Upstart to Start Up Colorados High Speed Intercity

Upstart to Start Up: Colorado’s High Speed & Intercity Transit Vision & State Rail Plan September 2014

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

30 Years Makes A Difference Ø Today – 2014 Ø Colorado has the first rural Bus Rapid Transit Ø Fort Collins Colorado opened its BRT Ø Fas. Tracks is well on the way to completion Ø State and Local agencies are planning for growth with all modes & choices in mind 2

CDOT Division of Transit & Rail Ø The Division of Transit & Rail established in 2009 Ø Senate Bill 09 -094 Ø Authority to plan, design, finance, operate, maintain and contract for transit services. Ø Also in 2009 Senate Bill 09 -108 (FASTER) Ø Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER) Ø Increased Vehicle Registration Fees Ø Funds Highway Safety projects and Bridge replacement and refurbishments Ø Dedicated State funding for transit Ø $15 M per year 2

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

Statewide Transit Plan - 2014 Ø Regional Transit Plans Ø Strategy-based Ø Reflects a combination of service, facility, vehicle, & marketing / communication needs. Ø Financial Constraints Ø State is 450 x 300 miles 2

Interregional Express Bus Ø CDOT becomes a transit operator (using a private operator) Ø Begins to fulfill multimodal mission Ø Interregional element to statewide transit network Ø Connect population & employment centers Ø Peak period commuter & “essential service” express Ø Fast/minimize travel times Ø Limited stops/significant spacing Ø Utilize park-and-rides for broad local access Ø Maximize fare box recovery Ø Expect at least 40% over time Ø Guarantee 20% within two years Ø Expand service as demand builds & farebox revenue allows 2

Interregional Express Bus FRISCO 2

State Freight & Passenger Rail Plan - 2012 Ø Develop intercity and regional passenger rail Ø Facilitate Freight RR Communication Ø Railroads & Communities Ø Economic Development Opportunities Ø Coordinate, Integrate, Connect Ø Position Colorado for Federal Funding 2

AGS & ICS Studies 2012 -2014 Ø 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. Ø 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. 2

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

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

Outcomes Ø High Speed Transit demand for Longer-Distance Trips Ø Two commercially available technologies: rail & maglev Ø Alignments Ø Ø Ø 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, dbl guideway, high-speed maglev Significant local station development potential Ø Ridership Ø DIA is a critical long-term ridership market for both I-25 and I-70 Ø 75 -80% of ridership is I-25 Front Range, 20 -25% I-70 Mountain, 18 M/yr Ø Front Range System is Key to I-70 Mountain Ridership Success 13

Outcomes, continued Ø HST Not Financially Feasible at this Time Ø Full System $30. 1 B; Front Range $13. 6 B, Mountain Corridor $16. 5 B Ø Substantial Federal funds needed Ø Substantial new local (non-federal) funding source needed Ø Phased approach to get started? Ø Start along the Front Range Ø Commuter rail/upgradable to HST? Ø Phase 1, top priority? Ø Interoperability with RTD is a potential component Ø DUS / Central Area access is important to commuters Ø Maximize utilization of existing infrastructure, minimize transfers Ø Maximum flexibility to phase system development 14

Outcomes, continued Ø 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 Ø 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 15

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) 4

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

§ 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 18

Questions? For More Information: Mark Imhoff, Director Division of Transit & Rail 303 -757 -9007 mark. imhoff@state. co. us David Krutsinger, AICP Tracey Mac. Donald Rail & Special Projects Manager Senior Transit Planner 303 -757 -9008 303 -757 -9753 david. krutsinger@state. co. us tracey. macdonald@state. co. us CDOT – Division of Transit & Rail 4201 East Arkansas, Suite 227 Denver, CO 80222 19