FasTracks is RTD's 12-year plan to build and run high-speed rail lines as well as expand and improve bus service and park-n-Rides throughout the metro Denver area.
With the Denver region currently serving as home to 2.5 million people and another 1 million expected to move to the metro area by 2030, improvements in transportation are critical to maintaining the quality of life that attracts so many to this area. In the past 10 years alone, RTD ridership has increased more than 28 percent.
Commuters throughout the Denver region have embraced transit and voted a few years ago for a $4.7 billion investment to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to provide for our projected growth and future needs.
FasTracks includes:
- 122 miles of new light rail and commuter rail
- 18 miles of bus rapid transit service
- 57 new transit stations
- 21,213 additional parking spaces at transit park-n-Rides
- Enhanced bus service and FastConnects throughout the region
However, the Rocky Mountain News most recently reported there is no way RTD FasTracks can be finished on time, and on budget. RTD general manager Cal Marsella says "no one could have predicted" that rising steel, concrete and energy prices would drive up the cost of FasTracks from the promised $4.7 billion to the current estimate of $7.9 billion. Marsella now says RTD has three choices: scale back construction, delay completion of FasTracks until as late as 2034, or raise taxes again. But there is a fourth choice: cancel FasTracks. A series of public meetings are being held to get the public's input on the options that are on the table.
Until next time,
Bob Bandy
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