RTD FasTracks hosts meeting on Northwest Line February 22 at Omni Interlocken Resort | Transportation

WHAT:            As the Regional Transportation District (RTD) considers the most effective way to provide transit service to the metro area’s northwest communities, the public is invited to hear national subject matter experts in commuter rail transit (CRT) and bus rapid transit (BRT) explain the characteristics of how either one of these transit modes could operate in the northwest area.

Given significant cost increases associated with building and operating commuter rail in the Northwest corridor, from Denver Union Station to Longmont, RTD is analyzing whether to continue forward with the Northwest Rail Line or shift the remaining project funds to implement a BRT system. The cost of the Northwest Rail Line project has increased from $894.6 million to $1.7 billion following recent information from the BNSF Railway, which would allow RTD to operate on BNSF’s tracks after several improvements are made to the freight corridor.

Following the presentations, question sheets from the audience will be collected and answered by the expert panel. In addition, RTD is accepting input on the Northwest transit options through March 1 at www.rtd-fastracks.com. 

Also, anyone may watch the meeting live through a video stream at www.rtd-denver.com.

Presenters

• Meeting Facilitator: Jonathan Bartsch, CDR Associates, Boulder
• CRT Subject Matter Expert: Martin Young, Sound Transit, Seattle
• BRT Subject Matter Expert: Annie Weinstock, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, New York City

WHEN:            6 p.m., February 22, 2012. Doors open at 5 p.m.

WHERE:         Omni Interlocken Resort, 500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield.

Free shuttles leave every 15 minutes between 5 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. from the U.S. 36 Church Ranch Blvd. Park-n-Ride to the Omni Resort. Shuttles will begin returning to the Park-n-Ride at 7:30 p.m. with the last shuttle leaving 15 minutes after the meeting ends.

BACKGROUND

Three options for the Northwest Line currently being considered by the RTD Board of Directors:

1.    Continue with the Northwest Rail Line as part of the FasTracks package, with a projected completion date of 2024.

2.    Continue with the Northwest Rail Line with a projected completion date of 2024, but accelerate select capital projects and interim bus service for the Northwest Rail and U.S. 36 bus rapid transit corridor service areas.

3.    Remove the Northwest Rail Line from the FasTracks plan and commit remaining project funds—capped at $894.6 million—for expanded/enhanced bus rapid transit in the Northwest corridor area.

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 Union Station and redirect bus service to better connect the eight-county District.

Press Release