The week has been hectic, and my newspaper reading was minimal, so I missed a brief Associated Press report in Wednesday's Denver Post indicating that "construction of a $1.3 billion train from downtown Denver to the airport is expected to begin this summer." Other reports indicate that it should be finished by 2015.
Regional Transportation District acting chief Phillip Washington reportedly made an announcement on Tuesday night about a public-private partnership to construct the line and its "hopes" for $1 billion in federal dollars. Work is expected to start in August. According to the Post, "RTD officials have said the airport train isn't dependent on getting federal funds because it can be built with RTD funds and $950 million in financing expected from the public-private partnership.
Curiously, the fourth of five news items on RTD's website (following promoting holiday service via SkyRide buses, announcing the temporary unavailability of the online TripPlanner on Monday and promoting use of public transportation to next weekend's Parade of Lights in downtown Denver) covered this really big news.
Here's the RTD announcement:
RTD's East and Gold Line FasTracks Corridors receive major stamp of approval by Federal Transit Administration.
Major milestone marks the end of environmental processes and the start of transition to Eagle P3 Project.
RTD's East and Gold Line FasTracks Corridors receive major stamp of approval by Federal Transit Administration. Major milestone marks the end of environmental processes and the start of transition to Eagle P3 Project.
RTD celebrated a major milestone for the FasTracks transit expansion program at a special ceremony on Friday, November 20 at Denver International Airport – the completion of the environmental processes for the East Corridor and Gold Line projects. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has signed the Records of Decision for each of the projects signifying the formal environmental approval of the projects.
The two projects will now become part of the Eagle P3 Project, RTD’s public-private partnership to deliver some of the FasTracks projects, including the East Corridor and Gold Line.
RTD plans to select a team of private partners in June 2010 to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the $2.3 billion Eagle P3 Project. Construction-related activity is expected to begin on the East Corridor later in 2010.
The East Corridor is a proposed 23.3-mile electric commuter rail line that will run from Denver International Airport to Denver Union Station. The Gold Line is a proposed 11.2-mile electric commuter rail line that will connect Denver Union Station to Wheat Ridge, passing through northwest Denver, Adams County and Arvada.
East Corridor and Gold Line Record of Decisions
"This milestone speaks volumes to the progress we are seeing on the FasTracks investment initiative,” said Phil Washington, RTD Interim General Manager. “This is a great vote of confidence by the Federal Transit Administration that keeps us on track to pursue up to $1 billion in federal funds for FasTracks.”
“We are excited to celebrate today’s event with RTD and with representatives from our surrounding communities,” said Kim Day, Manager of Aviation for Denver International Airport. “Having a direct rail link between downtown Denver and the airport is crucial for our passengers and our employees and the addition of FasTracks at DIA will help us stand out as a truly world-class facility.” FasTracks is RTD’s voter-approved transit program to expand rail and bus service throughout the RTD service area.
I can hardly wait for this -- and also for a FasTrack's light rail line finally to be built to Boulder.
London-Madrid High-Speed Train Being Built
Meanwhile, even as we congratulate ourselves for what seems to be implementation this project, travelers will be able to take a new high-speed train between London and Madrid in eight hours. Renfe, the Spanish government rail operator, and SNCF, its French counterpart, are jointly building the new train, which was probably inspired by the successful EuroStar, which makes the Paris-London trip in 2 1/4 hours.
Regional Transportation District acting chief Phillip Washington reportedly made an announcement on Tuesday night about a public-private partnership to construct the line and its "hopes" for $1 billion in federal dollars. Work is expected to start in August. According to the Post, "RTD officials have said the airport train isn't dependent on getting federal funds because it can be built with RTD funds and $950 million in financing expected from the public-private partnership.
Curiously, the fourth of five news items on RTD's website (following promoting holiday service via SkyRide buses, announcing the temporary unavailability of the online TripPlanner on Monday and promoting use of public transportation to next weekend's Parade of Lights in downtown Denver) covered this really big news.
Here's the RTD announcement:
RTD's East and Gold Line FasTracks Corridors receive major stamp of approval by Federal Transit Administration.
Major milestone marks the end of environmental processes and the start of transition to Eagle P3 Project.
RTD's East and Gold Line FasTracks Corridors receive major stamp of approval by Federal Transit Administration. Major milestone marks the end of environmental processes and the start of transition to Eagle P3 Project.
RTD celebrated a major milestone for the FasTracks transit expansion program at a special ceremony on Friday, November 20 at Denver International Airport – the completion of the environmental processes for the East Corridor and Gold Line projects. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has signed the Records of Decision for each of the projects signifying the formal environmental approval of the projects.
The two projects will now become part of the Eagle P3 Project, RTD’s public-private partnership to deliver some of the FasTracks projects, including the East Corridor and Gold Line.
RTD plans to select a team of private partners in June 2010 to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the $2.3 billion Eagle P3 Project. Construction-related activity is expected to begin on the East Corridor later in 2010.
The East Corridor is a proposed 23.3-mile electric commuter rail line that will run from Denver International Airport to Denver Union Station. The Gold Line is a proposed 11.2-mile electric commuter rail line that will connect Denver Union Station to Wheat Ridge, passing through northwest Denver, Adams County and Arvada.
East Corridor and Gold Line Record of Decisions
"This milestone speaks volumes to the progress we are seeing on the FasTracks investment initiative,” said Phil Washington, RTD Interim General Manager. “This is a great vote of confidence by the Federal Transit Administration that keeps us on track to pursue up to $1 billion in federal funds for FasTracks.”
“We are excited to celebrate today’s event with RTD and with representatives from our surrounding communities,” said Kim Day, Manager of Aviation for Denver International Airport. “Having a direct rail link between downtown Denver and the airport is crucial for our passengers and our employees and the addition of FasTracks at DIA will help us stand out as a truly world-class facility.” FasTracks is RTD’s voter-approved transit program to expand rail and bus service throughout the RTD service area.
I can hardly wait for this -- and also for a FasTrack's light rail line finally to be built to Boulder.
London-Madrid High-Speed Train Being Built
Meanwhile, even as we congratulate ourselves for what seems to be implementation this project, travelers will be able to take a new high-speed train between London and Madrid in eight hours. Renfe, the Spanish government rail operator, and SNCF, its French counterpart, are jointly building the new train, which was probably inspired by the successful EuroStar, which makes the Paris-London trip in 2 1/4 hours.
