The Greater Denver area’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) has released a draft of its comprehensive 2025 Finishing FasTracks Report, outlining the $1.6 billion capital and operating costs needed to complete four unfinished corridors, as well as revenue and ridership projections.
In 2004, voters approved Denver’s $4.7 billion FasTracks program to build new commuter rail and light rail lines, bus rapid transit service, and support infrastructure across the Denver metro area. The plan includes expanding light and commuter rail, redeveloping Union Station and adding park-n-rides and parking spaces to improve public transit access and options.
Despite being approved more than 20 years ago, the Northwest, North Metro, Southwest and Central corridors remain unfinished for reasons that include an estimated $1.2 billion shortfall exacerbated by initial cost overruns, the 2008 recession and rising construction material prices.
RTD will submit the final 2025 Finishing FasTracks Report to the state on Dec. 1. Customers, community and stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback about the draft report via RTD’s FasTracks webpage through Nov. 14.
Highlights of the draft report include potential new funding sources and a strategy involving statewide collaboration focused on intercity passenger rail.
RTD estimates $145 million would be available for FasTracks completion from the FasTracks Internal Savings Account by 2030, based on the agency’s proposed 2026-2030 Five-Year Financial Forecast.
State funding from programs authorized by recent legislation could potentially contribute toward a limited completion of FasTracks projects. These additional revenue sources could potentially fund up to $296 million towards FasTracks projects between 2026 and 2034.
Since 2004, RTD has completed approximately 75% of the FasTracks projects, including 25 miles of light rail track, 53 miles of commuter rail track, and the implementation of bus rapid transit service along US 36.
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