Feb. 4, 2008

North Metro Corridor DEIS Status and Union Pacific Railroad Negotiations

I am writing to update you on the progress being made with the North Metro Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and to share some next steps in the process.

RTD has been negotiating with both Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and BNSF Railroads about properties needed for the North Metro line and other FasTracks corridors.

As part of RTD’s system-wide FasTracks negotiations with the Union Pacific Railroad, the UP recently presented RTD with a package of properties, including southern portions of the North Metro alignment, that was unaffordable. RTD is still negotiating with the UP and anticipates reaching an agreement to purchase several UP properties for FasTracks – including the northern section of the North Metro line – in the upcoming months.

To keep the North Metro Corridor Environmental Impact Statement progressing and the line on schedule to open in 2015, we will revisit alternatives in the south, from Denver Union Station to 54th Avenue.

The additional evaluation will occur this spring and summer, with the Draft EIS scheduled to be released by the end of 2008. We will continue to work closely with our stakeholders on this effort as we have done in the past.

Our team will have a revised schedule and additional information to share with you in the near future, and a public meeting to discuss the alternatives refinements will be held in March. The exact date will be posted soon. We look forward to your continued input and participation in our evaluation as we move forward with analyzing alternatives for the North Metro Corridor.

Regards,

Dave Shelley
RTD FasTracks North Metro Project Manager