Transcript Overview/Purpose of Retreat
Citizens Advisory Committee Quarterly Meeting
Rick Clarke, Assistant GM – Capital Programs
June 20, 2012
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FasTracks Guiding Principles
Staff relied heavily on our Guiding Principles to develop our approach for the DRCOG submittal
– Ensure every step contributes to the full vision – Focus money available to the greatest good – Spend public money wisely – Maximize outside funding before going to taxpayers – Deliver key investments in all corridors
Build As Much As We Can As Fast As We Can Until It Is All Done!
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On-going FasTracks Implementation
• Continue implementing $4.2 billion worth of FasTracks projects • Continue working with RTD Board and stakeholders to aggressively seek alternative funding sources for the program through grants, public private partnerships, unsolicited proposals, etc. • Pursue a future sales and use tax election when the region is ready • Identify key short-term decisions for program implementation • Provide monthly updates to the RTD Board on the plan moving forward
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DRCOG Process
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DRCOG’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) identifies planned transportation projects through 2035
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The RTP must be fiscally constrained, otherwise federal funding for the entire region could be in jeopardy
– RTD has to submit a specific project list and construction timeframes for all projects to be completed prior to 2035 to ensure the RTP remains fiscally constrained •
Based on discussions with DRCOG, RTD is planning to submit an RTP Amendment in August 2012
– This submittal will represent a snap-shot in time, and can change in the future as new opportunities arise
2035 RTP Amendment
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The RTP Amendment will:
– Be a placeholder, providing the RTD Board of Directors with additional time to evaluate and determine appropriate phasing for FasTracks projects prior to submitting a new SB 208 report – Assume no additional sales and use tax election – Include a detailed financial plan and a brief summary of each of the projects anticipated to be completed by 2035 – Not include the Northwest Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project • To better define this project, RTD is seeking funding to conduct a planning study beginning in early 2013 • RTD will continue working with our stakeholders in the northwest to evaluate mode options, etc.
– Be followed by a more detailed SB 208 report in early 2014, which may change the assumptions included in this RTP Amendment
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2035 RTP Amendment Approach
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Identify a list of projects to be completed by 2035 (including a placeholder schedule for completion of these projects) that are strong candidates for leveraging public/private funds and/or receiving federal grants
– Project list and schedule can be updated in the future as opportunities arise – RTP Amendment would also assume a future debt-only Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) election in the early 2020’s
2035 RTP Amendment Approach
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Depending on the results of financial modeling, the list of projects to be completed by 2035 could include:
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North Metro to 72 nd :
completing this initial segment first positions North Metro for a future New Starts grant for the rest of the project –
North Metro from 72 nd to SH 7:
allows RTD to complete this corridor assuming 50% of the cost will be covered by a New Starts grant –
US 36 Bus Rapid Transit to Table Mesa:
allows RTD to partner with CDOT and HPTE to leverage state funding and toll revenues
OR Northwest Rail segment to Church Ranch
: allows RTD to continue working with the BNSF Railway to move forward with construction of corridor segments –
I-225:
allows RTD to take advantage of the proposal(s) received for this corridor –
Southeast Extension:
allows RTD to move forward with a New Starts grant application
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Overview of Approach for 2035 RTP Amendment
• RTD Board will take action on RTP Amendment submittal to DRCOG in August 2012 that identifies a list of projects to be completed by 2035 (including a placeholder schedule for completion of these projects) that are strong candidates for leveraging public/private funds and/or receiving federal grants • Within one year of approval of the RTP Amendment, RTD will engage regional stakeholders and the public in a process to determine how to complete FasTracks and to reflect that outcome in a new SB 208 report to DRCOG
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Next Steps
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July 2012:
RTD Board consideration of options and assumptions to be included in the RTP Amendment •
August 2012:
Formal RTD Board action to approve RTP Amendment and supporting financial plan; submittal of RTP Amendment to DRCOG • •
December 2012/January 2013:
RTP Amendment approval by DRCOG
Within One Year of RTP Amendment Approval (December 2013/January 2014):
RTD submittal of a new SB 208 report to validate or revise the project list and schedule identified in the RTP Amendment
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