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Director Paul Solano Telephone Town Hall Full Transcription
10/30/13 Speaker: Good evening and thanks for joining this RTD Telephone Town Hall meeting. I'm Roger and I'll be your moderator tonight as we talk about RTDs about RTDs Bus and Light Rail Service and FasTracks projects with RTD Board Director Paul Solano and Phil Washington RTD General Manager. Tonight's meeting focuses on Director Solano's District, which includes Commerce City in Brighton, portions of Thornton and portions of Unincorporated Adams County. This is your opportunity to share thoughts and about RTD and ask questions. If this is your first time on a Telephone Town Hall, here's how it works. To ask a question, please press star 3 on your keypad and you will be transferred to someone who would take down some basic information and gets you in a queue. Since we want to hear from as many of you as possible, we can only take one question per person. Once the operator gets your information, you can listen to the conversation until you’re called upon. When I call your name, please repeat your question for our live audience, we will also be asking a polling question later during the call, all you have to do is press the number we indicate to register your answer. Now I'd like to introduce RTD Board Director Paul Solano. Paul? Speaker: Good evening everyone. Thank you so much for joining us tonight. Before we get to your questions, let me give you a quick update of the progress being made on our FasTracks Transit Expansion Program. We are currently implementing 5 billion dollars in projects across the Metro area. In April, we opened our first FasTracks Rail Line, the W Line that runs from Denver Union Station to Golden. Denver Union Station is 93% complete and will open next May and there's a lot more to come. I am looking forward to tonight's discussions, so please press start 3 if you would like to ask a question. Speaker: All right. Thank you, Director Solano. As Paul mentioned, all you have to do is press star 3 to ask a question. You'll be transferred to someone who's going to take down some basic information and gets you on line to ask your question of our panel. 2016 will be a big year for RTD and FasTracks. Phil, would you give us a rundown on what's happening in 2016. Speaker: That's correct Roger and I want to thank everyone for being on the line today. We really appreciate it and we're happy to have you here. The East Line to the Airport, the Gold Line to Arvada and Wheat Ridge and the first segment of Northwest Rail to Westminster will all open in 2016, that's less than 36 months
we're going to open up all these things. Also the Light Rail Line on I-‐225 Corridor will be complete in 2016. Also to coincide with the opening of the East Line, that will that 225 Line will connect the current end of the line at Nine Mile to the East Line out to the airport. Our U.S. 36 Bus Rapid Transit Project will also open in 2016. Currently that construction on the express lanes from Federal Boulevard to Table Mesa is underway and the first Bus Rapid Transit Service in the Denver Metro Area will start operations along US36. So all of those things will open in the, within the next 36 months. We are very excited about it. Roger. Speaker: Thank you, Phil. It's exciting time for sure. If you'd just joined us again, press star 3 on your keypad if you want to ask a question. You'd be transferred to an operator who will take down some basic information and get you on line to ask your question to our panel. Progress is also being made on the North Metro Rail project. Director Solano, where are we with the North Metro Project? Speaker: Thank you, Roger. We are really excited about what's happening in the North Metro Rail Line. The North Metro Rail Line received 4 proposals that are currently being evaluated. We will soon know how far the line will be built out. The contract will be selected in November with constructions starting next year. Speaker: To all people Downtown, we'll also have another option to ride RTD between Union Station and Civic Center. What is that and when will it start? Speaker: Thanks, Roger. The new MetroRide of the Free MetroRide will debut next spring. It'll be a great complimentary option for people going from one end of Downtown to the other. Just like the 16th Street mall ride, it will be free but it will travel down 18th and 19th Streets which stops every 2 to 3 blocks. Speaker: All right. So again, press star 3 to ask our panel a question. And we're going to go to our first one Marsha... Cathy, Cathy you're live. Go ahead with your question. Speaker: Okay. I've heard them talking about the Northbound Trail Rail Line. Is that going to be a light rail coming from say like from Fort Collins, Greeley, through Brighton and then through Commerce City?
Speaker: Thank you for your question, that is going to be a Commuter Rail Line not Light Rail, little bit different vehicle, heavier vehicle, fewer stops, faster speed. In terms of Fort Collins, we are not quite going to Fort Collins just yet but you know the way we are building all of our rail around the system is building it in such a way to accommodate future growth when the Colorado Department of Transportation may come and look at rail across the states. So not quite going to Fort Collins just yet but the plan is to go to a 162nd on the North Metro Line. Speaker: Thank you, Phil. Next is Marsha. Go ahead with your question. Speaker: Yes, I live in North Thorton and then we've been paying RTD taxes for years and years and years and we have no end in site from when where ever going to get Light Rail in the North area. I kind of resent paying taxes for everybody else in the Metro area to help Light Rail and we're at the bottom of the list and I don't think we'll give it before I'm dead. Speaker: Okay. Thanks for your question. This is Director Paul Solano. And we understand your frustration and a lot of tax payer money has been paid into the RTD System to try to get the North Metro started and as we alluded earlier, we do have 4 contracts that are being considered to start this project sooner than later. And hopefully this will happen in 2016 so that was one of the reasons I ran for this office is to advocate North Metro and to get it on board and they try to get it going ASAP. Speaker: Thanks, Director Phil. These are big long complicated projects. We just opened the West Line right? So we've got a lot of progress in in the works. You want to talk a little more about Marsha's concern? Speaker: Yes, thank you for the question, Marsha. Yeah, these are long projects, there's environmental actions that has to be done. There's a number of what we call enabling work that has to be done all of the regions so we've done that on the North Metro Corridor. One of the things that I would point out is purchasing the rail, the right of way from the railroads in this, in this case of the Union Pacific on North
Metro. We paid a $117 million and did that deal, completed that deal to pave the way for rail on the North Metro Corridor, that was $117 million. We did that deal in 2010. So, we have paved the way now with a lot of taxpayer money on the North Metro Corridor to get where we are now. Where we have 4 proposals and where we will make an announcement on Tuesday, November 5th on the contractor to do the North Metro Line and also how far we can get on that North Metro Line. So, yes taxpayer money you know it has been, has been given but we've also spent a lot and invested a lot in the North Metro Corridor to date. Speaker: All right. Let's call in Larry next. Go ahead with your question Larry. Speaker: Hello. I'm a Thornton resident. I live close to East Lake. I'm hoping that at least go to East Lake and I'm wondering does anybody have any idea how much this service is going to costs us? Speaker: Jim, go ahead. Speaker: Yes. The plan for the project, the 4 proposals that we received in as Director Paul is mentioning include building the entire alignment. We are still evaluating what the funding is but the hope would be build as much as we can and definitely East Lake would be... Speaker: I can't hear what they are saying. Speaker: I can't hear you. Speaker: Yeah, were having some phone trouble with Jim. Larry, so we're going to fix that and he’ll answer your question here in a minute. But in the meantime, we'll to another caller. Mark, go ahead.
Speaker: Hello, can you hear me? Speaker: Mark, go ahead. Speaker: Okay. I know she said there was more that one Mark but this is the right one, I'll proceed. Speaker: You're on. Go ahead. Speaker: Okay. I'm Access-‐a-‐Ride user and I have been for probably 5 years and you all have a rule but I guess it's said that you have to use them a mile and a half of the nearest fixed route bus service. And I live about 3 miles out and therefore I have to transfer from a personal vehicle to get to a bus stop to where somebody can where Access-‐a-‐Ride van can pick me up. Do you know if that will ever change, if they could change or start accepting... give me may 'cause I know there's a number of people that following with the same criteria. Speaker: All right, Mark. Natalie. Speaker: Mark, this is Natalie of Service Planning. With Federal regulation, we have to provide service that 3 quarter miles out on each side of fixed route service during the hours fixed route service is operating. So if your outside of that area at this point, we cannot provide Access-‐a-‐Ride service. That's unfortunate I know at this point that's all we can do. Speaker: Okay. Jim, you want to try to address Larry's question. He's not on the line now but he's listening, go ahead. Speaker: Sure. Hopefully, this sounds little better. So the question was, that I hope that we will able to construct the North Metro Line to at least the East Lake. And,
what I'm mentioning is that the proposals that we received in, we asked for contractors to provide us pricing to get to the end the line of Highway 7. We're currently evaluating what the... how far we're going to be able to get based on the pricing that we got in on what our budget is but I hope we definitely be to get to East Lake. Any other question was on the fair structure on the fare be similar to the other rail lines that we've opened currently on local fares 225 and express fares $4.00 and regional fare is $5.00. So, although we haven't set the fare structure for North Metro yet, I would expect that it would be in the express fare range. Speaker: All right. Jim, thank you. Ron, go ahead with your question. Speaker: Hello. I'm wondering why we should believe you now as far as the completion date. Things that I have read, talked about 2036 and as even as far as 2042. Although everything, they're originally was supposed to be completed between 2014 and 2016 and we're just now talking about. I heard Mr. Solano is very, or getting things ready with contractors for the North Metro area. So I'm looking at the 2042 probably if we're just now thinking about it. So why should I believe anything you guys say other than you've lied to us in the past about price and time. Speaker: That is still Washington. Thank you for your question. Speaker: We have had our challenges here at RTD just like many government agencies ended the worldwide economy who's had from 2007, 2008 the recession that hit. And so I understand the frustration, I understand people sound like, are asking why they should believe. The 2040 dates are not accurate on the West Corridor, we had 2030 something on that and we opened this year in April, 8 months ahead of schedule. The I-‐225 Corridor that we broke ground on ahead of completion date at about 2035 and we broke ground on it and will open that in late 2015. North Metro is the same thing, don't expect anybody to believe me but I would like for you to stay tune on November 5th when we announce the contractor in how far we can go on North Metro and when we break ground on North Metro hopefully in January or so. So, don't expect anybody to believe me right now until we break ground hope, hopefully you're out there when we do it.
Speaker: Exciting news, I know coming North on November 5th. Let's go to Jim. Next Jill. Thanks for holding, what's your question? Speaker: Well, I wanted to know, I live near 136 in Colorado and I'm wondering if there is that line that goes to the airport. Is that one you're just building and then does that come near me if our transportation. And do they have like when it, when then line ends that do they have like a park, a parking structure there or how when do, where do people park? And then the other thing is I wondered if our taxes were going to go up because of all these lines that you're building. Speaker: Thanks for the question. The alignment that was selected for the North Metro Corridor through the environmental impact statement. If you live right to the 136 in Colorado, there's the Rail line that just to the Esther at New York Street. That's the alignment that Phil mentioned is that, the Union Pacific Line that we purchased and sets line the tracks will be on, that line will connect up with the line going at to the airport at Union Station and provide a connection up to the airport. Speaker: Phil, Chester asked about tax increases. Do we have any plans to raise taxes? Speaker: No, plans for RTD to raise taxes. We are implementing this project within the same 2004 tax rate of 4/10 of a percent right now. We're able to do more with that through some innovative financing mechanisms that we're using also federal grants and also public private partnerships. Speaker: All right. Again, star 3 if you'd like to ask a question. And we're going to call on Pat now. Pat, what's your question? Speaker: Well some of those were already answered I think by Rick, a couple of callers earlier but so let me get this straight, November 5th you guys are going to make an announcement of taking one of 4 contractors to start the North Corridor which would come up in 160th Avenue in Westminster, Thornton. Is that correct?
Speaker: Thank you, Pat. Yes, November 5th we are going to staff is going to make a recommendation to the RTD board on a contractor to construct the North Metro Line. We are also going to make an announcement on how far we can go up the line with the finances that we have in place. So 2 things happen, we're going to recommend the contractor and we going to also announce how far up the North Metro Line, we can get with the financing that we have available. Speaker: Thank you, Phil. Let's have Harvest. Come on board. Harvest, what's your question tonight? Speaker: You just answered a couple of questions from me but my question is November 5th how far are you going be able to go so if you're not able to go to a 160th Avenue, would you be able to go to 72nd like in Commerce City, is that the first drop off spot? And then also to, this a quick question is. Are they going to be any other future lines from the airport to Commerce City. Speaker: Thanks, Harvest. How far, I'll tell you this, we're going to at least 70 second. Now how much further we will announce on Tuesday, November the 5th. They'll going to have to wait 'til then. In terms of future lines, if I understand the question future lines from the airport North, no we have the East line and that particular line we are building that will open within the next 36 months that's going from Denver Union Station to the airport where you can make a connection at Denver Union Station right of transfer from Denver Union Station to go North. Speaker: Thank you, Phil. Carol, thanks for your patience. Go ahead with your question. Speaker: I was wanting to know, I hear in... In Thornton, there was supposed to be a line at 88th and I think it was Welby Road that you were going to put in a station there for the FasTracks and I was wanting to know I haven't heard anything more. Is that still in, in the plan?
Speaker: Yes, Carol. The line that were talking about the North Metro Line is the same line and maybe just a back up a little bit to give a little information on the North Metro Line. The line start at the commuter airline that starts at Union Station and continues to the North then it goes to through Denver. There's a station at the National Western Stock Show, the station at 72nd. The next station is the station you're talking about at 88th Avenue. There's a station at 104th, 112th East Lake and the 124th, 144th and the end of line station is at Highway 7 approximately 162nd. Speaker: Okay. Speaker: Thank you, Carol. And let's go to Charlie, next. Charlie, what's your question for our panel? Speaker: I might be switching gears here but now I apologize but I'll have just a quick question about we have sub North just have a, Highway 7. And there's a station right now Brighton Pavilions and there's also service out of Lafayette but there's nothing on Highway 7 between Brighton and Lafayette. Whether it be, I'm assuming bus service that's how we, we're talking about but I've been commuting up and down Highway 7 from Brighton into Boulder and there's just no service between Lafayette and Brighton. I was wondering if there was ever a plan a bus waiting there. Speaker: Hi, Charlie. This is Natalie of Service Planning. Actually, as we've been looking at State Highway 7 is really closely in multiple projects. We're looking at a currently through the North area to study the mobility study and I including it in that study as one of the, one of the roads that needs to be included in the network. We had also completed another study earlier this year with the multiple municipalities that Boulder, the State Highway 7 and again everybody agreed that one's we can build out State Highway 7 and make improvements that would then allow for us to provide bus service that of course would make sense to provide service between Lafayette and Brighton. So it is definitely on the radar, unfortunately at this point the demand out there, the density still very low and service at this point as per service standards wouldn't warned the service. The other thing is and this really the bigger issues that the way the road is currently build. It is not safe and it is not something that we really would want to operate on. So again, it's on the radar we'll keep it out there and hopefully sooner than later will be able to put bus service out there for you.
Speaker: All right as we mentioned, we've got a polling question this evening and it's very easy to participate, all you have to do is press the number, we indicate to register your answer and we look forward to you participating. Here's the question as we look forward to construction starting on the North Metro line, how would you most like to get information on the progress of that line. For a lot about big announcement November 5th and how you'll go want to here updates on this construction. Press 1, if you prefer e-‐mail or e-‐newsletters. Press 2, if you prefer public meetings. Press 3, if you would be looking to the RTD website and press 4, for presentation to your neighborhood or community group. Again, 1 for e-‐mail or e-‐newsletters, 2 for public meetings, 3 for website and 4 for presentations to your neighborhood or community group. We'll share the results with you in a few minutes and we're going to go next to Larry. Go ahead with your question. Speaker: Hi. I'm wondering if the wagons or cars are going to be standard cars or if they're going to be custom, if they're custom they might be a lot more expensive. Many years ago at East Lake, we saw a presentation on FasTracks and we were inside, the car is in. I think there were custom cars. Do you know anything about that? Speaker: Thank you, Larry. The vehicles will use for the North Metro Line will exactly the same as the line that we're going to be using for the East Line up to the airport and the Gold Line to Arvada and Northwest Rail so there'll be electrified multiple units as what they're call. And they look just like the Light Rail vehicles but they are a larger vehicle and so there'll be very similar. The vehicle you saw added East Lake several years ago. It will be similar to that but it'll be electric. Speaker: Okay. Vincent you've been holding for a few minutes. Thanks for that. What's your question? Speaker: First of, thanks for the progress, much appreciate it to bad we didn't start this 35 years ago but better late than never. I live on at 104th and chambers basically in that area. We pick up the North project. I'm taking it that's not coming anywhere near here though the DIA 225, Peoria Boulevard. Where is that going to stop. Is it just going to go to the airport?
Speaker: Oh hi, Vincent. This is Phil Washington. No, we have several stops between Denver Union Station and the airport. I think it's 7, 7 stops or so on that East line to the airport so get several stops. And so, hopefully I didn't catch exactly where you live but several stops on that East line to the airport. We got one at 38 from Blake, one at Central Park, one at Colorado Boulevard, one at Peoria and Smith and then there's a couple other stops on the way to the airport. So, we got 40 at the airport too, I forgot about that when we have the big parking lot so several stops are on the East line hopefully one of them is near you. Speaker: Okay. Thank you. Let's call in Frank. Next, Frank what is your question? Speaker: Yeah, are you pretty much answering my question. I live in Brighton and my... what would be my closest Light Rail Station from Brighton? Speaker: Jim, do you want to respond to that? Speaker: The closest station to Brighton would be our station at Highway 7, the end of the line station. That'll be convenient coming across on Highway 7, Bridge Street to head over to that station. Speaker: Okay very good. I would like to make a comment that W Line, I think it's a fabulous. I think it's really moved a lot of people very quickly so I guess it's the only thing I can say is to keep up the good work. Speaker: We appreciate that Frank thank you. Diane, your next. Go ahead with your question. Speaker: Hi. I hope I got the rest. Hi, I got it right now.
Speaker: You're on. Go ahead. Speaker: Okay. When they built the T-‐Rex, the line down, the South end the Denver they don't think what I called backward. They started the stations way out at the South end of town and built into town. And I thought that was extremely inefficient when you considering this contracts with the Boulders. I hope that you will take that into you know to consideration when build out from Denver so we can use it as each station comes on line, I hope. Now you saying this is going to be a Commuter Rail. Now I've been to the Swanson, Canada, the commuter rail was a regular train not a Light Rail. Is this going to be a Light Rail or is this going to be the transit car towards the West Line. Speaker: Thanks, Diane. Phil, do you want to kind of clarify that? Speaker: Yes, Doc thank you for the question, Diane. The Commuter Rail vehicles that John Starling was talking about, different they are different from our current Light Rail vehicles that you see out there. As we said earlier the Commuter Light Rail vehicles that would be on the North Metro Line. The line to the airport, the line out to Arvada those are heavier vehicles, faster speeds, fewer stops. These are electrical multiple units as we said earlier and also I think the other part of our question was building where the station that you know each station at a time and opening each station at a time but people can use it, we don't like to do that. It's more efficient for the contractor to be caught uncaught, let loose on a Corridor to build where they want and so typically the contractor is going to build all over the line, I mean from one end to the other they may start in the middle, they may come back all of those. That's the most efficient way for the contractor. So I don't see us opening up one station at a time, we're not going to do that, that's inefficient in terms of cost. Speaker: Director Solano, you must be pretty, happy to see progress occurring in your area. Speaker: Yes, this is great. You know we wanted this service to get started years ago and it looks like we're making great progress. You know we, accomplished a right away acquisitions and we received 4 requests from 4 different contracts to get this started and as Phil (alluded?) to earlier, here in a couple of weeks will know exactly who the contract is going to be and regional collaboration and get this system built
in a all 4 quadrant a soon as possible and I live in Commerce City myself and I know the frustration. But I believe in my heart that RTD is going to get this done as sooner than later. Speaker: Thanks Director Phil. And we have a... in a couple I see some questions of people wanting a summary of the 4 proposals we received, you're not able to do that right? This are very confidential a very confidential process may we could talk a little bit about how we ended up with the proposals and that process. But obviously we can't talk about talk about details. Speaker: Yes thank you Roger. That's correct we put it out in unsolicited or we rewrote or revised our unsolicited proposal policy to allow the private sector to come in with ideas on how to help us build out the FasTracks project. That revision of the unsolicited proposal policy here at RTD really send a signal to the private sector to come in with their ideas. So that is sort of the sort of the cracks of what where we are with this great activity in the private sector. Yes we have those 4 proposal but we cannot give a summary much of the information is confidential. Again on November 5th, we will be talking about each proposal the frozen cons of each proposal and making a recommendation on which proposal we should go with. So we going to have to wait. Speaker: Thanks Phil. Here a results of our question that we asked a few minutes ago. We asked if how you would like to receive information of that progress on the North Metro Line? 47% said e-‐mail or e-‐news letters, 21% said presentation to neighborhood or community group, 18% said website. So we got to nicely (split?) there. Our public information people are taking note of your preferences and we'll endeavor to make sure you have all the way this information as we break ground. Let's go to Eve next, go ahead with your question. Speaker: Hi, I have a question about parking at each of the stations. For example, I'm nearest the ADA Street station, is there going to be parking for cars? Speaker: This Jim. Yes there will be parking, Park-‐n-‐Ride in each of the station and the number of spaces was determined during the environmental impact statement. At ADA, I don't have the number right in front of you but a little bit over 200 spaces will be provided there. It's on the North side of ADA and Welby Road will be re
aligned but it will be between the tracks in where Welby Road is currently that's where the Park-‐n-‐Ride will be located. Speaker: Thank you. Speaker: Thank you for your question, Eve. For those of you just joining the call, good evening. My name is Roger and I'm your moderators, we talk with RTD Board Director Paul Solano and Phil Washington, RTD General Manager. This is your opportunity to share thoughts and ask questions. You can participate in the discussion by pressing star 3 on your keypad. You'll be transferred to an operator who will take down some basic information and get you into the queue right away. So that's star 3 if you'd like to ask question. This is also a good time to mention if you can't stay 'til the end of our call we of course hope that you'll stay on. But if you can't and want to leave us a message or a comment you can press star 9 and you'll be directed to a voicemail box. So like what I've said I want to talk a little bit with the director about one of RTD big efforts right now. Paul is the Northwest Area mobility study, could you tell me a little bit about that partnership. Speaker: Yes, the Northwest Mobility Study is looking at the... by ability of the line going either directly North from Denver Union station or going to Longmont. Now the Northwest Mobility Study is a process where we tried to look at the feasibility and a probability of extending the rail North we've been collaborating with stakeholders in the Northwest area to determined the best and most cost effective way to determined transit in the area, given the cost increases associated with the Northwest Rail Line to Boulder in Longmont. Speaker: Thank you Director. Phil, what are the options that are being considered right now along the Northwest Corridor. Speaker: Yes thank you Roger. The study is looking at building out the Northwest Rail in phase segments. Keep in mind that 6-‐1/2, I think a 6-‐1/2 miles of the Northwest Rail Line is already under construction to the Eagle projects. So deadline is 41 miles long, 6-‐1/2 miles we broke ground on about a year ago. So we're looking at in the study how to face out the rest of that 41 miles. We're also looking at extending the North Metro Line from the 162nd or Highway 7 to Longmont going that way. So we're looking at that in the study and then we're also evaluating Bus
Rapid Transit on several arterial roads such as State Highway 119 and State Highway 7. Speaker: Thank you Phil. We're going to go to our next caller and that is Dave. Go ahead with your question. Speaker: Yeah. Thanks, Paul Solano for wiping out (??) and trying to get in there and battle for us and get something going on up here. But my question is, is there any short term solution of running the Express Bus Service up from a 120th or maybe extending it up to a 136th, a 144th or Highway 7. It'll be nice to have the bus service extend north for us that live up this way that goes down into Denver. Speaker: Hi Dave, this is Natalie in Service Planning. We have looked at that for a long term possibility but for short term we do not have anything planned. To see that is building out the age each lane of North I-‐25 and as they're doing that, they're only building them out to a 120th. So really it wouldn't give us any benefit if we were to provide service for those, put density up in that area is really not such that it's a currently warned the extension of the express service and we do not have any Park-‐n-‐Ride up there that we could serve. So, for the long term we're looking to see one what locations would be have available to build the Park-‐n-‐Ride. Hopefully, at the area section of I-‐25 and Highway 7 that would be able to build the Park-‐n-‐Ride at things we belong and once that happens of course that would mean we make sense to extend the express service up that way. Speaker: Thank you. Bob, you're next. Go ahead with your question for panel. Thanks for holding. Speaker: Good evening and thanks for the public forum. I'd like to assure my frustration that Marsha indicated earlier in that here at Northeast... in North Arvada 120th and Holly and pay have been paying taxes for 10 or 12 years and have limited access. And I know Paul you're working as hard as you can't alleviate that but my question more than anything is that the expansion project on 36th, I understand that is going to be a bus only. Expansion project and I would just like to know how is that going to differ from what you already have is going to be just a dedicated lane up to Boulder or what how is that going to help us?
Speaker: Yes. Thank thanks, Bob for the question. Yes, it's going to be a dedicated lane, one dedicated lane in each direction. This is a partnership between RTD and Colorado Department of Transportation. So dedicated lane branded buses amenities in terms of bus stops, bus shelters, fare collection equipment that really allows for fast on and off buses and the biggest thing I think is it provides predictability in terms of travel time on US36. We don't have that now with our buses so this dedicated lanes that are by agreement we'll see that will allow us to run at least 55 miles an hour. Creates of predictability that we do not have now and provides for great service up and down the US36 Corridor. Speaker: Thank you, Phil and next is Judy. Judy, go ahead with your question. Speaker: Hey, I was wondering if... with all these projects if there's in real life jobs created on here in the North area and in what field? Speaker: Yes, Judy. Thank you. It's Phil Washington get yes lots of jobs. We are targeting specifically the communities where we are building the infrastructure projects around the region. And so, we have a program called the Workforce Initiative Now program or the WIN program that goes out and identifies, assesses, trains and put people to work specially the one's that are living in the zip code where we are building the infrastructure projects. So this Workforce program is definitely apart of our infrastructure build out around the region and the participants in this program are not just the people that live in the zip codes but also returning military veterans and people from all over the region. Speaker: We're going to call on Rida next. Rida, what's your question for our panel? Speaker: Thank you for this opportunity. First of all, my question is I live up on 136th in New York basically and driving all the way down, I-‐25 in a half for years. I see all of the Light Rail Lines basically follow 120 about... hear me I-‐25 or other major (tariff?) fares. Well your the go when I went to the meeting, when I first introduce down here you know they said well where do you want it I-‐25 or on the railroad mine or if I go to try I-‐25. It's going to come up the rail lines, it's going to be right between the houses I mean houses on both side will back up through those rail
lines as they do. How is that going to impact the first of all safety for all of the children around the area. What are you going to do to mitigate that? and what about the noise factor? Speaker: Thank you for the question, Rida. If you were at the initial meetings that we have for the environmental impact statement we do remember we look at the lot of different options on where to locate the line in to that process. So we determine the best location for that line was the existing rail road tracks that they'll mention we purchased several years ago. And so working to that that process the environmental impact statement we had lots of public meetings and look to all those items that you talk about. Safety was obviously a very key issue that the number one priority for RTD whether it's our bus service or our trains you know really focusing in on safety is being very key element of the systems that we build. A lot of discussions around Rocky Top Middle School and the safety concerns there as far as you know what are previous experiences been you know we just open the West Corridor that's a similar line that runs right through neighborhoods along 13th Avenue and several schools right by there. We have a row bus safety outreach program that we used actually going out to all the schools with the, with the great crossing that kids could understand how to cross the tracks of really provided a lot of outreach to those schools. The other question was about being along I-‐25 you know it's just depends on the alignment that we have on a T-‐Rex project, we were able to do that because CIDA was also reconstructing the highway to transits. It's a good partnership for that project between RTD and CIDA. Speaker: Thank you. Paul your next. Go ahead with your question. Speaker: Yes. I have 2 question. One would be you mentioned that the trains would be electrified. How will the electricity be produced? or being overhead (chance scenery?) or will it be diesel engines. And the lady previous to me, Rida I believe your name was asked the question about noise and you didn't answer that, I'd certainly like to hear about that. Speaker: I guess you're correct I missed the noise question. I missed part of the environmental impacts statement noise is definitely a big consideration on the vehicles will have the overhead wires just like the light rail vehicles that you see right now and that really ties it to the noise. A study that we did is part of the environmental impacts statement the electric trains are quieted that quieter than the diesel trains but we do. I missed part of the environmental impacts statements
do a noise study and determine where sound browser required. What are the other things that were doing to take care of the noise associated with the train is are we going to implement quite zone to their great crossing. Typically the train would blow their horns going through the each of the crossings. We will put in the equipment so that these crossings, that the train won't have to blow their horn as they go through. So that's a major consideration as far as the noise study. Speaker: Okay. Thank you, Jim. Judy, you are next. Go ahead with your question. Speaker: Yes. I was wondering why the North area between Federal and Colorado Boulevard is always the last thing when you've done several down south and we've paid our taxes all these years, why are we left? Speaker: Hello. Speaker: Go ahead. Speaker: Yes. Thank you for the question. A lot of the lines for example the West Corridor, we did that first because we will so far along with the environmental process some years ago. And so, we did that one first because of those reasons. The other things, the East line to the airport to Gold Line to Arvada and 6 1/2 miles to the Northwest Rail Line. We were in good shape for a billion dollar federal grant and that was because we scored very well in terms of cost effective to it's index in density and all those things in ridership and so a lot of these things they come up and there's great opportunity for us to get federal funds and so we moved on those things very quickly. And so this is sort of how does the funding and everything has start to shook out as we you know go on to building and constructing this projects. We and no way cinema dark room and try to figure was for a second, third or fourth, we let the private sector in terms of innovative financing so the dictate was next along with the federal dollars. So right now North Metro is the next stop and that's where we are, we'll announce that on November 5th.
Speaker: Phil could you also maybe address the misconception consist that the South Line are FasTracks Lines those are paid before the FasTracks tax was approve. Is that correct? Speaker: Yes that's correct. You know a lot of people look at the South and they say well you know that's all FasTracks and why did you build all that. Very little actually has been done in the South in terms of FasTracks. The T-‐Rex project is not FasTracks it's not a part of FasTracks. The extensions on the Southwest Line, the Southeast Line they are a part of FasTracks but we haven't done construction on that. So well, we're talking about everyone looks at the T-‐Rex Line along I-‐25 and they say well, you know, that FasTracks does not FasTracks and so as we build out what is really FasTracks which is the East Line to the airport to go line to Arvada 225 North Metro. We're actually moving very smartly and aggressively on the North right now. Speaker: Paul the stakeholders on the North had really work together to get to know line done is that correct? Speaker: Ah yes. That is correct. There's been a lot of inner government agreements that went on between RTD and lot of the jurisdiction and you know we are making progress and getting the stakeholders involved. We're trying to get federal funds and possibly private public cooperation to get the system build and we are making progress to that effect. And we have the North Adams County Transit Authority or Association and we meet once a month and discuss different options where we could try to stakeholders involve to try to get this system build in a regional manner and get all quadrants done as soon as possible and get as much build as quick as possible. Speaker: Thank you Director. Serena you're next go ahead with your question. Speaker: Hello. Could you share with us how you're going to share the news about decision on the proposal that you're dividing on the North Metro project?
Speaker: Yes. Thank you Serena. We are going to do a press release. We are going to do a media briefing regarding our staff recommendation. Keep in mind that that on November the 5th I will be giving a recommendation to the RTD Board on how far we go and which, which contract that we're recommending. We are not asking the board the RTD Board for decision that night this would be a staff recommendation we will have this information on our website on November the 14th. We will have a public comment period were people can come down after they hear the recommendation, the staff recommendation. People can come down and comment in a public comment session on November the 14th starting at 5:30. So there'll be quite a bit of news on that recommendations and how far we can go on the North Metro Line and you can also sign up for an e-‐mail notice as well. Speaker: Terrific. Thank you Serena. Nancy, you're next. What is your question? Speaker: Yes. I live in Brighton and I'd like to know if there any plans to increase bus service on the weekend in Brighton. Particularly Call-‐n-‐Ride and Access-‐a-‐Ride. Speaker: Hi, Nancy. This is Natalie in Service Planning. This time we're not looking to expand any service did, neither the Call-‐n-‐Ride the Access-‐a-‐Ride wouldn't because we're not looking to expand any of the current service. The Fix-‐Route Service that is in place as I mentioned earlier that Access-‐a-‐Ride service is base on what the Fixed Service route to doing and it's available but 3 quarter mile out each side of the Fix-‐Route and during the hours that Fixed-‐Route Service is operating. In order to implement new service or add service we use our service standard that were approved by the board and with that to add new service we had to have a certain amount of demand depending on what the type of service to start. And at this point we do not have enough demand in Brighton for Saturday or Sunday service to implement additional or new service but we're in contact with the Brighton staff, City staff and in touch with them in regards to the development that's occurring out there. And so, if the situation changes we most certainly will engage on that and see what we can do to add service. Speaker: Let me just say add, I have one quick comment to that. One of the things that we look at is 3 times a year we look at all of our service in the region that we provide. So those 3 times we call in to one board changes. We're looking at whether new areas or even current areas want more service and so we do that 3 times a year where we look at and review the ridership in all of that and the density in various areas to see if they want new service, if it they does then we put it out there.
Speaker: Thank you Phil. Marty we're going to... go to you next. What's you question? Speaker: Yes. Is there going to be a stop at the Tower in the Peoria on the East Airport Line. Speaker: The closest stop and the closest parking will be at 40th in airport will we have our parking, service parking ride there now so that would be the closest parking or your closest stop on that East line to where you are. Speaker: Okay. Let's go next to Carol. Carol, thanks for you patience. Go ahead. Speaker: Well. First of all, I do want to express my frustration. I'm in Adams County resident for 27 years. 18 I've been in Thornton and I've been in Commerce City since and you know again paid the tax and nothing seems to be happening. But you know a part of, part of the problem too is that we don't, I never, I don't worked Downtown. I haven't worked Downtown in many years. I've worked suburb to suburb it's very difficult to use a bus route line to do that. And you know frankly if it was available I would 'cause I like you know not having not including me or unnecessarily but you think that's another thing that holds back people using public transportation because the route don't go to where they actually work or where they actually shop. Speaker: Only we'll address that. Speaker: Yes, thank you. Thank you, Carol. Let me let me address the paying of the taxes went out. I'll let somebody else to take the bus question. As I said earlier we've made quite a few investments that has to be made, that people may not see. The example that I gave was we had to buy the right of way for the North Metro line from the rail roads, we had to do that before we could build the line. We purchase that right of way in anticipation of building the North Metro line, we purchase the right of way from the rail roads in 2010 and we paid almost a hundred and twenty
million dollars. We spend million of dollars on the environmental fees, we are spending... we will be spending quite a bit of money on property acquisition for the rail line. So we have indeed spent quite a bit of money, we exercise an option to buy additional vehicles on the North Metro line we expanded the existing facility, vehicle facility. So we are doing this this behind the scenes work in terms of spending money to pay the way for the line that you may not see. But it must be done in order to construct the North Metro quarter and now we're here ready to break round on North Metro. So all of those things we have invested quite a bit of money on North Metro understanding that the tax first have been paying of... but we actually spend a lot of money and invest a lot of money to paid the way for the construction. Now I ask Natalie to answer the bus question. Speaker: Yes hi. We actually complete surveys every couple of years in a different areas route the district and the last one that we completed in the North area was in 2010. So actually we're looking to have another one done next year in the North area and those surveys go out to all kinds of household, we don't do... there is basically like a blank mailing we don't know if these people were use transit or not and what we get out of the survey is, were people want to go where they leave and where they want to go and we used those surveys to help us figure out what's... demand is out there and what types of the services are needed. So from the last survey that we got there really wasn't any demand other than into Denver. There wasn't any demand that really stood out, that would say, hey we need to increase service or out service that is in there already that that is needed for people to get from one community to the other. But next year will see what the data brings then if it tells the stuff that we need to implements service from one community or another because the demand is there, then we will most certainly look at that and see if we can do that. Speaker: Thank you. Richard your up. Go ahead with your question. Speaker: Yeah my concern was about the North Metro line going up to Eastlake and somebody made a comment before about that, you know it's the pretty safe bet of the ADA and then there was a question of, is the money going to be enough to get up to a hundred and twenty that's one question and up and down the North Metro line, my understanding is that is all going to be commuter cars and... or they noisier than FasTrack and do they have the overhead lines or did they soft generate the electricity.
Speaker: Okay, Richard thank you. Phil I wanted you... at least you could update to maybe give us an over all recap of North Metro. Speaker: Okay, thank you for the question Richard. Just a quick recap on North Metro. On November 5th I and the stuff will be giving a recommendation to the RTD board on a contract to the build North Metro and how far we can go with the funding that we have that happens November 5th. On November 14th we will have a public comment period. Where the public can come in 3 minutes each and a voice their support our opposition for the building and constructing of North Metro. We will then ask the board which will be on a committee form to take some action on the stuff recommendation of a contractor and how far we can go up the line. The final decision on the contractor and how far we go will be on November 26th at our official board meeting, after that is done we hope to give a notice to proceed to a contractor to break ground on North Metro we hope to give that notice to proceed in December of this year and break ground or start constructions in early 2014. So we're moving very rapidly on this, now in terms of commuter rail let me just quickly repeat what Jim Starling said. We're talking commuter rail is not light rail that you see altered now heavier vehicles, a faster speeds a few were stops overhead Kentmere electrical multiple unit. So that's kind of where we are. Speaker: Thanks Phil. I know that the website RTD's website is a great location transformation on, station locations and just to keep up to date on the program. That website is rtd-‐denver.com unfortunately we have come to end of our telephone town hall tonight. We're sorry if we didn't get to your question but you can still leave us a message or comment at the end of the call. So just stay on the line, on behalf of RTD and everyone here tonight we'd like to thank you for taking part in this event. Have a good evening."