30 Years Makes A Difference

1. Upstart to Start Up: Colorado’s High Speed & Intercity Transit Vision & State Rail PlanSeptember 2014

2. 30 Years Ago – 1984 • Colorado had intercity Amtrak as the state’s only passenger rail • Colorado had no bus / HOV lanes • Colorado had a Department of Highways • 20 Years Ago – 1992-1996 • Colorado had its first light rail segment • Colorado implemented its first bus / HOV lanes • Colorado entered the Department of Transportation era • 10 Years Ago – 2004 • FasTracks rapid transit expansion ballot measure passes • Light Rail, Commuter Rail, Bus Rapid Transit 30 Years Makes A Difference

3. Today – 2014 • Colorado has the first rural Bus Rapid Transit • Fort Collins Colorado opened its BRT • FasTracks is well on the way to completion • State and Local agencies are planning for growth with all modes & choices in mind 30 Years Makes A Difference

4. CDOT Division of Transit & Rail • The Division of Transit & Rail established in 2009 • Senate Bill 09-094 • Authority to plan, design, finance, operate, maintain and contract for transit services. • Also in 2009 Senate Bill 09-108 (FASTER) • Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER) • Increased Vehicle Registration Fees • Funds Highway Safety projects and Bridge replacement and refurbishments • Dedicated State funding for transit • $15 M per year

5. Annual Budget – approx. $30M/year • Historically pass through grant administration • Transit Section – 9 employees • Transit Grants Unit • Administer FTA Grants to rural and small urban transit entities • Administer FASTER Transit Grants • Planning & Infrastructure Unit • Statewide Transit Data Base • Transit Asset Management • Transit Planning • Intercity Bus • Rail and Special Projects – 2 employees • Planning Studies/Environmental clearance • Financing and implementation strategies • Railroad coordination • Transit Operations – 2 employees Division of Transit & Rail

6. Regional Transit Plans • Strategy-based • Reflects a combination of service, facility, vehicle, & marketing / communication needs. • Financial Constraints • State is 450 x 300 miles Statewide Transit Plan - 2014

7. CDOT becomes a transit operator (using a private operator) • Begins to fulfill multimodal mission • Interregional element to statewide transit network • Connect population & employment centers • Peak period commuter & “essential service” express • Fast/minimize travel times • Limited stops/significant spacing • Utilize park-and-rides for broad local access • Maximize fare box recovery • Expect at least 40% over time • Guarantee 20% within two years • Expand service as demand builds & farebox revenue allows Interregional Express Bus

8. Interregional Express Bus FRISCO

9. Develop intercity and regional passenger rail • Facilitate Freight RR Communication • Railroads & Communities • Economic Development Opportunities • Coordinate, Integrate, Connect • Position Colorado for Federal Funding State Freight & Passenger Rail Plan - 2012

10. AGS & ICS Studies 2012-2014 • Purpose: • The purpose of the AGS & ICS projects are to provide Colorado with a well supported modal option for the State’s transportation network that connects communities and destinations for interregional business and tourism travel; builds on and strengthens Colorado’s existing transportation infrastructure; supports the State’s Vision, as articulated in the ‘State Rail Plan’; and offers statewide social, environmental, and economic benefits that are greater than the capital and operating costs of its implementation. • Needs: • Address the mobility demands of future population growth. • Improve mobility through provision of a travel option. • Enhance economic development through improved connectivity. • Improve the State’s environmental quality and energy efficiency. • Provide economic benefits sufficient to receive new funding sources.

11. What the AGS & ICS Studies Accomplished • Assessed Technologies • Defined Alignments • Developed Engineering Based Cost Estimates • Developed Ridership Models • Evaluated Funding & Financing Possibilities • Assessed Benefits

12. Process - 24 months • Stakeholder Involvement • ICS Project Leadership Team • 70 members • 10 meetings up & down the I-25 Front Range Corridor • AGS Project Leadership Team • 17 members • 16 meetings east & west along the I-70 Mountain Corridor • Update the State Freight & Passenger Rail Plan

13. Outcomes • High Speed Transit demand for Longer-Distance Trips • Two commercially available technologies: rail & maglev • Alignments • Shared Railroad corridors impractical • Greenfield alignments along I-25 & I-70 facilitate HST • $75 M/mile front range – electric, dbl track, high-speed rail • $105 M/mile mountains – electric, dblguideway, high-speed maglev • Significant local station development potential • Ridership • DIA is a critical long-term ridership market for both I-25 and I-70 • 75-80% of ridership is I-25 Front Range, 20-25% I-70 Mountain, 18 M/yr • Front Range System is Key to I-70 Mountain Ridership Success

14. Outcomes, continued • HST Not Financially Feasible at this Time • Full System $30.1B; Front Range $13.6B, Mountain Corridor $16.5B • Substantial Federal funds needed • Substantial new local (non-federal) funding source needed • Phased approach to get started? • Start along the Front Range • Commuter rail/upgradable to HST? • Phase 1, top priority? • Interoperability with RTD is a potential component • DUS / Central Area access is important to commuters • Maximize utilization of existing infrastructure, minimize transfers • Maximum flexibility to phase system development

15. Outcomes, continued • DIA Is One of Colorado’s Growth Hubs • Grow from 60 M passengers in 2015 to over 100 M passengers in 2030 • Master Planned for 13 runways • Envisions an “Airport City” whose employment numbers will rival Downtown Denver and DTC in 2030; 70,000 employees • RTD’s Light & Commuter Rail System Is Key to Statewide Connectivity • Grow from 20 M rail passengers in 2012 to over 80 M rail passengers in 2035 • Largest voter-approved transit expansion in the nation

16. High Speed Transit (HST) Vision for Colorado Vision Description • N: N. Suburban to Ft Collins • S: So. Suburban to Pueblo • W: West Suburban to Eagle County Regional Airport • Metro: • West Suburban to DIA via C-470, I-76 or NWQ • North to South Suburban via E-470 Vision Facts • Total Length: 340 mi • Capital Cost: $30.1 B • Operating Cost: $198.4 M/yr • Fare Revenue: $344 M/yr • Ridership: 18.3 M/yr (2035)

17. High Speed Transit Next Steps State Rail Plan 2012: Goals & Policy Statements • Position Colorado for future Federal Funding • Integrate into Statewide Transportation Plan • Develop & Explore Implementation Options for a Regional Commuter Rail System • Support Linkages of Colorado’s Passenger Rail Systems to National Intercity & High Speed Networks Proposed 2014 Amendments to the State Rail Plan • Include Vision Network into unconstrained elements of State Rail Transit & Transportation Plans, MPO Plans, & Intermountain TPR • Recommendation to complete an Inter-Operate Assessment • Recommendation to explore an FRA-sanctioned prioritization process along the Front Range

18. Next Steps - Pipeline Ready • RTD Interoperability Assessment • Forthcoming FRA – FTA Joint Policy & Shared Use • Coordinated safety authority • Primarily addresses freight and urban transit • HST and RTD covered • Partners: CDOT, RTD, FRA & FTA • Manageable, meaningful next step • Precursor to system prioritization • Leverage existing investment • FRA Pipeline Process • Next step to prioritize/define Front Range phasing plan – FRA Tier 1 Study • Exploring the pursuit of future funding for such efforts

19. For More Information:Mark Imhoff, DirectorDivision of Transit & Rail303-757-9007mark.imhoff@state.co.usDavid Krutsinger, AICP Tracey MacDonaldRail & Special Projects Manager Senior Transit Planner303-757-9008 303-757-9753david.krutsinger@state.co.us tracey.macdonald@state.co.usCDOT – Division of Transit & Rail4201 East Arkansas, Suite 227Denver, CO 80222 Questions?