History Transportation Expansion Project

lane configurations i-25 looking south, evans yale

(source:federal highway administration planning toolkit - case study - colorado)

planning project began in june 1999, passage of law allowing state department of transportation (cdot) use transportation revenue anticipation notes borrow money based on federal funds state had not yet approved. shortly thereafter, colorado department of transportation (cdot), regional transportation district (rtd), federal highway administration , federal transit administration signed partnering agreement work on project, , voters approved plan run light rail through corridor. southeast corridor constructors, joint venture between omaha, nebraska-based kiewit construction , pasadena, ca-based parsons transportation group won design-build contract in may 2001. construction began few months later- in june 2001.

the partnering agreement key success of project. signed stakeholders, , established 4 primary goals:

minimize inconvenience community, motorists, , public.
meet or beat total program budget of $1.67 billion.
provide quality project.
meet or beat project s operational deadline of june 30, 2008.

another vitally important element of mis process , success project formation of 2 committees—a policy committee provided input on policy-related issues , monitored project progress relative overall public agency decision-making process, , technical committee focused on planning, engineering , environmental issues , assisted in development , refinement of alternatives. members of committee individuals various cities , jurisdictions within study area had technical background.

these 2 committees, (policy committee , technical committee) used goals partnering agreement refine , evaluate each alternative. public meetings , numerous workshops held during nepa (national environmental policy act) scoping , @ key milestones during study present definition of alternatives , guide colorado department of transportation , rtd in development , evaluation of preferred alternatives. committee members consisted of elected and/or appointed policy/decision-making officials affected areas. after adoption of mis, 4 agencies in june 1998 signed partnering charter created leadership team identify , pursue best multi modal solutions.

cdot , rtd next assembled teams 1 location. top management 4 agencies began meeting every 2 weeks. purpose of senior-level meetings not briefings, said chick dolby, federal transit administration deputy regional administrator, planning , make decisions.

a project newsletter published @ key project milestones keep public informed. committees remained intact during nepa , preliminary engineering process, , monthly meetings held keep them involved. helped maintaining constant public process , ongoing relations public through release of project newsletters, discussed project, listed milestone dates , invited public attend open houses , provide comments. press releases , media tour utilized keep project in media, , project displays placed in public buildings keep public informed. project website continuously updated latest documents , information. project team members met on 215 times community groups.

by end of 2002, working $100 million budget, t-rex project acquired 6 single-family homes, 2 duplexes , 2 apartment buildings. negotiated 30 total acquisitions , 172 partial acquisitions. businesses eligible replacement property costs , moving costs. residential properties, t-rex project purchased business properties, , relocation experts helped businesses move. no 1 had move until found comparable replacement housing.

t-rex s five-year design-build project added 19 miles (31 km) of light rail , improved 17 miles (27 km) of highway through southeast denver, aurora, greenwood village, centennial , lone tree. unprecedented project result of unique collaboration between colorado department of transportation, regional transportation district, responsible transit service in metro denver area, federal highway administration , federal transit administration. construction began in fall 2001 , construction ended in december 2006, 22 months ahead of original schedule. additionally, light rail service along southeast corridor began in late 2006.