Commerce City/72nd Avenue Station Groundbreaking

Celebration of North Metro Rail Line
Thursday, March 31, 1:30 pm
70th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard
Commerce City
Bus:

There was supposed to be a station plan attached to the announcement, but that led to a 404 error code page. There is also no contact information on the announcement.

RTD Board meets the end of March

RTD Board of Directors Meeting
March 29 at 5:30
1600 Blake Street
Denver
Bus: 0, 6, 20, 28, 32, 44
Free Mall Ride

The Board is meeting later in the month than usual. They may discuss the renovation of Civic Center Station. Let's bring back the bus rider oriented snack shop! (I need to find a snappier way to say that.)

Are you interested in learning more about how RTD operates?

There are five vacancies on the RTD Citizens Advisory Committee. This was supposed to be a way for citizens in the Denver area to make sure that the FasTracks money was spent in accordance with voters interests. That has not happened, but the committee meetings are a good way to find out what is happening with RTD, especially with the new rail lines. This can be useful it can be hard to get answers to certain questions.

Applications can be submitted to Lessly.Leon@rtd-denver.com or mailed to RTD FasTracks, c/o Leesly Leon, 1560 Broadway, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80202. Applications should include a brief statement of interest, qualifications for advising RTD on its actions, and a resume and are due by March 31, 2016.

Preference will be given to people who demonstrated interest in transit, are committed to the current power structure, and live in a district with no current rep or belong to a demographic group that is underrepresented.

Meetings are held quarterly. The next meeting should be held in the middle of March, but no date has been announced yet.

My letter to Colorado Senators about funding rail

$2.24 billion for rail was approved by Congress as part of the FAST Act. This represents a meaningful increase from the $1.39 billion enacted for Amtrak for FY 2016, but falls far short of the $7 to $9 billion a year recommended by the National Surface Transportation Policy & Revenue Study Commission, appointed by President George W. Bush.

We need this money to bring the Southwest Chief to Pueblo. This money may also go to improving rail in Missouri and California, making the train an even more attractive transportation option.

Republican governors are also working to bring rail back to the southeastern coast.

So this money NEEDS to be in the budget.

The National Association of Rail Passengers is requesting Congress fund the FAST Act programs at the following level:

--Amtrak – General Operating: $649.9
--Amtrak – General Capital : $920.4 (funding new tracks to Pueblo)
--Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements: $300.0
--Federal State Partnership for State of Good Repair: $250.0
--Restoration & Enhancement Grants: $100.0
--Amtrak OIG: $20.5
--Total: $2,240.8

On average every dollar invested in rail and improvements yields a three-dollar return to the economy of the surrounding community. In Colorado, this would be an investment in our small towns, towns that are often overshadowed by investments in Denver.

Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to your response.

(This letter is partly based on a template from the National Association of Rail Passengers. You can go here to submit a letter through their site: http://cqrcengage.com/narp/app/onestep-write-a-letter?3&engagementId=177153)