now, or WIN, is a program that will identify and train individuals to become skilled workers, utilize workers who are already trained but who are looking for work, help them find jobs, maintain jobs long-term and ultimately, create a more diverse workforce, said RTD general manager Phil Washington.
http://denver.yourhub.com/Aurora/Stories/YourHub-Staff-Stories/Story~861976.aspx
Joey Kirchmer: 303-954-2650 or kirchmerj@yourhub.com
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