DENVER - Today, Governor Jared Polis sent a letter to Debra Johnson, the Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) CEO and General Manager, to help ensure that RTD to fulfill its promise to complete the Northwest Rail corridor following reports that the CEO and General Manager questioned whether an extension of the B Line from Westminster to Longmont is the best option for the region. RTD was trusted in 2004 with additional taxpayer funds for the explicit purpose of building out FasTracks which included NW Rail.
“I write to remind you of RTD’s responsibility of fulfilling their obligations to the taxpayers of the District and urgently request you begin the planning necessary to complete the construction of the corridor by 2025. Please keep this priority in mind, particularly, as the District evaluates how to spend significant additional dollars that have been unexpectedly provided directly to RTD via federal stimulus payments,” wrote Governor Polis.
“RTD has a statutory and ethical duty to the voters of its District to complete FasTracks. The state’s economic vitality depends on our ability to connect all of our communities to affordable and efficient mobility options. And my administration is committed to seeing it completed by RTD. Most recently the completion of Fastracks NorthWest rail and the April 22nd plan projections of 8,600-10,100 rail riders by 2025 were incorporated in our state’s Greenhouse Gas Roadmap. I encourage you to immediately consider viable opportunities that can get this corridor operational by 2025,” Governor Polis wrote.
“Now is not the time to pump the brakes on finishing Fastracks. At every town hall I convened, we heard the anger and disappointment from Longmont constituents not getting what they paid for. There are new opportunities with the Biden Administration to finish what was promised to us 15 years ago. Let's put our heads together and make rail a reality,” said Jonathan Singer, former state representative.
“Longmont and I appreciate the Governor's persistence on this important issue. RTD must fulfill its commitment to the voters. They have a statutory obligation to comply and use Longmont's tax dollars to complete the NW Rail,” said Longmont Mayor Brian Bagley.
“Northwest Rail is an integral component of the multi-modal vision for Louisville and our region. The region has invested in this vision through the FasTracks tax for over a decade and it is critical that RTD advance a plan for completion,” said Louisville Mayor Ashley Stolzmann.
Read the Governor’s letter to RTD.