North Metro Rail Line

ITE Luncheon

November 7, 2014

Jane Donovan RTD Deputy Project Manager

Ted Rutledge

RRP Design Manager

Shawn Plichta RRP Design-Build Coordination Manager

History of RTD

History of RTD

Regional Transportation District • Serves 8 counties (2,340 sq. miles)

• Funded by 1% sales tax – 0.6 base system – 0.4 FasTracks

• 1,002 buses/172 light rail vehicles

• 138 routes

• 74 Park-n-Rides

• 9,509 bus stops

• 46 light rail stations

• 48 miles of light rail

• 102 million annual boardings

• 6 operating facilities

The RTD FasTracks Plan • 122 miles of new light rail and

commuter rail • 18 miles of Bus Rapid Transit

(BRT) service • 31 new Park-n-Rides; more than

21,000 new parking spaces • Enhanced Bus Network & Transit

Hubs (FastConnects) • Redevelopment of Denver Union

Station

• 57 new rail and/or BRT stations • Opportunities for Transit Oriented

Communities

FasTracks Guiding Principles

• Ensure every step contributes to the full vision

• Focus money available to the greatest good

• Spend public money wisely

• Maximize all funding opportunities before going to taxpayers

• Deliver key investments in all corridors

Build As Much As We Can As Fast As We Can Until It Is All Done!

FasTracks Status

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West Rail Line (W Line)—First FasTracks line to open—April 2013

Denver Union Station—Bus Concourse opened in May; historic building in July

• East/Gold/Northwest Rail Lines (EAGLE)—63% complete, 2016

• I-225 Line—39% in construction progress; 99% in design progress 2016

• U.S. 36 BRT—Phase 1 of managed lanes 77% complete, Phase 2—39% 2016

• North Metro Line—Design underway, early work in progress 2018

• Southeast Rail Extension—Project Development phase nearly complete for federal funding process

What makes FasTracks unique? • Regional collaboration

• Positive economic impact during recession

• Innovation: – 2011 Industry Forum (T3)

– Unsolicited Proposals

• Innovative Financing: – DUS

– EAGLE

– NM

DUS Innovative Financing • Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIF)

• Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA)

• $304 million combined

– RRIF loan - $155 million

– TIFIA loan - $146 million

Eagle P3 Innovative Financing

• Public-Private Partnership

– $1.03 billion in federal funds

– $486 million in private equity

– $500 million in local funds

• RTD to issue financing for North Metro – Certificates of Participation (COP) with the rail line assets

as collateral – COPs can be used on non-federally funded projects and

projects where RTD owns the asset – Projected issuance of approximately $480 million

• Use portion of FISA balance to help cover North Metro costs – Allows RTD to finance more of the corridor – Need to balance with potential uses on US 36 BRT

North Metro Innovative Financing

What makes FasTracks unique? • Regional collaboration

• Positive economic impact during recession

• Innovation: – 2011 Industry Forum (T3)

– Unsolicited Proposals

• Innovative Financing: – DUS

– EAGLE

– NM

(T3) Industry Forum - 2011

• Seek out innovative approaches from the private sector to: – Complete the FasTracks program sooner

– Enhance the overall RTD customer experience system-wide

– Reduce the cost of operations

• Examples could include: – Innovative financial solutions to build more of the FasTracks

program sooner (e.g., P3s)

– Leveraging RTD’s existing assets in lieu of cash payment (e.g., advertising space/sponsorships, use of excess property, bundling O&M and capital build-out contracts)

Unsolicited Proposal Process To qualify as Unsolicited, a proposal must meet the following criteria: • Innovative and unique. • Independently originated and developed by the proposer. • Prepared without RTD’s supervision, endorsement, direction or

direct involvement. • Sufficiently detailed that its benefits in support RTD’s mission and

responsibilities are apparent.

To qualify as Unsolicited, a proposal must not be one of the following: • An offer responding to RTD’s previously published expression of

need or request for proposals; or • An advance proposal for property or services that RTD could acquire

through competitive methods.

North Metro Unsolicited Proposal & RFP • February 2013 - Unsolicited Proposal

received from Regional Rail Partners (RRP)

• Evaluation determined that the Unsolicited Proposal had technical merit.

• On June 28, an RFP (DUS to 72nd Avenue with options to extend further) was issued.

Evaluation Organization

Evaluation Committee

Technical Subcommittee

Financial Subcommittee

Technical Approach Working Group

Management Approach Working Group

Value Added Working Group

General Manager

Board of Directors

Pros of Proposals Received • Best Value approach to sub-consultant selection

• Successful DBE outreach

• Systems work will integrate seamlessly • Provided details and technical solutions without scope

reduction or sacrificing quality • Detailed Environmental Compliance plan • Live prairie dog relocation plan • Demonstrated understanding of railroad coordination,

requirements, operations and safety • Demonstrated understanding of ROW approach and scope • Approach that includes stakeholders

RRP is a Joint Venture of Balfour Beatty and Graham Contracting with:

• Lead Designer – Stantec Consulting • Sub-Designer – Parsons Brinckerhoff • 20 D/SBE and local designers including

Regional Rail Partners (RRP)

T3 Initiative Opens Door to Innovation • The search for FasTracks funding options

• RTD’s T3 Invitation to Industry

• Responses on I-225 and North Metro Corridors

North Metro Status in 2013 • Lack of funding for North Metro

– 2044 completion date

• Comparison to other corridors

• Local disenchantment with prognosis

Unsolicited Proposal Overview • Why North Metro?

• How agencies implement in practice

• Nuances of RTD’s approach

North Metro Unsolicited Proposal • Starting point: input from local communities & NATA

• Unsolicited proposal process

• Highlights for North Metro

Benefits to the Community, RTD & Industry Partners

• Accelerated schedule

• Flexibility in implementation

• Win-win for RTD and northern communities

• Design-build advantages

– 104th Station

– 88th Avenue bridge

– Thornton local projects

• Timely economic boost

• Positive outlook for local communities

Benefits to the Community, RTD & Industry Partners

• 18.5 Miles, building 12.5

• Electrified Commuter Rail

• 8 Stations, building 6

• Frequency • 20 minute peak • 30 minute off-peak

• DUS – 124th – 27 minutes

• Single track with multiple passing tracks

• Serves Denver, Commerce City, Thornton, Northglenn, Adams County

North Metro Rail Line

Commuter Rail vs. Light Rail

Commuter Rail Light Rail Powered by 25kV alternating current overhead electrical system

Powered by 750 V direct current by overhead electrical system

Typically serves longer lines with fewer stations

Can operate along crowded, narrow streets

Can operate up to 79mph Can accelerate and decelerate quickly; top speed 55 mph

Capacity of 90 seats, 142 standing Capacity of 64 seats, 121 standing

Married pairs Single cars

Level boarding from platform Stairs to board light rail from platform

Commuter Rail Vehicles

Commuter Rail Vehicles • Left Philadelphia, PA on October 30, 2014 • Scheduled to arrive at DUS late November – early December

Major Project Elements • 11 new bridges – including the North Metro Skyway, longest

bridge in the state • 12.5 miles of duct bank and track • 300,000+ square feet of walls • 150+ Utility relocations • 550 Overhead Catenary System (OCS) Poles • 130,000 feet of OCS wire

Construction Sequencing

Build-Out

North to South

Early Work

• July – Dec 2014 Geotechnical drilling

• July – Dec 2014 Surveying & utility potholing

• Nov – Dec 2014 Tie-in work at DUS

• Nov – Dec 2014 Rail delivery begins

• Feb 2015 UPRR track removal

• Feb 2015 Begin utility and drainage work

• March 2015 Bridge construction/120th Avenue

Schedule Design:

• Fall 2014 60% design drawings & public meeting

• 2014 – Early 2015 90% design drawings

• 2nd Quarter 2015 100% design packages/IFC

• December 2015 Deadline to exercise option for Phase II

Schedule Construction:

• 2015 – 2016 Civil & infrastructure

• 2016 – 2017 Systems & track

• 2018 Testing & training

• 2018 Open to the public

Design-Build

Value Engineering • RTD Rail Operations • RTD Bus Operations • Government Agencies • Project Stakeholders • Community Concerns • Local Businesses • Connectivity • Traffic • Environmental • Aesthetics • Future Compatibility

VE Process – 104th Avenue

VE Process – 104th Avenue Colorado Boulevard Looking East

VE Process – 104th Avenue

VE Process – 88th Avenue

VE Process – 88th Avenue • Saved RTD residential property acquisitions • Pedestrian underpass will be paid for by Thornton

Required roadway improvements to meet City of Thornton design standards

VE Process – 88th Avenue

Questions?

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