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FasTracks is a twelve-year, $6. 2 billion (originally $4. 7 billion) public transportation expansion plan for the Denver-Aurora and Boulder metropolitan areas in Colorado, USA, developed by the Regional Transportation District. The Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA in the State of Colorado Boulder is a Home Rule Municipality that is the County seat and most populous city of Boulder County, Colorado, in the United States The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Regional Transportation District, or RTD was organized in 1969 and is the regional authority operating public transit services in eight of the twelve counties in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder The plan calls for six light rail, diesel commuter rail, and electric commuter rail lines with a combined length of 119 miles (192 km) to be opened between 2013 and 2016 to help relieve traffic congestion on the region's roads and highways. For specific light rail systems many of which use the words "light rail" as part of their name see List of light-rail transit systems. Diesel or Diesel fuel (ˈdiːzəl in general is any Fuel used in Diesel engines The most common is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand 2013 ( MMXIII) will be a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. 2016 ( MMXVI) will be a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. It expands on previous transportation projects, notably T-REX. The Transportation Expansion Project or T-REX was a $167 billion venture that had a goal of transforming the way people in the metro Denver area commute within the areas of The plan also includes the expansion of existing light rail stations, the addition of a bus-based rapid transit route between Denver and Boulder, and the addition and expansion of bus routes and parking facilities to support the new rail lines. The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States

Contents

Location

The new commuter and light rail lines will share a hub at Denver's Union Station. Union Station is Denver Colorado, USA 's historic train station at 17th and Wynkoop in the LoDo It will undergo $200 million worth of facility improvements as part of FasTracks. Endpoints of the radial rail lines are planned for Longmont, Thornton, Denver International Airport, Lone Tree, Littleton, Golden, and Arvada. Longmont is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder and Weld counties in the U The City of Thornton is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area, and a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County Denver International Airport, often called DIA, is by land size at, the largest international Airport in the United States, and the second largest Lone Tree is a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The City of Littleton is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area and a Home Rule Municipality in Arapahoe County, Jefferson The historic City of Golden is a Home Rule Municipality that is the County seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The City of Arvada (arˈvaˈda is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area and a Home Rule Municipality in Jefferson County and FasTracks will include stops near the University of Colorado at Boulder and a connector line through Aurora. The University of Colorado at Boulder ( CU-Boulder, UCB officially Colorado and CU colloquially is the Flagship University The City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality that is the third most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 59th most populous city

Line details

West Corridor (light rail)

This will be a new light rail line of 12. 1 miles that will follow a former Associated Railroad right-of-way. The line's Final Environmental Impact Statement has been completed and it has entered its Final Design phase. The cost to build the line is estimated to be $635 million. Twelve stations will be located on the line. There will be an additional 5,054 parking spaces for transit added along the route. The line is scheduled to open in 2013.

In May 2007 it was announced that the line from the Federal Center to JeffCo Government Center will be reduced to a single track to help cut costs. According to RTD, this change will reduce train headways from 5 minutes to 15 minutes and make it easier for the line to run in the median of U. S. 6. [1] Preliminary work on the line began on May 16, 2007 at 13th & Quail in Lakewood. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The City of Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States A "rail pulling" ceremony was held with Lakewood and RTD representatives in attendance. The Regional Transportation District, or RTD was organized in 1969 and is the regional authority operating public transit services in eight of the twelve counties in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder [2]

Northwest Rail Corridor (commuter rail)

The Northwest Rail Corridor will be a commuter rail project between Denver, Boulder, and Longmont. Boulder is a Home Rule Municipality that is the County seat and most populous city of Boulder County, Colorado, in the United States Longmont is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder and Weld counties in the U The proposed 41-mile line would have seven stations on a route that would follow an existing railroad right-of-way. It is expected to open in 2014 at a cost of $684. 4 million.

US 36 Corridor (bus rapid transit)

This will be an 18-mile long express bus line running along US 36 between Denver and Boulder. US Route 36 is an east-west United States highway that runs for 1414 miles (2276 km from Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado to Uhrichsville Six stations are planned along this route, and is expected to cost $235. 6 million to build. The project will be completed in two phases, with the first phase to be completed by 2008 and the second by 2016.

East Corridor (commuter rail)

Another commuter rail line that is expected to open in 2014 is the East Corridor, a 23. 2014 ( MMXIV) will be a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. 6-mile line between downtown Denver, Aurora, and Denver International Airport. The City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality that is the third most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 59th most populous city Denver International Airport, often called DIA, is by land size at, the largest international Airport in the United States, and the second largest It is estimated to cost $1. 14 billion to build. To expedite travel time between downtown Denver and Denver International Airport, only six stations will be located on the line, namely DIA, Airport Blvd/40th Ave, Peoria/Smith, Stapleton, 40th/40th, and Union Station. Denver International Airport, often called DIA, is by land size at, the largest international Airport in the United States, and the second largest

On July 24, 2007, the RTD board chose EMU commuter trains as the mode of rail transportation that will be used on the East Corridor. Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. An electric multiple unit or EMU is a Multiple unit train consisting of many carriages using Electricity as the motive power RTD also announced that the East Corridor had been designated a Public Private Partnership or Penta-P by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The United States Department of Transportation ( DOT) is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with Transportation Under this program, a private entity would finance, design, build and possibly maintain and operate the rail line. This program is designed to reduce the costs of rail line construction and operation. [3]

North Metro Corridor (commuter rail)

The North Metro Corridor is a commuter rail that is planned to run along an existing railroad right-of-way from Denver to 160th Avenue in Thornton. The City of Thornton is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area, and a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County The will have eight stations on its 28-mile (28. 8km) route. Plans call for the North Metro Corridor line to open in 2015 at estimated construction cost of $637. 2 million.

I-225 Corridor (light rail)

Facilitating a circumferential link between the Southeast Corridor and the East Corridor is the I-225 Corridor, a new 10. 5-mile (16. 8-km) light rail line running through Aurora. The City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality that is the third most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 59th most populous city The project will include seven new stations and provide 1,800 new parking spaces. This line will open in 2015 and is estimated to cost $619. 6 million.

Gold Line (commuter rail)

The Gold Line is an 11. 2-mile rail line between Denver and Arvada, which would have seven stations and provide 2,050 new parking spaces. The City of Arvada (arˈvaˈda is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area and a Home Rule Municipality in Jefferson County and It is expected to open in 2015 and cost $552. 5 million to build. Budget concerns have sparked debate over alternatives to light rail on the planned Gold Line. Two alternatives proposed include electric trains on the railroad alignment and the modern streetcar on the 38th and Harlan alignment.

As with the East Corridor, the RTD Board of Directors chose Electric Multi Unit (EMU) commuter trains to run on the Gold Line; this line has also been designated a Public Private Partnership (Penta-P). [3]

Extensions (light rail)

Extensions to light rail lines that have already been completed are planned. Extensions approved by the FasTracks plan include a 2. 5-mile extension to the Southwest Corridor, extending the line to the southwest corner of Lucent Boulevard and C-470; a 2. 3-mile extension to the Southeast Corridor into Lone Tree; and a 0. Lone Tree is a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. 8-mile extension to the Central Corridor to connect the 30th & Downing station with the East Corridor commuter rail line at the intersection of 40th & 40th. 30th/Downing is a station on RTD 's Light rail system It is the current northern terminus for Five Points trains

Progress

FasTracks is being funded with federal appropriations, private contributions, and a region-wide sales tax increase. A sales tax is a Consumption tax charged at the Point of purchase for certain goods and services The project was allowed to begin when the sales tax portion of its funding was approved by Denver metro area voters in November 2004. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The tax went into effect in January 2005. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

In 2006, engineering design of the initial segment was begun. The West Corridor line's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has already been completed. An ( EIA) is an assessment of the possible impact&ndashpositive or negative&ndashthat a proposed project may have on the Natural environment.

By spring of 2006, the EISs of all other proposed lines were underway. The municipal governments of Denver, Boulder and Lakewood had launched detailed studies of community redevelopment possibilities around station locations. The City of Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States The cities of Westminster, Thornton, Aurora, Greenwood Village, Englewood, Sheridan, and Arvada are also planning transit oriented development areas around some of their proposed rail stations. The City of Westminster is a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County and Jefferson County of the State of Colorado The City of Thornton is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area, and a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County The City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality that is the third most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 59th most populous city The City of Greenwood Village is a prominent suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area and a Home Rule Municipality located in Arapahoe County The City of Englewood is a Home Rule Municipality located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. Sheridan is a Home Rule Municipality in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The City of Arvada (arˈvaˈda is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area and a Home Rule Municipality in Jefferson County and TOD in cities Many cities in the USA and Canada are developing TOD policy

Central to the regional nature of the service package is Union Station. Union Station is Denver Colorado, USA 's historic train station at 17th and Wynkoop in the LoDo Special studies of its redevelopment and adaptation for multiple transport modes have been conducted and engineering design work and property development work was underway in 2006.

In May 2007, a $1. 5 billion budget overrun was reported. RTD attributed the problem to construction costs and additional infrastructure requests outside the scope of the original plan. The FasTracks program is also facing the problem of lower-than-expected sales tax revenue. [3]

Criticisms

Over budget: The original estimate made by the proponents of the FasTracks project touted a total cost of $4. 7 billion[4]. The current estimate has grown to more than $6 billion[5].

No-bid contracts: RTD awarded a no-bid contract for railcars to the Siemens Corporation who contributed $101,000[6] to the FasTracks Yes campaign issue committee. No-bid contract is a popular term for what is officially known as a "sole source contract

Impact on Congestion Negligible: Rail transit critic Randal O'Toole of the Cato Institute wrote a paper titled "The Full Truth About FasTracks"[7] prior to the ballot measure passing in November of 2004. This paper contains many criticisms including predictions that FasTracks will have a negligible impact on congestion in the Denver metropolitan region.

Eminent Domain: Both Colorado Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation District have used eminent domain to condemn properties in the path of transportation projects. Eminent domain ( United States) compulsory purchase ( United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland) resumption/compulsory acquisition The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT pronounced See Dot is the agency of state government responsible for transportation in the State of Colorado of the United The Regional Transportation District, or RTD was organized in 1969 and is the regional authority operating public transit services in eight of the twelve counties in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder [8] While eminent domain, or the forcible taking of private property for a public good, is sometimes unavoidable, organizations such as the Colorado Property Rights Coalition[9] and the Property Rights Project[10] allege that government transit agencies have abused their condemnation powers in these ways:

1. Transit Oriented Development at 14th and Wadsworth in Lakewood, Colorado[11]. TOD in cities Many cities in the USA and Canada are developing TOD policy
2. Inverse condemnation A business at 1195 Benton St. Inverse condemnation is a term used in the Law to describe a situation in which the government takes private property but fails to pay the just compensation required by the Constitution Lakewood CO 80214[12].

References

  1. ^ Transportation project more than a billion dollars over budget. 9news. com (2007-05-18). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Retrieved on 2007-05-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine.
  2. ^ RTD is 'starting out West' > About Town > Stories > Lakewood > YourHub.com
  3. ^ a b c FasTracks Home
  4. ^ FasTracks proponents campaign literature
  5. ^ Rocky Mountain News article from May 21, 2007
  6. ^ Siemens's FasTracks Contributions
  7. ^ The Full Truth About FasTracks
  8. ^ Colorado Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation District use of eminent domain
  9. ^ Colorado Property Rights Coalition
  10. ^ Property Rights Project
  11. ^ The Human Cost of FasTracks
  12. ^ RTD FasTracks Derails an American Dream

See also

External links

The Regional Transportation District, or RTD was organized in 1969 and is the regional authority operating public transit services in eight of the twelve counties in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder TheRide (often referred to as RTD is a transit system in the Denver Colorado metropolitan area.
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