FasTracks

FasTracks is a multibillion-dollar <a href="/facts/Public_transportation/DXhqazz5">public transportation</a> expansion plan under construction in metropolitan <a href="/facts/Denver/KWUnuDSu">Denver</a>, <a href="/facts/Colorado/IgIHrJI5">Colorado</a>, United States. Developed by the <a href="/facts/Regional_Transportation_District/7rgd9mkh">Regional Transportation District</a> (RTD), the plan consists of new <a href="/facts/Commuter_rail/5AzytgF3">commuter rail</a>, <a href="/facts/Light_rail/5Sr1FjHu">light rail</a>, and express bus services. Six new light rail, electric commuter rail and diesel commuter rail lines with a combined length of 122 miles (196 km) will be constructed under the plan. It expands on previous transportation projects, notably <a href="/facts/Colorado_T-REX_Project_(TRansportation_EXpansion)/xJJ9c8d7">T-REX</a>, and includes 57 new transit stations and stops, 21,000 new parking spaces, 18 miles (29 km) of a bus service between Denver and <a href="/facts/Boulder,_Colorado/nlzuFHN2">Boulder</a> and the renovation of <a href="/facts/Denver_Union_Station/CpFX8aYC">Denver Union Station</a> as a multi-modal transportation hub.
Originally envisioned to cost $4.7 billion and to be completed in 2017, voters in the eight counties that comprise the RTD approved a 0.4 percent sales tax increase in 2004. By 2010, the budget grew to $6.5 billion while projected revenues dropped to $4.1 billion.
The project is not expected to be finished until after 2050. Alternative funding sources, such as <a href="/facts/Public-private_partnerships/b4RAUT2j">public-private partnerships</a>, have been sought.
The first of the six new lines envisioned in the plan, the <a href="/facts/W_Line_(RTD)/kf2zw3Fu">West Corridor light rail line</a> to <a href="/facts/Golden,_Colorado/qcNQg5xM">Golden, Colorado</a>, opened for revenue service on April 26, 2013. By mid-2014, construction was underway on the five other rail lines. Two commuter rail lines opened on their long-anticipated dates in 2016: the East Rail Line to <a href="/facts/Denver_International_Airport/CBdRTspw">Denver International Airport</a> and the portion of the Northwest Rail Line to south <a href="/facts/Westminster,_Colorado/nEg3oxbs">Westminster</a>. The I-225 Rail Line through <a href="/facts/Aurora,_Colorado/p7rMDyGj">Aurora</a> opened on February 24, 2017, and the Gold Line to <a href="/facts/Wheat_Ridge,_Colorado/M2YPA8bb">Wheat Ridge</a> opened on April 26, 2019. In addition, the North Metro Rail Line to <a href="/facts/Thornton,_Colorado/QxMNIfV8">Thornton</a> opened in 2020.
<a href="/facts/Denver_Union_Station/CpFX8aYC">Denver Union Station</a> underwent $200 million worth of facility improvements to turn it into the hub for new commuter and light rail lines as well as bus service in downtown Denver. The underground 22-bay bus concourse at Union Station opened on May 11, 2014, while the restaurants, bars, and hotel officially opened July 26, 2014.

FasTracks open-in-new

FasTracks