Half of FasTracks soaring cost tied to North Metro, DIA lines
By Kevin Flynn, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published September 3, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Matt McClain / The Rocky
Rosey Gray, of Aurora, waits for a light-rail train Tuesday at the Colorado Convention Center. As the cost to complete FasTracks has spiraled to $7.9 billion, RTD is struggling to find a way to close a budget gap of $2.3 billion.
Two of FasTracks' 10 transit corridors now exceed $1 billion each in cost and together account for half of the spiraling price increase from $4.7 billion to $7.9 billion over the past four years, according to figures released by RTD on Tuesday.
Cost increases on the 23.6-mile East Corridor commuter train from downtown to Denver International Airport and the 18-mile North Metro Corridor commuter train from downtown to Commerce City and Thornton add up to more than $1.6 billion of the $3.2 billion cost increase.
The other eight corridors, plus renovations to Denver Union Station, new bus and rail maintenance facilities and other program elements, make up less than half the increase.
RTD is struggling to find a way to close a budget gap that leaves it about $2.3 billion short in paying for all of it. It won a 0.4-cent sales tax increase from voters in 2004, and asking for another tax hike is one of the options on the table.
It also is considering canceling some of the lines and finishing only three new ones by the original 2017 opening date, or stretching out the schedule to build all of the lines by a date as late as 2034 under the existing tax rate.
On Tuesday, RTD general manager Cal Marsella told the board the staff would consider a phased build-out of some of the corridors to open "starter" service either on shortened segments or on entire distances but with single-track sections and less frequent service.
"We're going to take a look at that and cost it out," Marsella said.
Starting late this month, the transit agency plans to hold 15 public meetings around the eight-county metro area, plus sessions with lawmakers, the business community and local elected officials. It is hoping to find a consensus approach to the problem.
The East Corridor to the airport, always the most expensive project in FasTracks, was estimated in 2004 to cost $702.1 million. It is now estimated to be up 138 percent to $1.67 billion - coincidentally, the same cost as the original T-REX highway and light-rail expansion on Interstates 25 and 225 by RTD and CDOT. T-REX finished at $1.75 billion.
The North Metro Corridor, originally estimated at $420 million, has jumped 154 percent to nearly $1.07 billion.
RTD has said its cost crisis with FasTracks has been driven mostly by sharp spikes in the cost of construction materials, a global phenomenon that has hit builders everywhere and prompted cutbacks in projects or cost overruns.
RTD's new cost breakdown shows that nearly $4 out of every $5 in new costs is attributable to construction inflation.
The other dollar is the result of added work in many of the corridors - much of it unavoidable - that was not included in the original plan.
Liz Rao, RTD's FasTracks manager who is leaving the agency later this month for a private sector job, told the RTD board during a briefing that the costs were driven by the need for more right of way, retaining walls and other structures, unanticipated drainage work and more relocation of existing utilities on those two corridors.
Negotiations with railroads, for instance, has resulted in the East and North Metro corridors taking different paths out of Union Station than in the original plan. Instead of sharing tracks out to 40th Avenue and sharing a single station there, the two corridors now must take different tracks and construct separate stations.
Only one FasTracks route is under construction. The 12.1-mile West Corridor light rail to Lakewood and Golden is in preliminary construction with a general contractor and construction management company on board. It has risen in cost 38 percent, from $511.8 million to $707.6 million.
flynnk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5247
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September 3, 2008
6:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
fordracin6 writes:
It is clear that RTD needs new leadership. Keep FasTracks. Fire Marsella and the board and replace them with people who have an idea on what to do.
September 3, 2008
7:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
Once again Adams county gets it in the backside. We get Denver's dump, gas refinery, airport (but not the tax revenue), etc.
Scott
September 3, 2008
8:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
Darwin writes:
I agree with you Scott, but it is because of "weak spined" county commissioners caving in to Denver while selling out the Adams county citizens. I believe that perhaps the most important line to complete is the DIA line (I know, open to argument).
September 3, 2008
8:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
mojambo writes:
The North Metro Area already has the worst commute at rush hour. And will only get worse.
Shouldn't that figure into any of this decision making?
September 3, 2008
8:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
EnlightenedOne writes:
fordracin6 writes:
Fire ... the board and replace them with people who have an idea on what to do.
Fordracin6: That's an elected board, like your city council or the legislature. The only way to replace them is with your vote.
September 3, 2008
8:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
Darwin, You said "weak spined" and I ask, "They have a spine?" ;-)
I concur that the most important FasTax line is the DIA line. That mess of an airport needs a good fast line down into the sewer (Denver).
Scott
September 3, 2008
9:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
Willy writes:
Priorities should have been set based on ridership and impact on traffic flow rather than on political favors and payback. Same as it always is.
September 3, 2008
9:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
joggle writes:
Scott: "That mess of an airport needs a good fast line down into the sewer (Denver)."
I know the city spent too much money on DIA but they certainly got a good airport out of it in the end. It has an ideal runway layout, the envy of any other airport anywhere. It has plenty of room for terminal expansion and additional runways. The concourse layout is very efficient. I've been to many domestic airports and a few overseas and have never been to one that I would consider superior to the one in our own backyard. The main blemish on DIA in my mind is the failed automated baggage system but otherwise it worked out well.
Hopefully it won't cost $50 to get to Denver from the airport on the train (like it does on the Gatwick Express at London).
September 3, 2008
9:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
Cwillyrun1 writes:
Scott, you're absolutely right. Adams County gets bent over, and I have a feeling with this, it will again. Part of it is the weak spined commissioners, for sure, but not all of it. Using I-25 north of I-70 during rush hour is the worst part of any highway in the metro area, just ahead of I-270. There's even room to add another lane each way north of the Boulder Turnpike but even CDOT doesn't care. This is the line that should be built first, even over the one currently being built to Golden/Lakewood. Bus service from the north even reeks.
The line out to DIA isn't necessarily about alleviating rush hour traffic and moving people from home to their jobs and back, it's more about moving people to the airport and back. There's no rush hour traffic jam going to and from the airport so this line is only a matter of convenience for the most part. In my opinion, this is the last line RTD should worry about.
September 3, 2008
10 a.m.
Suggest removal
arvada_mark writes:
Maybe this is just too big of a project for RTD. Maybe we need a new transit company to come in & do it right...whatever that is. If this thing is going to take until the year 2034, I want my vote back...and my money. I will be almost 60 by then, hopefully retired, & certainly not commuting everyday like I do now. I have no kids, so the next generation gets no sympathy from me. If they are the ones going to use the system, they should pay for it. RTD should just go away, or at least quit b!tc#ing & moaning. We all are tight with money lately. They remind me a lot of the ownership group for the Rockies. They want to play this very expensive game, but niether of them can really afford to play it right.
September 3, 2008
10:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
Willy writes:
scott - That mess of an airport has turned out to be one of the most functional in the country and is a bargain compared to what the costs have been to get a tunnel to a crappy Boston airport and the expansions being done and in progress in places like Chicago and Atlanta. Did it cost too much - sure, but any goverment project costs more than it should due to politics and excessive interference in the process.
September 3, 2008
10:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
SteveFesch writes:
Are you reading this article folks? 20% or about a Billion dollars of RTDs budget "problems" are related to right of way acquisition. It was HUMAN error that has cost us tax payers $1,000,000,000. How many of us would still have a job if we blew our budgets at work by a billion?
RTD is simply grabbing more land than they need for right of way. It's why Cal Marsella and various board members lobbied at the capital to kill HB1278 which would have limited RTDs ability to build commercial and retail development on property stolen via eminent domain from citizens of Colorado.
Doesn't anyone find it ironic that the latest BLOWN budget numbers come out and Liz Rao slides out the back door? When it's all said and done and thousands of people will lose their homes and businesses along the light rail corridors that aren't even in right of way of the tracks. That land will sit vacant until until the right time for Transit Oriented Development. Keep an eye on who leaves RTD for the private sector for development of that land.
Why is RTD even in the development business? They were supposed to build some train tracks. We didn't ask them to build shopping malls on parking garages. We didn't ask them to assemble land at ALL the light rail stops for development.
The lies and deception to the voters needs to stop. If we want to start cutting costs it should start with the top brass of RTD still collecting their huge salaries and bonuses.
Oh speaking of moving on. DaveRuchman http://www.rtd-denver.com/TheBoard/in... one of the largest proponents of development of commercial and retail development on land seized in his district in LAKEWOOD along the west corridor is running for the Senate. It's bad enough this guy became an RTD board member. We certainly don't need him at the capital.
The first wave of land owners in the path of RTDs transit oriented development schemes are heading to court soon. The lies and plans of RTDs plans will be exposed soon enough.
The original FasTracks plan of $4.7 billion and trains were one thing. A 120 mile land grab at the cost of $8 Billion is another. Furthermore Cal Marsella already went on record saying that the new revised number isn't even "iron clad" in the Rocky Mountain News.
Cal you've been raising bus fares, scheming to take land at below tax accessed value, blaming everyone in the world for YOUR mistakes. I think it's time we hold this HIGHEST PAID government employee accountable.
It's time for a full blown investigation and AUDIT of Fastracks.
September 3, 2008
10:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
Willy sez, "... but any government [sic] project costs more than it should ..."
Wrongo! T-Rex came in early and under budget. See, it can be done. DIA was an absolute mess as far as budget and schedule. Also, it was put in a spot convenient to ONLY the politico's pals, i.e. land owners.
Scott
September 3, 2008
11:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
Willy writes:
Scott - of course there was graft - it's the government. However, I don't believe you can name an airport in the top 25 of passenger traffic that functions any better or has any better access to the city. I travel almost every week and it is a relief to go through DIA after JFK, Newark, O'Hare, LA, etc. Now if they would just solve the parking BS....
September 3, 2008
12:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
glowrock writes:
Steve Fesch didn't read anything properly. The article said that out of the 2.3 billion dollars of additional costs over those anticipated in 2004, about 20% of those dollars (ie: 460 million dollars) was due to additional work required and/or additional ROW acquisition.
September 3, 2008
2:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
denverbulldog writes:
Glowrock,
Costs have risen 3.2 b since 2004. That comes to 640m. Regardless of numbers, that is a mistake that should cannot go unnoticed and shows the level of effort but into the due dilligence of the project. Voters will make note of this.
September 3, 2008
2:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
bygolly writes:
The real people to blame for this entire mess are the voters who shot down light rail back in 1976. How much do you think all this would have cost then. Sorry folks the cost of construction has gone up and up for ever.
How about diverting some of the millions the state gets from gambling on temporary bases until the Fast Tracks project is completed.
September 3, 2008
2:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
Cwillyrun1 writes:
bygolly, the voters statewide decided the money from Lotto and Powerball would go to things like open space, and to change it would require a vote from the public again. Money taken in on gambling winnings is already spoken for as well, and I don't think it's possible to use money for the state to fund something covered under the six metro area counties supporting RTD. Colorado citizens from outside the six county RTD area won't want their tax money to go to something for the Denver-metro area anyway.
September 3, 2008
2:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
bygolly,
Using your logic it would have been even cheaper if Denver had never gotten rid of their trolley car system from the early 1900s.
No one is griping about the cost difference from the 1976 defeated ballot. We are out-and-out pissed off about the cost overruns from the 2004 ballot. If ouR TurD had had a real plan in place and gotten off their collective butts and got started as soon as the ballot measure passed, then these cost overruns would have either not occurred or would have been a whole lot less.
Scott
September 3, 2008
3:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
Scott writes: "DIA was put in a spot convenient to ONLY the politico's pals, i.e. land owners."
Really? Can you name one? Seriously. Name one landowner and his politico pal who colluded to put DIA where it is today.
September 3, 2008
5:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
fordracin6 writes:
EnlightenedOne, I am aware that RTD is an elected board and I am urging everyone to vote against the incumbents, who are up for re-election, so we can begin to clean house and get people on the board who have an idea on what they are doing. In addition to the board being let go, Marsella also needs to be let go.
September 4, 2008
2:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
warrengfunk7 writes:
I do not think the RTD board has done a bad job (especially Marsella).
$4 out of every $5 dollars in increased costs are from rising construction costs. If you follow the markets as I do, you know this was an unprecedented rise that experts did not expect.
The remaining $1 out of every $5 in cost increases are from extra ROW that has been added, because of Union Pacific not selling ROW at market values in the DIA and North lines. As a result, RTD is now forced to buy new ROW alongside Union Pacific's ROW.
The RTD board is thinking of all possible options. The most recent option works. It gets the lines with heaviest ridership built on time at full capacity, so that they don't loose the $1.3 Billion+ in federal funds coming their way. That would not be good to loose that.
The other lines (North, Northwest and I-225) would also be built ON TIME and to their planned length, but just build a single track. One track is half as much materials as two tracks. Trains can still run on one track, especially with passing lanes - they do all the time all around the country. The only loss, is trains would only run once every 20 to 30 minutes, instead of once every 10 to 15 minutes.
People can work with that and in the future, the second track will be added.
And I also would hope political pressure could be put on Union Pacific to sell that unused ROW to RTD for a more reasonable amount of money, to save RTD from having to take more land from land owners.
I would also support RTD looking at all the private land they have to use eminent domain on and try to shave it down as little as possible. That could save some further costs and help ease concerns over RTD taking more land than they need. I don't think RTD is doing that, but I do think they might be able to shave it down, if they think about it hard enough and get creative.
I say, give RTD a chance to see what they come up with. This is far from a disaster many are making it out to be. There is still plenty which can be done to get this done right. RTD hasn't decided on anything. People are upset about it possibly being delayed to 2034, when in fact that is the least likely option. That's what happens if all else fails. All else has not failed.
Give RTD some credit for coming up with the NATION's best transportation expansion plan, getting it funded and actually helping Denver to become an environmentally friendly, 21st century World Class City.
September 4, 2008
7:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
SteveFesch writes:
Warren you must have missed the dozens of articles in regards to HB1278. Do some research. RTD argued that FasTracks would die if they couldn't develop people's private property. They are absolutely using tax dollars to acquire property for development other than the light rail. Why else would they fight a bill that would restrict their use of eminent domain only to Right of Way acquisition.
Your tax dollars are going to make individuals very wealthy.
September 4, 2008
8:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
Slash writes:
Up cigarette taxes......beer and...........condoms. Don't we buy more than any other place. It could raise the cash in no time and probably add more lines instead of losing them. Finish the project early and it can cost less.... finish it.
September 5, 2008
9 a.m.
Suggest removal
warrengfunk7 writes:
SteveFesch,
Your interpretation of that bill is very misleading. That bill was not to stop RTD from taking more land than they needed for that actual stations. That bill was to prevent RTD from allowing private development ABOVE the station and parking structures. This private construction does not take more land than the footprint of the current design and it is already in state law that RTD cannot use eminent domain to acquire more land than the footprint of the transportation needs.
HB1278 wouldn't have reduced the footprint of stations, it would have prevented commercial uses as additional levels above station structures. By allowing these companies to construct additional levels for their use, RTD is given a discount in construction cost of the station. To deny them that, would further inflate the FasTracks budget--which is why this bill was defeated.
I know you understand this SteveFesch, because I have pointed it out before, RTD has clearly stated this in reports and the state legislator has argued these facts and defeated this bill for these reasons. The fact that you still cling to this mis-information being pushed by John Caldera and the Independence Institute is not only troubling, but it seems to be a larger part of the problem FasTracks is facing, than the actual rising construction costs.
I am very disappointed, I reach out to you and try to discuss this diplomatically and you throw the same old propaganda and mis-information back at me and the audience reading this.
When I say maybe RTD can shave the land it needs, I mean maybe RTD can squeeze the actual corridors as tightly as possible, not downsize the stations--which are the most important elements of the lines.
September 6, 2008
10:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
SteveM writes:
Scott, DIA is the most highly rated airport on every metric but shopping which it has fallen way off the map due to newer remodels such as MSP doing a way better job in the USA. You are no where close to correct in calling it a "mess". The cost over-runs and delays were due to one and only one thing, United Airlines's insistence on the automated baggage system it has at O'Hare be used airport wide. Go back and study the history before you shoot off your uninformed mouth about stuff you obviously know nothing about.
And, P.S. I live in Denver and I don't appreciate you referring to it as a sewer. You've got your peeves, fine. Maybe you're entitled maybe you're not, but I don't call where you live the armpit, so you don't call where I live the sewer, thanks. Can't we all get along and work on solutions to problems rather than making problems worse with name calling and negative baloney!
September 6, 2008
10:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
SteveM writes:
I wrote extensively on this topic weeks ago.
No single transit agency in the world has ever taken on a project this big, EVER! So, it's no wonder there are all these problems. Daniel Burnham said "Make no little plans"--often corrupted to "Make no small plans" which sound better, anyway--and we Coloradoans don't. We always make huge plans: build 3 sports stadiums in 10 years (no city had ever done that before, and certainly not one of our smaller size--hey we're no Beijing); build a convention center, new library addition, and a new aquarium in the same 5 years; don't just build a new airport, build (at the time) the world's biggest airport--and it's still the biggest in the USA; so, don't just build a new Light Rail Line, build the biggest light rail system in the USA in a span of 10 years. Well, this is the biggest and most ambitious plan we've ever attempted, and there were bound to be problems. There were bound to be cost over-runs, and there were bound to be profiteers. There was bound to be inflation, hello! Nonetheless, we need this ambitious project, we need it built as advertised to the voters, and we need it built on schedule and around the "adjusted for inflation" budget which, I'm sorry, but anyone who didn't think there was going to be inflation, where the bleep have you been for the past 8 years. We need this built for hundreds and hundreds of reasons, and we cannot afford to lose one day of momentum. The problem is, again, this project is too big for one RTD to accomplish, I don't care how well-meaning the people are. The time is for our absentee Governor to step in, work with the legislature to come up with a new oversight board, and bring in outside hellp. We need a major company created and budgeted for each line. They need to be hired and told, "here is your budget, build the line, stay under budget and on time and here's your bonus. You need to coordinate with your oversight agency of RTD who will provide you with guidelines and site-based management under those guidelines, and all of the exact specifications you must meet." That's it, that's all. Do that, and you'll have the entire system built, under budget, and on schedule.
September 6, 2008
10:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
SteveM writes:
Allow this to wallow in the committees of people who are obviously overwhelmed and we'll be doing exactly what Seattle had to do with it's multiple billion dollar "monorail to nowhere". For years they collected a 1.4% excise tax on every license plate for every car registered in King County (an average of $130 per car in 2005). When the Mayor really stepped in and looked at what was going on he found, "...a finance plan that included over $9 billion in interest to cover $2 billion in construction that would have extended the tax 50 years..."! So, he insisted the project be put before the voters again. It was, and the GREEN Seattlites voted down their historic monorail expansion that would have delivered mass transit to a region in need and with horrible traffic and grid lock. The problems were that the people in charge simply couldn't handle a project of this size. Let's learn from these mistakes of others, look at the systems in Chicago, NYC, and London, and realize no one ever built their systems overnight with on agency. Jeepers, the Orange line in Chicago was just opened in 1993 and the CTA is over 100 years old. So, while we do need our system as promised to the voters, we cannot get this built without help! Governor Ritter needs to make this and getting it done and done right and done right now his highest priority as nothing will impact the long term viability of our region more than this.