RTD Board Approves Proposal from Kiewit to Finish I-225 Light Rail Line

On July 24 after hearing the RTD staff recommendation and public comment, the RTD Board is moving forward with a proposal from Kiewit Infrastructure Company. This will complete the I-225 Line from Iliff to Peoria and connect with the East Rail Line to DIA. Currently, construction is underway to Iliff as part of a contract with CDOT. The entire line is proposed to be completed by November 2015.

News Release
July 3 Presentation to the Board

Benefits of Completing I-225 Now

The proposal allows RTD to leverage the funds it has available to complete another entire rail line in the next three-and-a-half years.
The contractor's completion date ties in ideally with the opening of the East Rail Line to DIA.
It provides regional connectivity between Denver Union Station, DIA, and a major portion of the metro area.
It maximizes mobility for military veterans and their dependents seeking medical care at the soon-to-be completed Regional Veterans Administration Hospital as well as for transit-dependent individuals and to key job centers.
It serves a key employment and regional destination: The Anschutz/Fitzsimons Medical Campus, including the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Children's Hospital and the soon-to-be completed Veterans Administration Hospital, serving the seven-state Rocky Mountain region providing medical services to approximately 57,000 military veterans.
It creates hundreds of additional local jobs, including military veterans.
Moving forward with the Kiewit proposal allows RTD to complete two additional projects−I-225 to Peoria and US 36 to Table Mesa−in the near term.

RTD will continue to pursue alternative funding and partnerships to build out the program as revenues allow and the market dictates.

Moving forward with the I-225 proposal reflects the FasTracks Guiding Principles:

Ensure every step contributes to the full vision
Focus money available to the greatest good
Spend public money wisely
Maximize outside funding before going to taxpayers
Deliver key investments in all corridors

This is yet another way we can "build as much as we can as fast as we can until it's all done."