Go Long: Regional Transit by 2050 GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life Go Long: Regional Transit by 2050 Mr. Bill Thunberg, Lake Norman Transportation Commission Ms. Marla Lien, General Counsel, Denver Regional Transit District GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life Charlotte Region Metropolitan Transit Commission 2030 Vision GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life CONNECT Our Future’s Publicly-Driven “2050 Regional Growth Concept” Including Transit GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life CONNECT’s Public Input on Regional Transit in 2050 • “Too many people for our roads. Move us further toward transit.” • Success headline: “New mass transit regionally, roads that work for all uses…” • “More transit--would like high speed rail-go to Rock Hill (Light Rail)” • “At some point I may no longer be able or want to drive. I cannot conceive of not being able to go places. This is my life - seeing what the city/county has to offer culturally, spiritually, etc. There must be a more efficient way to get there for both young and older people. Mass transit/car sharing/pooling must become a way of life for all in the future.” GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life Denver’s Regional Transit District A National Leader Tells All… Marla Lien, General Counsel GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life Regional Transportation District • Created in 1969 • Eight-county service area • Service area: 2,340 sq. miles • 2.8 million population • 15 elected Board members • 1 percent sales tax – .6 base system – .4 FasTracks • 2,653 employees GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life Success in Securing Federal Funds • $1.3 billion in Full Funding Grant Agreements – $1.03 billion FFGA awarded in 2011 for East Line and Gold Line – $308 million awarded for West Line in 2009 • $280 million TIFIA loan awarded for Eagle P3 – Has freed up cash for other projects • $301 million loans for Union Station – RRIF loan - $155 M – TIFIA loan - $146 M GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life Transit Expansion Initiatives • “Guide the Ride” transit expansion failed in 1997 – 57% to 43% • In 1999, CDOT and RTD collaborated on two ballot measures approved by the voters for a highway/light rail expansion project (T-REX) • By 2001, RTD Board and local communities began collaborating on the comprehensive, region-wide transit plan called FasTracks • RTD Board approved FasTracks plan in 2004 • Formal review and approval of FasTracks plan by DRCOG (Regional MPO) GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life FasTracks Planning & Campaign mplementation Schedule & Financial Plan • Developed implementation schedule supported by the financing plan • Financial Plan review and approval by MPO & financial consultant • Provided clear timeline of individual capital investments Support from all of the Region’s Mayors and Most of the Region’s Elected Officials – Support from all 31 District Mayors – formed Metro Mayor’s Caucus – Former Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper led regional collaboration – CAMPAIGN -Independent registered campaign committee for receipt and expenditure of funds. • Fervent opposition: Rocky Mountain News • Opposition from Governor and State DOT GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life VICTORY GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life Current Planning Efforts • Continued Planning, Environmental and Grant Support for FasTracks • New Strategic Plan for Agency – focus on SGR, incremental opportunities for growth • MPO development of new 2040 Plan • CDOT Interoperability Study (FTA & FRA) • Local Government Planning Coordination – Station Area Master Plans – BRT – Colfax, Northwest Area Mobility – Civic Center • Transit Oriented Development GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life FasTracks Snapshot • 1 line opened, construction underway on 5 rail lines, BRT, Union Station & Free MetroRide • Continue to implement more than $5 billion across the region • Economic driver for the region – $3 billion spent and injected into the local economy since 2005 – 600 construction jobs during West Rail Line construction – 2,500 direct and indirect jobs during Eagle P3 construction • Pursue any possible funding alternatives to complete FasTracks sooner rather than later • RTD is committed to completing the whole FasTracks program • It took a region to create FasTracks and it will take a region to get it done! GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life 13 Regional Transportation District NOW • 1,002 buses • 172 light rail vehicles • 175 routes • 77 park-n-Rides • 9,509 bus stops • 48 miles of light rail • 46 light rail stations • 102 million annual boardings • Six operating facilities • Two administrative facilities GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life The RTD FasTracks Plan • 122 miles of new light rail and commuter rail • 18 miles of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service • 31 new Park-n-Rides; more than 21,000 new parking spaces • Enhanced Bus Network & Transit Hubs (FastConnects) • Redevelopment of Denver Union Station • 57 new rail and/or BRT stations • Opportunities for Transit Oriented GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of CommunitiesGovernment | IMPROVING Quality of Life Commuter vs. Light Rail • Light rail – Lighter in weight, smaller, designed to make more stops, better turning radius and city street operation • Commuter rail – Heavier, larger, faster, carries more people, fewer stops, compliant for railroad corridors GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life FasTracks Status • West Rail Line (W Line)—First FasTracks line to open—April 2013 • Denver Union Station—Bus Concourse opened May 9, service began May 11 • East/Gold/Northwest Rail Lines (EAGLE)—60% complete • I-225 Line—31% in construction progress; 93% in design progress • U.S. 36 BRT—Phase 1 of managed lanes 74% complete, Phase 2—34.5% • North Metro Line—Design underway, early work to begin in fall • Southeast Rail Extension—Advanced basic engineering complete GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life 17 Union Station Grand Opening GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life Denver Union Station • $484 million project • Multimodal hub integrating light rail, commuter rail, Amtrak, buses, taxis, shuttles, bikes and pedestrians • Partners include RTD, Colorado Dept. of Transportation, City and County of Denver, Denver Regional Council of Governments • Historic building developed into boutique hotel, restaurants and retail stores • Bus concourse ceremony was held on May 9, 2014 • Service began May 11, 2014 GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life 1 th 2 3 1900 16 STREET DAVITA WORLD NORTH WING BUILDING: 4 SOUTH WING BUILDING: 5 CADENCE APARTMENTS 6 HISTORIC DENVER (Start Date: October 2007) HEADQUARTERS IMA FINANCIAL PLAZA ONE UNION STATION (Start Date: May 2012) UNION STATION (Completion Date: September 2009) (Start Date: December 2010) (Start Date: April 2012) (Start Date: August 2013) (Completion Date: Fall 2013) (Start Date: December 2012) (Completion Date: August 2012) (Completion Date: November 2013) (Completion Date: December 2014) (Completion Date: Summer 2014) 5 Story Office Building ft. Retail, 17 Story Office Building featuring 14 Story Office Building 5 Story Office Building featuring 13 Story, 219 Apartment Building Restaurants & Parking 112 Room Boutique Hotel & Retail Retail & Living Space featuring Parking Retail ft. Retail & Parking 7 16 Chestnut 17th & 18th ALTA CITY HOUSE (Start Date: TBD) (Start Date: November 2012) (Completion Date: TBD) 14 16 7 (Completion Date: Spring 2014) 2 CHESTNUT STREET 9 5 10 STREET STREET 1 STREET 13 TH TH TH 19 18 17 TBD 5 Story, 281 Unit Apartment DELGANY STREET WEWATTA STREET Building 8 15 8 THE PLATFORM AT UNION 15 B-Block STATION (1650 WEWATTA) (Start Date: TBD) 11 (Start Date: January 2013) (Completion Date: TBD) (Completion Date: December 2014) STREET STREET 12 TH TH 15 16 COMPLETED UNDER 4 6 3 CONSTRUCTION STREET TH 21 Story, 287 Unit Apartment TBD 18 UNDER DESIGN Building ft. Retail & Parking WYNKOOP STREET 14 16 CHESTNUT 13 17 WEWATTA 12 16th & WEWATTA: 11 TRIANGLE PARCEL: 10 20th & CHESTNUT 9 1601 WEWATTA (Start Date: July 2014) (Start Date: July 2013) OFFICE BLDG & HOTEL 16 WEWATTA KING SOOPERS (Start Date: August 2013) (Completion Date: Summer 2016) (Completion Date: Spring 2015) (Start Date: February 2014) (Start Date: Oct. 1, 2013) (Start Date: April 2013) (Completion Date: 2015) (Completion Date: Fall 2015) (Completion Date: Spring 2015) (Completion Date: April 2015) 250 Unit Apartment ft. 150 Room 18 Story Office Space featuring 5 Story Office Building, 176 10 Story Office Building ft. 312 Unit Apartment featuring King 10 Story Office Building ft. Retail Hotel, Office, & Grocery Space Parking & Retail Room Hotel, & Retail Parking, Retail, & Office Space Soopers Grocer & Parking X:\DUS\MASTER