Voters could be asked to kill FasTracks
Opponent Caldara considers petition to repeal project
By Kevin Flynn, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Jon Caldara.
Voters could see another FasTracks measure on the ballot a year or two down the road, but it might be a move to kill the overbudget transit program rather than a tax hike to bail it out.
Stymied by a lack of legal recourse to hold RTD responsible for building FasTracks according to the original plan and timetable, longtime opponent Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute in Golden said he will explore the possibility of petitioning a FasTracks repeal onto the ballot.
The 2002 legislation that allowed transit advocates to petition the FasTracks sales tax increase onto the ballot also allows for a subsequent initiative election to reduce the 0.4-cent tax, effectively killing the program.
Last week, RTD General Manager Cal Marsella conceded that under current economic conditions, his agency cannot deliver the original FasTracks program at the same cost and in the same time frame.
Instead, the agency is working on new cost estimates for all 10 corridors and auxiliary projects and working on a new financial plan to pay for it all.
"If you say you're going to do something and then you don't do it, I believe that's a legal contract and that should be actionable," Caldara said. "That's something we're going to explore."
A version of Big Dig?
The only safeguard for RTD is that the statute lets it retain a tax sufficient to pay for FasTracks bonds already issued and any corridors in operation at the time voters might repeal it. So far, RTD has issued $600 million in FasTracks bonds and has signed contracts for construction of the West Corridor light rail line.
"RTD hopes to get the project pregnant so we have to stick with it," Caldara said. "Now's the time to stop, take a breath and count to 10, and consider whether we're getting into Denver's version of Boston's Big Dig."
The Big Dig is a Boston highway project that spun up from $6 billion to $14.6 billion before completion.
RTD board Chairman Lee Kemp said Caldara's opposition is predictable.
"Jon remains out of touch with the residents of the metro region,who have overwhelmingly said they want more transit service," Kemp said.
"This is not the time to throw in the towel, it's time to roll up the shirt sleeves," Kemp said. "The rail transit program has been a huge success and our ridership numbers have exceeded what we projected for 2020. We need to forge ahead and it's our obligation to find a way to get this done."
Caldara, himself a former RTD board chairman, said the people have a right to reconsider.
"One of the sales pitches for this was that if this didn't work out, the people could always put it back on the ballot," he said.
Voters approved the FasTracks sales tax increase in November 2004. Since then, it has ballooned in cost from $4.7 billion in the original plan to $6.1 billion a year ago - and RTD is calculating a new bottom line expected next month that will add another substantial increase.
"I think it's getting more and more politically ripe to talk about another election on this," said Caldara, whose opposition campaign in 2004 predicted RTD was underestimating its costs and would run into trouble completing the projects.
Alternatives on table
Strategies that will be discussed soon include some, all or a combination of these:
* Going beyond the original completion year of 2017.
* Trimming some project elements such as was done with the West Corridor light rail, the first FasTracks corridor to start construction.
* Shortening some of the planned lines.
* Privatizing the financing and construction of more than the two corridors now being privatized.
* Asking the legislature for permission to go to voters for additional taxes.
The original ballot measure asked voters to approve the tax increase to build the projects "as specified in the transit expansion plan adopted by the board of directors of the district."
Legally, the measure only requires the district to spend the money on the projects within that plan, not necessarily to complete the plan if the costs go over the amount authorized.
FasTracks falling short of its goal as stated on the ballot wouldn't be the only time voters didn't get everything they were promised in transportation projects.
For instance, the state's 1999 TRANS bond vote pushed by former Gov. Bill Owens authorized $1.7 billion in financing for highway projects, but the program fell short of that mark when it hit the TABOR debt repayment ceiling of $2.3 billion first.
The final amount of TRANS bonds was just under $1.5 billion.
RTD's options are limited by other circumstances, Marsella said. For instance, the East Corridor to Denver International Airport and the Gold Line to Arvada and Wheat Ridge both are reliant on obtaining federal funding, as is West Corridor.
Any trims to those projects could reduce projected ridership to levels below the level needed to qualify for federal grants, and without the federal grants the projects couldn't be built as planned.
flynnk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5247
2004 FasTracks vote
The ballot measure passed by metro voters four years ago does not require RTD to build the FasTracks program as it was described. Legally, the measure authorizes three things:
0.4 cent increase in the RTD sales tax, with the money going toward projects in the then-$4.7 billion FasTracks plan.
$3.477 billion limit on the bonds sold to finance the plan.
$7.129 billion total debt repayment limit on those bonds.
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July 23, 2008
8:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
HOTAIR writes:
Caldara's a loser. He got his a** kicked so many times. He hides behind a microphone after becoming the laughing stock of the RTD as an 'elected' board member (what? he ran against a blind guy who was arrested for beating up a hooker!).
He knows he can't ever get elected to another office in this state so he tries to justify his existence by parading as a Limbaugh wannabe.
This state needs to show him the door the same way we did Mark Holtzman.
July 23, 2008
8:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
samsmargolis writes:
Then death it shall be...
July 23, 2008
9:18 p.m.
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rj1967 writes:
Just shut up and build it already. Every time we stop and worry about what to do, the price goes up.
July 23, 2008
9:57 p.m.
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jaybyrd writes:
RTD's incompetence will cause this disaster to be repealed at the ballot box. Recall that it was CDOT that opposed this project due to RTD's relative inexperience and the lack of a feasible plan. But he voters knew better than the state's transportation agency. I guess CDOT, who designed and built T-REX, knew what it was talking about. I would welcome the chance to shut this mess down.
July 23, 2008
9:59 p.m.
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benn writes:
Jon is way off base on this one.
I'm not happy with the financial situation RTD has gotten this project in, but now is NOT the time to blow our chance at viable mass transit. Rising gas prices are making it less and less reasonable to commute to and from work, we need to have something in place to help ease that burden.
Eventually we will have to pay for it one way or another.
July 23, 2008
10:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
jaybyrd writes:
"I guess CDOT, who designed and built T-REX, knew what it was talking about."
Wrong. T-REX was a joint RTD-CDOT project. RTD had every bit as much involvement in building it as CDOT. In fact, RTD had more money in it since the light rail portion went a couple miles longer than the highway expansion did.
July 23, 2008
11:16 p.m.
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SL10 writes:
TREX was a better designed plan than fasttracks will ever be. Time to repeal a bad plan and vote in a new plan that works instead.
July 23, 2008
11:33 p.m.
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milehighsoapbox writes:
The more time that we waste arguing about this, the higher the cost will go up. No one saw, NO ONE, the cost of steel and concrete going through the roof like it did followed by the economic downturn that occurred.
We need to build it already. The west and north parts of town have been ignored for too long and something needs to be done by adding more transit options. Otherwise we will all be up a creek without a paddle in 10 years. We won't be able to go anywhere or we will be paying huge tolls to drive on the roads that we have already built just to maintain them.
July 23, 2008
11:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
action_now writes:
Can anyone give one good reason why the timeline for this work was so stretched out? Seriously, if the problem is needing mass transit now, this plan was awful. They should have locked in today's prices instead of waiting for the future. I think repealing FasTracks would be a great idea. Then replace it with a plan that would actually work. Something that would address major issues piece by piece instead of something that promises results, fails in this promise and even if it did succeed was so far into the future as to be useless.
July 24, 2008
3:28 a.m.
Suggest removal
Slash writes:
Please just build it so we don't have to worry about idiots like this. Does he not have a clue? Or does he just make so much money that he never would have to worry about public transit?
July 24, 2008
6:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
Superstar writes:
Caldara's rant is old and tired. How idiotic to even consider doing away with more rail at a time when gas prices will only continue to rise. Instead of badgering RTD, why don't John and all the other hypocrits offer some "real" ideas to keeping our metro area progressive. And Hotair is right. When Caldara was head of the RTD board he couldn't lead them out of a paper bag and now he wants people to follow his ridiculous idea, that will only set Denver way back? Not!
July 24, 2008
7:06 a.m.
Suggest removal
DougH writes:
Colorado’s biggest nosy body strikes again. Good old Jon Caldera wants us all to go back to when we could buy cheap gasoline and cruise around anywhere we wanted. I am sure Jon will tell you that public transportation is for wimps. If he can buy his own gasoline, why can’t you.
As we enter the era of $ 4.00 a gallon for gasoline, now is not the best time to drop transportation that we all will be needing more and more.
Jon needs to rethink his position and offer constructive thought, rather than his own self serving agenda.
July 24, 2008
7:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
Cliffjumper writes:
Caldara is right, it should be repealed. Why should we give a blank check to a group that consistently under-delivers and higher and higher costs. By keeping Denver "progressive" I suppose superstar means to promise the moon, deliver little, and charge the taxpayer for lots of boondoggles. We need a business leader like Trump to get this done and under cost. Take for example the skating rink in New York across from Trump towers, City spent millions over 5 years and screwed it up so bad it all had to be ripped out. Trump took over and built the whole thing better in one year and under one million dollars. Incompetence should not be rewarded by more resources.
July 24, 2008
7:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
glowrock writes:
Pajama, what the heck are you talking about? Diesel trains that will have to stop at traffic signals? Which line are you talking about, and where exactly are these traffic signals? The only place with any stopping at traffic signals is directly in the downtown core, and that would most definitely NOT involve diesel trains!
And for the record, to Cliffjumper. The last time I checked, all of the current LRT lines were built on-time and on-budget. These was during a time with much, much less construction-related inflation costs, however. But I want to know where this consistent "under delivers and higher and higher costs" rant comes from! RTD has actually been quite good in the past when it comes to delivering light rail on time and on budget.
Methinks doth complainest too much.
July 24, 2008
7:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
mmannino writes:
The basic problem with light rail projects like FastTracks is the massive subsidy to build and operate them. Unlike private transportation, there are not enough riders to pay anything near the full cost of operating light rail, much less the amortized cost to build it. Instead, the cost of light rail is thrust on the general public (non riders) through sales tax.
FastTracks takes the basic problem one step further. It was low balled in order to get voter approval. RTD had a good idea that future outlook for costs were wishful thinking when it went to the voters because of the very long project timeline. An honest assessment would have recognized the potential for runaway costs given the long project timeline.
The public now has a dilemna. Pump massive new tax revenues or scale down the project. I believe that some of these lines can be strapped especially the line to DIA.
July 24, 2008
7:43 a.m.
Suggest removal
LesterGovernment writes:
To all the FasTrack supporters; at what price would this project be over priced? In your world, is there an unacceptable cost overrun number? So the prices of steel and cement have gone through the roof since 2004; now we have to deal with it and the reasonable person asks 'how?'. I own two houses near light rail stations and I like the convenience. I want to buy more in Littleton and Centennial since renters find these houses attractive, but when RTD wants to dig deeper into our pockets we have to draw the line somewhere.
July 24, 2008
7:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
BMat writes:
Why do we have to build out 4 new lines going in every cardinal direction?
Build one new line out to DIA from Union Station. It's all within the city of Denver and would connect LoDo with airport visitors. You can change trains at Union Station and go to the mountains too. Or take an existing RTD train out to the burbs.
Tourism is our state's biggest industry. Can you imagine the improvement to our air quality if visitors didn't have to rent a car?
July 24, 2008
7:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
The_Punnisher writes:
Ah, Kill da Ride Caldera pops up again. A REAL loser! " If it means progress, I'm AGIN it " is his mantra.
Talk about an overreaction....
I said FIRE THE BOARD and FIX the PROBLEMS AT THE TOP, not kill the project...
Start DOING, not TALKING!!!
July 24, 2008
7:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
twambolt writes:
We voted for a .04 percent increase for the light rail in 2004 and now they're asking for another tax increase in 2008. Since the system won't be completely built until 2017, will RTD come back in 2012 and 2016 (every four years) asking again for another tax increase? Can they guarantee that this will be the last tax increase? Denver residents are losing their homes to foreclosures, wiping out their savings to buy necessities, gas prices are skyrocketing but let's ask for another tax increase.
July 24, 2008
8 a.m.
Suggest removal
DisplacedColoradoan writes:
Living in Boston I can tell you that financial boondoggle that the Big Dig was (and remains to be), it was certainly worth the treasure. It used to take an hour (in good traffic) to get from western suburbs like Lexington to Logan airport. Now it takes about 20 via the Mass Pike. And putting Route 93 beneath the city has reconnected the North End with the rest of the city, resulting in substantial financial benefit to the areas through which the central artery used to run.
It would be a shame for the metro area not to have the foresight to see that although the infrastructure is expensive and ultimately much of the expense gets saddled on the taxpayers, infrastructure is a critical component sustained economic development.
July 24, 2008
8:14 a.m.
Suggest removal
robbyr2 writes:
That's really amazing. Caldera has cost us billions on the program is going to try (again, and again) to kill it. RTD is still trying to get past the anti-mass transit regime of Caldera. At least $2 billion of the cost of Fastraks is due to his delaying tactics. The good news is that only the Denver Post pays much attention to this guy anyway.
Mass transit is good for everyone, whether you ride it or not. Even if you wouldn't be caught dead sitting next to a smelly mass transit rider (one of Jon's libertarian buddies on the RTD board claimed that's why no one would ride light rail), at least every 2 people on light rail means one car off the road. Fewer other cars mean you can get yourself where you're driving faster, and use less gas.
I was intrigued by those who seem to be responding to the tax increase proposed by RTD. Did I miss something in the article? Is that going to be on the ballot? Let's see what our options are before we get too carried away.
For Denver residents who don't think Fastraks is important to them, they only need to look to about every major city in the country. As gas prices go up, people are not going to drive to downtown Denver to work, the employers are going to build their new offices in the burbs. No Fastraks, Denver stagnates.
July 24, 2008
8:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
Jon Caldara is the quintessential conservative crackpot. Unique amongst all other past and present RTD Board members who volunteered to serve their communities, Caldara ran to stop the bus from going by in front of his house.
Caldara predicted that nobody would ride light rail. When it opened, they ran out of parking immediately.
Now that we're all loosing our shirts paying for gasoline, we can say that Jon Caldara is not only out of touch with the facts but is completely out of touch with reality altogether. He's off his rocker and needs to set aside the crack pipe for a while.
LIGHT RAIL IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE...
Mass production is cheap. By rebuilding Colorado's passenger railroad systems piecemeal we're not leveraging the economic benefits of mass production.
Why are we rebuilding our passenger railroads piece by piece instead of immediately applying a long-term plan to reconnect the Front Range and Denver metropolis?
If you read the article above, the answer is Jon Caldara and the rest of the conservative crackpots who are more than happy to make you go broke. I could be wrong about that. They might be more intent on watching Colorado and the rest of the country become paralyzed economically and held hostage by oil executives.
Conservatives who argue against mass transit are either stupid or malicious. My bet is that they're both.
July 24, 2008
8:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
The print version of the RMN has a graph that showed the original versus current cost of the various parts of FasTracks. Believe it or not, there are some parts that are very close to the original cost projection if not under. Therefore, why doesn't the Rancid Transportation District execute the portions that are still quite close to being within budget immediately? Wouldn't it make sense to get those parts of the project underway before the cost also goes up on them? Oh, wait a minute, we're talking about RTD doing something sensible ... forget it.
Scott
July 24, 2008
8:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
Marshdale writes:
Action; I can give you many reasons why this takes so long. Developmental Environmental Impact Statements, Aquiring Right of Way, Conceptual Plans, Public input and hearings, Local State and Federal review of plans and Environmental Impact Statement, negotiations with the railrod companies, Final Plans, Final EIS, Bidding process which requires contractors to show eveidence they can build the project, Developing a project schedule to minimize impact to the public, aquireing federal, state, and local funding; preliminary construction to move and replace existing utilities and infrastructure.
This stuff does not happen over night. What I have mentioned does not even cover half of it. It takes years. Those of you who want to blame government red tape need to realize most of the red tape was created by citizens in the first place wanting legislation for this or that based on something that has happened in the past on a project somewhere else and railroads and other transportation entities running rough shod over the citizens and private land owners. It is a good thing this takes time in order for the best possible outcome to occurr.
July 24, 2008
8:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
SteveFesch writes:
Mr. Kemp we won't have to kill fast tracks. You and your lies will kill it. If RTD does in fact proceed with the condemnation of my private property for their profit I will expose all the lies in court. The amount of illegal activity at RTD is piling up. Here is just one example that was actually written about in the Rocky Mountain News. You think RTD is acting ethically? Read this. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news...
Mr. Kemp you will be shocked to find out who I have as witnesses when we head to court. Some people at RTD should be concerned about staying out of jail instead of pushing their Transit Oriented Development schemes on people's private property stolen via eminent domain.
What we need to do before any recall efforts is demand a full audit at RTD. What do you say Mr. Kemp?
If anyone has anything to say to YOUR elected RTD board of Directors give them a call. Here is their contact info. Let em know how you feel. Trust me they DON'T want to hear from you.
http://www.rtd-denver.com/TheBoard/in...
July 24, 2008
8:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
EnlightenedOne writes:
This is not just an RTD problem folks, it's a global problem. In my travels I've seen the same story in other major cities. Replace "Denver" with New York City, Dallas, Seattle, etc. and the story is the same. And it isn't just the transit projects that are struggling with the escalating costs of construction materials. Anyone trying to build a large infrastructure project is going to face the same challenges. Hopefully, the people at RTD can prioritize their efforts, in light of the current economic environment.
July 24, 2008
8:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
EnlightenedOne writes:
"Here is just one example that was actually written about in the Rocky Mountain News. You think RTD is acting ethically? Read this. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news...
Thanks for the link, Mr. Fesch; but if I read it correctly, it sounds like your attorney acted inappropriately.
July 24, 2008
9:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
Citizen21 writes:
The rising cost of construction is a problem, for all projects, not just RTD. Granted, RTD has messed up in some major ways including not solidifying right of ways for the DIA line. The RTD board needs to take back control from the staff - revise a fesible plan and go forward with a much needed mass transit system.
Regarding rate hikes, RTD seriously miscalculated the rates vs. costs. That needs to be addressed immediately - the daily rates and monthly rates are most likey fine.
By the way, the Southeast line was delivered early - not late. And the number of riders has exceeded all predictions.
July 24, 2008
9:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
SteveFesch writes:
The attorney and RTD acted inappropriately. I retained him and RTD hired him away from me with a $1,000,000 pay check.
Enlightened one I've been going to most of the RTD board meeting, public meetings etc since last Sept. There is simply a lot of information the general public does not have yet. It will all come out in due time once RTD proceeds with the condemnation of people's private property for their development schemes. Just keep reading the news.
RTDs real problems haven't even begun yet.
July 24, 2008
9:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
brandonn writes:
mmannino writes:
"The basic problem with light rail projects like FastTracks is the massive subsidy to build and operate them. Unlike private transportation, there are not enough riders to pay anything near the full cost of operating light rail, much less the amortized cost to build it. Instead, the cost of light rail is thrust on the general public (non riders) through sales tax."
Are you kidding me? Where exactly do you think the money to build roads comes from? a 30 cent gas tax that hasn't been raised in 15 years? Not Likely. FHWA, CDOT, none of them are funded entirely by user fees. On top of that, our roads are headed for a crises because we aren't paying enough to maintain them, to the tune of $51B just in the state of Colorado. According to the Texas Highway Department, gas tax would have to be $2.22/gal to actually cover road expenses. Municipalities build far more road miles than anyone else, and almost none of that is paid for by user fees. No transportation project pays for itself just from user fees, although there are some that come close, most of them transit projects, not in the US. I've posted sources for this information on my blog.
http://thedenvertransitstop.blogspot....
July 24, 2008
9:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
binford writes:
Caldera needs to provide reasonable alternatives or shut up.
For those of you that think 'private transporation' doesn't cost taxpayers anything, why are both the federal and state governments facing shortfalls in the tens of billions to maintain our highways, let alone expand them?
In the end, public transporation is the cheapest and most effective alternative by far.
July 24, 2008
9:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
Diff writes:
RTD, it's managment needs a good close careful examination - however I believe most of the Fast Tracks project needs to be moved forward. If not now, when? Think what we'd have now if they had planned and started something on these line in the late 70's or 80's? Later it will cost even more, and it will be needed in the long run.
Build it, is some fashion even if it is scaled back - and rider fees are higher - I think ultimately it should be self supported mostly by ridership!
Do not end it!
As for Jon Caldara (ol JC, but he thinks he is the other more well known JC.. ) is a MOUTH and nothing more.. I wish we could but him on a slow freight train to maybe Hoboken He'd do well there, and at least he would not me in our back yard!
July 24, 2008
9:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Cwillyrun1 writes:
Good for Jon Caldara for not being a coward to RTD, like some others who don't question RTD's incompetence with FasTracks.
Some of you talk about rising gas prices and having a mass transit system in place, but how does this help with improving transportation in the metro area in the near future? The Big Dig in Boston is a nice example of how something looks and sounds good when it's sold to the public, only to turn out being more than what it's worth. RTD could've accelerated work, and the public likely would've supported it. But as time goes on, and it becomes more and more expensive, it's hard to justify spending as much money as will be required. The north and west need viable mass transit. I-25 north of I-70 is the worst stretch of highway to drive on during rush hour, and there's even room to add a lane in each direction but CDOT doesn't want to do that, so a drive that may take 20 minutes on a Sunday morning turns out to be an hour and a half during rush hour. 6th Avenue is bad too. While the route to DIA is a good idea, it's not as important as the other two I've mentioned. It's specific to airport services, and Pena Boulevard isn't jammed for miles each weekday. It's nothing more than a nice addition if it can be afforded, and I don't know if I've ever heard of anyone complaining about the traffic flow going to or coming from the airport.
RTD = Retarded Transit Drivers
July 24, 2008
10:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
denverbulldog writes:
Froward,
I wasn't aware RTD holds its bonds, cash, etc in Pounds Sterling. The value of the dollar is not a factor here.
July 24, 2008
11:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
gs writes:
Put both things on the ballot. One to kill Fastracks. Another to increase the sales tax to cover the shortfall. Just hope they don't both pass.
July 24, 2008
11:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
EnlightenedOne writes:
That was funny, gs. Incidentally, there is a poll elsewhere on this website. When I took it earlier, it indicated 70% would NOT vote to repeal FasTracks. Seems there's still alot of support for the project. Here's the link:
http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/ro...
July 24, 2008
12:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
Bob299 writes:
So, what's Caldara's solution?
More highways?
CDOT can't even complete the beltway.
Give me a break.
At least FasTracks will provide an alternative.
I feel bad for the poor bastards in Aurora who are paying $4/gallon to commute from BFE without any options. Caldara's lack of a plan doesn't benefit anyone but his own overblown ego.
July 24, 2008
1:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
SteveFesch writes:
The altnerative is BRT Bus Rapid Transit. All the people talking about rising fuel prices do you realize that several of the proposed rail lines are DIESEL commuter trains. We're not talking light rail. I'm talking huge, loud, trains rumbling through neighborhoods. With the financial disaster in the making it probably won't even make financial sense to ride the train.
If Fast Tracks is ever built out,which is highly unlikely at this point there will be so many better alternative energy options down the road.
We should be investing money into dedicated HOV lanes for alternative energy fueled vehicles and CLEANER more efficient buses. An entire HOV system across all our highways could be built for a fraction of what Fast Tracks will end up costing us.
For crying out loud the current light rail system is so inefficient as it is. Look no further than the DNC coming to town. RTD is relying on the flexibility of their buses to move 50,000 people to the stadium and NOT the light rail which ironically enough is being shut down at certain stops downtown.
RTD use to provide some pretty good bus service but now they are cutting bus routes all over the front range because TaxTracks is such a mess financially.
July 24, 2008
1:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
Slash writes:
To be honest they can up the tax by triple (we still don't pay that much) and I will still vote for it. This is a project that needs to happen. Also I wish they would expand on this project even more. There is much need for Public transit all over the metro. One example would be make street trolleys. Go down Broadway, Colfax, and Speer. If this happened it would be amazing. Get this done now, not later or never.
Also why is it the people that can afford to pay taxes the most complain more?
July 24, 2008
1:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
EnlightenedOne writes:
"The altnerative is BRT Bus Rapid Transit. All the people talking about rising fuel prices do you realize that several of the proposed rail lines are DIESEL commuter trains. We're not talking light rail. I'm talking huge, loud, trains rumbling through neighborhoods."
Actually, Mr. Fesch, they are studying BRT in the US 36 corridor. And according to their plan, they aren't looking at "several" diesel train routes, only two. Everything else is electrified.
On the diesel routes, they're considering diesel multiple units. These aren't the large locomotives that freight railroads use. They operate with smaller engines, not unlike those used in buses.
Check out this brochure from their website:
http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/media/up...
July 24, 2008
2:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
RickyLee writes:
FasTax....KILL IT
July 24, 2008
4:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
4gColoNative writes:
There's shame and blame to go around, but Denver needs to complete this Plan. A better + cheaper plan is never going to come around. I'll be ashamed of Denver voters if they put a halt to this.
I'll put my money where my mouth is. Go ahead, double my tax burden for this-- but bring it to fruition.
July 24, 2008
4:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
newsreader1 writes:
If you compare the number of people served by Denver area roads against proposed FasTracks rail lines, you'll see where we should be investing our money. Fact is, these rails simply don't move enough people to be worth the huge financial investment. Let's put our money where it can serve the most people.
Wouldn't it be nice if we had a transportation system that could take you from anywhere to anywhere, at any time of the day, without buying a ticket, without being crammed into a smelly overcrowded box; one that provides complete and total freedom? Oh yea, we already have that....they're called ROADS. I know roads are too old school and not "progressive" enough for many of you. The thing is they actually get you to where you want to go. If we were to spend $6.1 billion on metro roads, the benefit would be huge. No matter how much money you blow on rails, it will never eliminate the need for roads. Rails go from point A to B, what about points C, D, and E?
Oh, and $4 per gallon gas is not a reason to build more rails, we won't be burning gasoline in cars forever. Using gas prices as an argument for FasTracks will end up being short sighted once new, cleaner technology is developed for automobiles. Once cars become more efficient and cheaper to operate again, we'll be stuck paying for FasTracks when everyone will instead want to take advantage of the freedom only the dilapidated roadway system and automobile can provide.
Having an extensive light rail system sure would be nice. But, FasTracks is simply too expensive for what you get.
July 24, 2008
5:01 p.m.
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BlueCarp writes:
Several FasTracks supporters seem to think that Light Rail is such a great idea, it doesn't matter how much it costs.
It ALWAYS matters how much it costs.
FasTracks promised to give us A at the cost of $X. They can't deliver. Don't blame people if they won't just acquiesce to paying more than $X.
I dare say few would tolerate the same behavior from a contractor at your house.
July 24, 2008
6:32 p.m.
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SteveFesch writes:
NewReader:
Fast Tracks is not about moving people around the metro area. It's about moving people to the light rail via Transit Oriented Development.
If the goal was to reduce traffic and improve our transit needs we most certainly would be investing in buses and roads.
Take a look at the Fast Tracks site and read the SEVERAL hundred pages of information about Transit Oriented Development. http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_45
You see the train tracks gives RTD and their choosen developers the green light to grab some of the most prime real estate in Colorado. When there was a property rights bill at the capital this last session that would have limited RTDs power of eminent domain to strictly transit needs ie parking lots, right of way etc they fought like hell. Why? Because RTDevelopment wants to cash in on private property and use people's land to pay down their mess and line their pockets.
I had several senators/house reps tell me first hand that the developers wanted RTD to be able to assemble land for them so it would be easier to develop. I was stunned.
I also talked to affordable housing groups that are waiting on the wings to build their projects on land taken via eminent domain. Don't know about you guys but I believe the land owners in Colorado are capable of developing land along the corridor themselves and we don't need RTD to steal it from people and hand it to others for profit. That is what CashTracks is all about.
July 24, 2008
7:47 p.m.
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Superstar writes:
Caldera's position regarding FastTracks is neither beneficial for our economy nor is it beneficial for the long term vision for the greater Denver community. On the contrary, his vision represents a self serving mission to attempt to derail a program that will bring untold progress and benefits to the community as a whole for decades to come.
Comparing FasTracks to the Big Dig is, quite frankly, ludicrous. If one were to explore the details of the Big Dig boondoggle, it would become painfully obvious that cost overruns on that project are not precipitated by factors driving costs on the FasTracks project.
If one wishes to categorize FasTracks with another megaproject, one not need look across the country to the east coast. One can find a very similar project close to home - Denver International Airport. As with all megaprojects, it was a very complicated project and there were cost overruns. DIA also opened later than originally anticipated. There were highly vocal opponents to that project. Perhaps John Caldera was one of them. DIA has proven to be quite a successful project with huge economic benefit to the community not only as a result of the thousands of jobs created during construction, but also to long term economic commerce and jobs brought to the community. Thankfully, then mayor Frederico Pena stayed the course. For the most part, the naysayers have gone into their closets regarding DIA, right where they belong.
FasTracks is a megaproject. It will have challenges and some of those challenges are beyond control. Solutions will present challenges beyond what many people can comprehend. Perhaps John Caldera could, instead of seeking a self-serving mission, use his intellect to identify why commodity prices are escalating so rapidly, and perhaps get the grey matter working to propose a solution to that problem and help solve some of the FasTrack challenges. Short term benefits include thousands of construction jobs and a boost for our ailing economy, similar to DIA. Upon completion of FasTracks, long term benefits will extend to our entire community. With the ever escalating price of gasoline, this project is that much more important to implement to benefit our greater Denver community.
With the ever increasing price of gas, which is a price increase that will stay and increase even more, I've seen the buses I ride filled to standing room only capacity as I have seen with light rail.
It is high time the vision for FasTracks be supported by the community as a whole, recognizing the significant challenges that lie ahead. Perhaps those funding the Independent Institute should investigate pulling funding from the Independent Institute. An independent "think tank" that works for self-serving goals, instead of the greater Denver community as a whole, smells a bit more like a Stink Tank than a Think Tank.
July 24, 2008
9:46 p.m.
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SteveFesch writes:
Sorry Superstar. Spending money we don't have and raising taxes again for a project that has already failed to deliver is not good for our city. Besides there are much better solutions. Take Santa Clara for example.
Other cities have realized the downside of light rail and are making the change to Bus Rapid Transit. It's simply more efficient, flexible, moves more people faster, and most importantly a 1/4 the cost and can be constructed more quickly. The biggest upside in my opinion is the buses could be updated with the latest technology that becomes available ie Alternative Energy Fuels.
Oh and how about this concept! The people that actually use the system could fund it instead of taxing everyone across the board.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9901242
FASTER BUS SERVICE
Valley Transportation Authority
Article Launched: 07/16/2008 05:04:29 PM PDT
Related Stories
* Jul 16:
* It's a train! No, just a bus - but faster
FASTER BUS SERVICE
The Valley Transportation Authority plans on using rapid bus service along Alum Rock Avenue and Santa Clara Street, instead of extending light rail from East San Jose to downtown. Buses could be running in four more years.
Category Bus Light rail
Frequency Every 6 minutes Every 15 minutes
Ridership* 17,070 6,050
Travel time 19 minutes 26 minutes
Cost $128 million $393 million
Opening 2012 2021
More on BRT in Santa Clara
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9901237
July 24, 2008
9:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
nvisionabetterCO writes:
Caldara would like to pave Colorado to oblivion. His idea of mass transportation is more lanes. Anyone care for a 16 lane highway running through metro Denver? How many homes and businesses would be lost to more lanes? As for subsidy - we all subsidize the road and highway system and it cost much more to subsidize the individual automobile than to build out transit. Beyond the subsidy question, the simple fact remains that 40% of people cannot drive and many more don't want to for financial, environmental or other reasons. We need more transit and we need it yesterday. Kudos to the folks that are trying to make the tough decisions on how to figure out the financing to meet the voter mandate for an efficient, interconnected transit system for metro Denver!!
July 24, 2008
11:46 p.m.
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fordracin6 writes:
Killing FasTracks is not the way to go in this case. I am a die-hard defender of the program. Yes, there have been rising costs. But to completely kill a program that was overwhelmingly approved by metro area voters, would be complete lunacy. With the population of the metro area expected to hit 4 million by 2030, we must stay ahead with our transit system. Therefore, we need to roll up our sleves and figure out the best way to complete this project. Whether extending the completion date, seeking more federal funding or as a last resort, asking votes for more money. In order for the metro area to become world-class we need projects like FasTracks.
July 25, 2008
7:30 a.m.
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SteveFesch writes:
The voters would not have approved of a project that had an $8, $10, or maybe even $12 Billion dollar price tag. It's why they came up with the magic number of $4.7B.
July 25, 2008
7:49 a.m.
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EnlightenedOne writes:
newsreader1 writes:
"Let's put our money where it can serve the most people."
And where do you think your money is going, newsreader1? Everytime you fill up your tank, you're sending your dollars overseas to countries that hate you.
"Wouldn't it be nice if we had a transportation system that could take you from anywhere to anywhere, at any time of the day, without buying a ticket, without being crammed into a smelly overcrowded box; one that provides complete and total freedom? Oh yea, we already have that....they're called ROADS."
Roads work well, until they're jammed by too many cars. Then we have to widen them; and, yes, highway projects take peoples homes and businesses too.
"Rails go from point A to B, what about points C, D, and E?"
Excellent point. Thank you newsreader1. It's not about rails or roads; it's about options. We need both.
July 25, 2008
8 a.m.
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EnlightenedOne writes:
SteveFesch writes:
"Other cities have realized the downside of light rail and are making the change to Bus Rapid Transit."
Correct, but there are arguments both ways. Here's a story from the Washington Post (NOTE: you'll have to register for the site).
Light Rail Trumps Bus Rapid Transit
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...
July 25, 2008
4:23 p.m.
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duncan writes:
"Caldara's a loser. He got his a** kicked so many times. He hides behind a microphone after becoming the laughing stock of the RTD as an 'elected' board member" (what? he ran against a blind guy who was arrested for beating up a hooker!).
"He knows he can't ever get elected to another office in this state so he tries to justify his existence by parading as a Limbaugh wannabe."
"This state needs to show him the door the same way we did Mark Holtzman."
Spoken like a true RTD groupie. So tell me how long have you been driving a bus for RTD? The truth of the matter is that Marcella is about to get the boot for screwing so many people over. It will be all soon be over but the snviling, no more theft of private property, no more running little old ladies out of their homes and no more money to grab.
July 25, 2008
5:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
newsreader1 writes:
Hey EnlightenedOne,
Do you really think we are going to be sitting on trains and not sending our money overseas for gasoline? Build all the rail you want for mega $$, it's not going to help the situation. Trains simply can't serve our needs. They can't go enough places or carry enough people, and they are extremely inflexible. The answer is a better automobile with new technology, not trains.
You're right. Roads do get jammed and stop working efficiently, and then you make them bigger, and they transport WAY more people than a little train could ever dream of. Unfortunately, it IS a choice between rails or roads, we can not afford both. I'm getting the idea that you have no idea how much 6 billion dollars is; it is not the same as 6 million dollars. It's a f-ing lot of money. T-Rex only cost $1.7 billion, and that included a light rail. I bet we could have six T-Rex equivalent projects (without light rail) instead of FasTracks. For that much money, our main roads would be the best in the country. Right now, CDOT has no money at all for our roads, while RTD is sitting fat and happy with $4.7 billion to spend on a system that will have very little impact on congestion. Rails give you so little bang for the buck, it's ridiculous.
The funny thing is how slow the existing light rail systems are. It takes forever to get from the Tech Center to Downtown on the new line. I laugh every time I pass that thing while driving, even when it's operating at full speed. Then, it stops a hundred times, and takes half a day to make a simple 15-minute drive. And don't even mention the price to ride it. Have you ever tried to transport a family of four on that thing....it's like making a car payment for just one trip.
And why such a fear of taking people's homes and businesses to better society in general? If people are compensated appropriately, it shouldn't be such a big problem. Heck, if your house is that close to the interstate or rail line, wouldn't it be nice to sell and be able to move a little further away from all the noise and cars/trains? If people never lost property to public infrastructure, we'd have no transportation system at all. Is that what you want?
Light rail - dreamy idea, not very practical.