Sales Tax Money For RTD

Keep this in mind every time you buy something.

Denver Post :

FasTracks is the nation's largest transit expansion program, one that metro Denver voters backed in 2004 when they approved an additional 0.4 percent sales tax to build the project. The increase was on top of the 0.6 percent sales tax that RTD relies on to run the bulk of its existing transit system.

Colorado Construction Cost Increases in 2007

http://www.masstransitmag.com/web/online/Top-Transit-News/FasTracks-Price-Tag-Swells/3$6318

The Colorado Construction Cost Index, a measure of costs for transportation projects maintained by the Colorado Department of Transportation, increased 6.1 percent last year.

Fastracks West Corridor : 40% Higher Cost And Less Than Promised

As mentioned previously, the West Corridor for RTD's Fastracks is being stripped to the bone. They're single tracking part of the line, building smaller stations, building lines that will require more ongoing maintenance after storms, putting riders at risk in delaying security measures and a slew of other less-than originally promised features.

RTD has locked in contracts for the line so that it will end up costing about 40% more than they told the voters it would.

http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=6318&pageNum=4


The Regional Transportation District board approved a higher budget for the West Corridor light rail line through Denver, Lakewood and Golden, locked in contract prices and authorized start of work under two construction deals.

11.5 percent budget increase would take the project from $634.7 million to $707.6 million.

$338.7 million is the contract figure with Denver Transit Construction Group. A $62.6 million contract is with Balfour Beatty. They are so-called Guaranteed Maximum Price deals, under which the contractors bear the responsibility for future cost increases.

* The only exception is that RTD has agreed to provide up to $5 million to cover some increases in construction material costs that Denver Transit Construction Group might encounter.

Fastracks North Corridor 50% Over Budget

The West Corridor isn't the only FastTracks line in trouble. The North Corridor is already 50% over budget.

http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=6318&pageNum=3

For example, planners on the Fastracks North Metro Corridor from Denver Union Station through Commerce City and Thornton completed a noise analysis this year indicating they will have to include more than 10 miles of noise-blocking walls along the Union Pacific freight tracks that they plan to use for diesel-powered commuter trains.

Originally, the North Metro Corridor was budgeted for only about eight miles of noise walls.

That cost increase, from $12.7 million to $16.5 million, has yet to be reflected in the North Metro Corridor's $637.2 million share of the overall FasTracks budget. Two years ago, North Metro's estimated cost was $420 million.