2008 Annual Report to DRCOG on Fastracks
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2008 Annual Report to DRCOG on FasTracks April 2009 2008 Annual Report to DRCOG on FasTracks Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 8 1.0 Project Definition: Scope and Costs ........................................................... 8 1.1 Project Definition and Scope ................................................................................... 8 1.2 Current Plan and Corridor Costs ........................................................................... 10 1.3 2009 Annual Program Evaluation (APE) ............................................................... 10 1.3.1 Cost and Revenue Challenges, Risk Factors, and Opportunities .............. 10 1.3.1.1 Construction Costs and Variability .......................................................... 10 1.3.1.2 Sales And Use Tax Decrease ................................................................. 16 1.3.1.3 Railroad Negotiations .............................................................................. 16 1.3.1.4 Public Private Partnership Pilot Program ................................................ 17 1.3.2 Results of the 2008 APE ............................................................................ 18 1.3.2.1 Major Changes from 2007 APE ............................................................... 18 1.3.2.2 Options for Delivering FasTracks/RTD Board Decision .......................... 18 1.3.2.3 Public Involvement Effort in FasTracks Program .................................... 19 1.3.3 Results of the 2009 APE ............................................................................ 21 1.3.3.1 Major Changes from 2008 APE ............................................................... 21 1.3.3.2 Metro Mayors Task Force Recommendations ........................................ 22 1.3.3.3 RTD Board Alternative Selection – Financial Plan Adoption ................... 23 1.3.3.4 Other Alternatives Considered ................................................................ 23 1.4 Status of FasTracks Corridors .............................................................................. 24 1.4.1 West Corridor ............................................................................................. 24 1.4.2 Northwest Rail Corridor .............................................................................. 27 1.4.3 Gold Line Corridor ...................................................................................... 29 1.4.4 I-225 Corridor ............................................................................................. 30 1.4.5 East Corridor .............................................................................................. 33 1.4.6 North Metro ................................................................................................. 35 1.4.7 Central Corridor Extension ......................................................................... 38 1.4.8 Southeast Corridor Extension ..................................................................... 39 1.4.9 Southwest Corridor Extension .................................................................... 41 1.4.10 US 36 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)—Phase 1 ................................................ 42 1.4.11 US 36 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)—Phase 2 ................................................ 43 1.4.12 Denver Union Station ................................................................................ 45 1.4.13 Maintenance Facilities ............................................................................... 47 1.4.13.1 Light Rail Maintenance Facility .............................................................. 47 1.4.13.2 Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility ..................................................... 49 1.4.13.3 Bus Maintenance Facility ...................................................................... 50 2.0 Summary of Financial Plan ........................................................................ 51 3.0 Implementation Schedule........................................................................... 53 3.1 Modifications to Corridor/Project Schedules ......................................................... 53 3.2 Status of Environmental Process .......................................................................... 57 4.0 Bus Service Levels ..................................................................................... 60 5.0 Operating Characteristics .......................................................................... 60 6.0 Transit Oriented Development (TOD) ........................................................ 63 7.0 Downtown Circulator .................................................................................. 67 TOC i 2008 Annual Report to DRCOG on FasTracks 8.0 Other FasTracks Plan Elements ................................................................ 68 8.1 Legislative Update ................................................................................................. 68 8.1.1 House Bill 08-1354, concerning authorization for the Regional Transportation District to finance transportation projects by issuing specified types of bonds authorized by federal law. ........................................................................ 68 8.1.2 Senate Bill 08-046, concerning an increase in compensation for members of the board of directors of the Regional Transportation District to twelve thousand dollars per annum. .................................................................................................. 69 8.1.3 Senate Bill 09-108, concerning the improvement of the transportation system of the state, and, in connection therewith, providing additional sources of funding for transportation and modifying the transportation planning process. ....... 69 8.1.4 Senate Bill 09-248, concerning contractor surety requirements for public works project contracts, and, in connection therewith, requiring a bond, letter of credit, or other acceptable surety to be filed and current in each calendar year in which a multiple-year public works contract is to be performed. ............................. 69 8.2 Quality Management Oversight ............................................................................. 69 8.3 Quality of Life ........................................................................................................ 70 8.4 FasTracks Public Information/Public Involvement Program .................................. 71 8.5 Citizens Advisory Committee ................................................................................ 73 8.6 Sustainability Program .......................................................................................... 74 8.7 FastConnects ........................................................................................................ 75 8.8 Parking Management Plan .................................................................................... 77 8.9 Quiet Zones ........................................................................................................... 78 9.0 Fact sheets .................................................................................................. 78 List of Figures Figure 1: FasTracks Plan – Rapid Transit Corridors ............................................ 9 Figure 2: Historical Copper Prices ..................................................................... 14 Figure 3: Historical Crude Oil Barrel Prices ....................................................... 14 Figure 4: Unit Costs for Running Rail (per ton) .................................................. 15 Figure 5: Unit Costs for Reinforcing Steel (Cwt) ................................................ 15 Figure 6: Historical Sales and Use Tax Growth ................................................. 16 Figure 7: FasTracks Program Capital Cost Summary ........................................ 21 Figure 8: Historical Perspective of Tax Revenue Forecasts 2005-2035 ............ 22 Figure 9: West Corridor ...................................................................................... 25 Figure 10: Northwest Rail Corridor..................................................................... 27 Figure 11: Gold Line .......................................................................................... 29 Figure 12: I 225 Corridor .................................................................................... 31 Figure 13: East Corridor ..................................................................................... 33 Figure 14: North Metro Corridor ......................................................................... 35 Figure 15: Denver Coliseum/Stock Show Station Options ................................. 37 Figure 16: Central/CPV Corridor ........................................................................ 38 Figure 17: Southeast Corridor ............................................................................ 40 Figure 18: Southwest Corridor ........................................................................... 41 Figure 19: US 36 BRT Corridor .......................................................................... 44 Figure 20: Denver Union Station Transit Improvements .................................... 45 TOC ii 2008 Annual Report to DRCOG on FasTracks Figure 21: Denver Union Station .......................................................................