• Rapid Transit Map (pdf)
• Suburb-to-Suburb Map (pdf)
• West Corridor Project Description (pdf)
• West Corridor Map (pdf)

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has developed a plan, called FasTracks, for expanded rail and bus transit throughout the Denver region.  FasTracks was developed after an extensive study process involving thousands of citizens, business leaders and elected officials.

With nearly a million new people expected in the region in the next 20 years, the Denver Regional Council of Governments has developed MetroVision, the region’s long-range plan for growth and development in the Denver region, which includes a network of transit and road projects that create a vision for a balanced transportation plan.  FasTracks incorporates transit elements of that plan.

FasTracks has three key goals: to provide more transportation choices to people in the region, to increase the share of rush hour commuters using transit, and to balance transit service with future regional growth.  FasTracks is a 12-year plan that includes (see maps):

• new rail lines serving 6 of the most congested freeway corridors in the region
   
• bus rapid transit, expanded suburb-to-suburb and circulator bus service
   
• extensions of and more parking and train cars for the Southwest and T-REX light rail
   
• expanded Park-n-Rides
   
• “FastConnects”, which is a network of transit hubs that make bus transfers easier

FasTracks would cost $4.7 Billion to build. The cost of repaying the bonds would be $6.3 billion, including interest. RTD has already built as many rail projects as it can afford at this time with its existing funding base. The Governor and the state legislature have given citizens the ability to place an initiative on the ballot for additional funding for RTD to expand rail and bus transit.

Currently the FasTracks plan is being reviewed by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) to verify the technical and financial soundness of the plan, as required by state law. The DRCOG review is scheduled to be completed by April 21st. If FasTracks is approved, the RTD Board is expected to then refer the plan to voters. Citizen supporters must then gather at least 37,000 valid signatures before FasTracks can be placed on the November 2004 ballot

For more information on FasTracks and transit in the Denver region please visit www.rtd-denver.com and www.transitalliance.org. If you would like to comment on the FasTracks plan that is being reviewed by DRCOG, please send an e-mail to drcog@drcog.org or write to DRCOG Chairman, 4500 Cherry Creek Drive South, Ste. 800, Denver, CO, 80246.