2010 has been a very productive year for the FasTracks program. RTD has accomplished numerous milestones throughout the course of the year.

1. RTD selected Denver Transit Partners (DTP) as the concessionaire for the Eagle Public-Private Partnership (P3) project and issued the initial Notice to Proceed (NTP)

2. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that $120 million was in the President’s 2011 budget for the FasTracks program. Also, FTA approved $304 million in Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIF) loans for Denver Union Station (DUS).

3. RTD, Union Pacific Railroad, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad signed an agreement for property, relocation, construction, and operations for the FasTracks program.

4. The West Corridor passed 50% completion, the East Corridor broke ground, and DUS saw major construction progress.

5. RTD completed all US 36 improvements through the Phase 1 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

6. The RTD Board of Directors approved the Southeast, Southwest, and Central Corridor Extensions Environmental Evaluation reports.

7. RTD made substantial progress towards receiving a $1.03 billion (with a B) Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) from FTA for the Eagle P3 project.

8. A new Strategic Plan for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) was developed to better reflect Federal livability programs and the development of a new RTD TOD Pilot Program (more details on this to come next week).

9. A Construction Ready/Finance Ready plan was developed through stakeholder input to issue short- and long-term option for completing the FasTracks program as promised to voters in 2004.

Much more progress to come in 2011 – look for the East Corridor to get into major construction activities, the Gold Line to kick off, West Corridor and Union Station progress, 4-car trains, and much more!