FasTracks News. January/February 2015

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1 January/February 2015 Welcome to Inside FasTracks - - your monthly update about FasTracks news, progress and people FasTracks News Top 10 Milestones of 2014 The Regional Transportation District s FasTracks program made significant progress in 2014 with much more to come in 2015 as the agency prepares to open five new transit projects. Here s a brief look back at the major accomplishments achieved last year. Members of the public, elected officials and RTD staff turned out for groundbreaking ceremonies last March to commemorate the start of construction on the North Metro Rail Line. RTD Transforms Downtown Commuter Travel The 22- bay bus concourse at Denver s Union Station opened which moved bus service from the former Market Street Station; launched the Free MetroRide bus service along 18th and 19th streets; and replaced light rail ramps downtown. North Metro Rail Line Breaks Ground

2 In March, the North Metro Line broke ground thanks to innovative use of Certificates of Participation to finance construction. When completed, this line will run from Union Station to 124th through north Denver, Commerce City, Thornton, Northglenn and northern Adams County. Commuter Rail Rolls in to Denver A new type of train commuter rail will start service in RTD completed the commuter rail maintenance facility and received the first commuter rail vehicles from Philadelphia. These rail cars will run on the East, Gold, Northwest and North Metro Rail lines. They are bigger and faster than light rail trains and feature storage space for luggage and bikes, along with level boarding, so passengers won t have to climb steps to board the train. Mobility Studies Determine Best Alternatives Two studies were conducted to examine alternate approaches to transportation and achieve regional consensus on the best ways to move forward. The Northwest Area Mobility Study was a collaborative effort with northwest area governments and transportation partners to review more cost- effective ways to improve mobility. The Central Rail Extension Mobility Study identified the most feasible transit route and operating plan for a direct connection between downtown Denver and the 38th Blake Station on the East Rail Line. Southeast Light Rail Line Extension Approved The RTD Board authorized $207 million to extend the existing Southeast Light Rail Line 2.3 miles farther south into Lone Tree. Stakeholders have committed to contributing $35- $40 million in cash, right- of- way and other items to help pay for construction. A Request for Qualifications was issued and seven design- build contractors responded to the request. A Request for Proposals will be issued in late February. New Art is installed on W Line Eight commissioned art pieces were installed along the W Line along with designs that were wrapped on 34 relay houses. RTD s Art- n- Transit program promotes public art as a way to connect neighborhoods and transit and it celebrates the cultural, ethnic and historical richness of the communities the agency serves. Transit- Oriented Communities Pilot Projects Move Forward RTD is a partner in transit- oriented communities (TOC) a mix of housing, office, and retail space integrated into a walkable neighborhood, which is typically located within a half- mile of public transit stations. In 2014, the Olde Town Arvada Transit Hub and the final stage of the Alameda Station project celebrated groundbreakings. These TOCs create better access to jobs, housing and opportunity for people of all ages and incomes. Safety and Efficiency Improvements Made to Existing and Future Rail Service RTD implemented the new Automatic Train Stop (ATS) system that halts a train in the event of a major incident on the tracks or if a red signal is bypassed; and the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) fiber optic system to assure on- time connection as new rail service is added. Workforce Initiative Now Program Recognized Nationally In 2014, the Workforce Initiative Now (WIN) program was recognized nationally and used as a model for other transit agencies. The WIN program creates career opportunities in the transportation and construction industries and currently serves 450 participants. The program is a collaborative effort among RTD, Community College of Denver, Denver Transit Partners and the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver. RTD Meets and Exceeds its Support of Small Business Goals

3 During the Federal Transit Administration s triennial review of RTD s Small Business Office performance and adherence to FTA requirements and policies, it was found that RTD s Disadvantage Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise programs met or exceeded goals on RTD contracts. Here s a Sneak Peek at 2015: RTD continues to make safety a top priority for passengers and employees in RTD s operations, and educates the public about safety around construction projects and future rail lines. RTD will complete the Fare Study and prepare to implement the new fare structure and smart card fare payment program in RTD will keep FasTracks projects on time and on budget as five new projects open in RTD will begin testing commuter rail trains on the lines opening in RTD will continue to seek out creative financing approaches to complete the remaining FasTracks projects. The names have changed but the stations are the same In December, the RTD Board of Directors approved changing the name of the current U.S. 36 Westminster Center station to US 36 Sheridan station; and the current Table Mesa station was changed to the U.S. 36 Table Mesa station. The changes make the new names consistent with how other stations are named, which is based on their geographical locations. Additionally, since the currently under- construction station on the Northwest Rail Line will be named the Westminster Station, the name change of the Westminster Center station will eliminate confusion. The Westminster Station will open in 2016 when the first segment of the Northwest Rail Line opens. The Board also approved referring to the BRT passenger boarding areas as stations rather than stops. New Bus- then- Bike Shelter opens at Boulder Transit Center A new Bus- then- Bike shelter opened Wednesday, Jan. 28, with RTD, Boulder County, the City of Boulder and transportation advocates marking the completion of the Boulder Transit Center capital improvement project. The Bus- then- Bike shelter can accommodate up to 140 bikes through a modern, double- decker rack system, additional bike parking outside the shelter, better lighting, a bicycle repair station and a vending system for basic bike parts. The bike parking spots are free for registered commuters. The Boulder Transit Center is located at 1400 Walnut St. A ribbon- cutting ceremony and a Bus- then- Bike shelter demonstration were held. Speakers at the ceremony included Sue Prant, executive director, Community Cycles; Elise Jones, Boulder County commissioner; Mary Young, Boulder City Council; and Chuck Sisk, chair, RTD Board of Directors and Director, District O

4 The two- phase Boulder Transit Center redesign was made possible through a voter- approved City of Boulder Capital Improvement Bond ballot measure passed in 2011, a Colorado Department of Transportation FASTER grant and support from RTD. Commemorating the opening of the Bus- then- Bike shelter were (left to right): Elise Jones, Boulder County commissioner; Stephen Sparn, Sopher Sparn Architects; Kathleen Bracke, GO Boulder; Mary Young, Boulder city councilwoman; Scott McCarey, Boulder County alternative transportation coordinator; Molly Winter, executive director of the Downtown & University Hill Management Division and Parking Services for the City of Boulder; Sue Prant, director of Community Cycles; and Chuck Sisk, chair of the RTD Board of Directors. Awards RTD S Free MetroRide recognized as an Innovative Transportation Solution The Free MetroRide project is the winner of the 2014 WTS Colorado Small Innovative Transportation Solutions award by the Women s Transportation Seminar (WTS). WTS Colorado annually recognizes transportation projects made possible by the leadership of women. The project was selected based on the number of women involved and its ability to overcome funding and other challenges. Key RTD staff recognized for their work on the project include: Lacy Bell, project manager; Jyotsna Vishwakarma, lead design engineer; Rachel Carson, construction lead; Tara Bettale, public information specialist; Kate Wilson, marketing lead; and Diane Borden, lead graphic designer for the bus design. The project will be acknowledged at the WTS Awards Recognition Luncheon on January 29 and at the Annual WTS Gala on February 11.

5 People Welcome to newly elected RTD Board of Directors Tina Francone (pictured far left) and Ernest Archuleta, who were sworn in at the January 6 board meeting. Francone represents District N, which covers Morrison, portions of Lakewood and Littleton and portions of unincorporated Jefferson County. Archuleta represents RTD District C, which covers Edgewater and portions of Denver and Wheat Ridge. Re- elected to the board are: Barbara Deadwyler, District B Larry Hoy, District J Paul Solano, District K Lorraine Anderson, District L Chuck Sisk, District O New board officers for 2015 are: Chair, Chuck Sisk, District O 1 st Vice Chair, Tom Tobiassen, District F 2 nd Vice Chair, Natalie Menten, District M Secretary, Jeff Walker, District D Treasurer, Larry Hoy, District J Click here for information about the RTD Board of Directors: denver.com/boarddirectors.shtml Welcome also to new members of the RTD FasTracks Citizens Advisory Committee, Heather Cronenberg, Rodger Hara and Bill Maestas. Cronenberg represents RTD District B and is the open space coordinator for the City of Westminster; Hara represents District E and is the owner of Community Builders Realty Services, Denver; and Maestas represents District I and is the owner of Maestas, Inc. in Westminster. The Citizens Advisory Committee meets quarterly and advises RTD on matters relating to the implementation of FasTracks. The committee holds work sessions and encourages stakeholders to provide input to the group. Learn more about this committee at fastracks.com/main_11 Progress Updates Central Rail Extension Denver Union Station Eagle P3 Project East Rail Line Free MetroRide Gold Line I- 225 Rail Line Maintenance Facilities North Metro Rail Line

6 Northwest Rail Line Southeast Rail Extension Southwest Rail Extension U.S. 36 Bus Rapid Transit West Rail Line RTD Board Meetings The RTD Board holds regular meetings most Tuesdays. Learn more Calendar of Events For a complete listing of upcoming events and activities, click here. Now Presenting To schedule a FasTracks presentation for your group or organization, contact the FasTracks Public Information Team today at FasTracks is RTD's voter- approved transit expansion program to build 122 miles of commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service, add 21,000 new parking spaces, redevelop Denver s historic Union Station and redirect bus service to better connect the eight- county district. For more information about FasTracks, visit fastracks.com. Unsubscribe