National conference in Denver puts RTD’s system – and flaws – on display

The Denver metro area’s strides in building out the $5.3 billion FasTracks rail system are under a big spotlight this week as more than 1,200 people gather downtown for a national transit conference.

“There’s no disputing the magnificent things that have happened here in Denver,” said U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat who represents Portland, in a speech during the opening session Monday morning.

But in giving Denver a platform to show off its growing transit system — including the transformed Union Station — the Rail-Volution conference also is underlining the many challenges and shortcomings facing the metro area.

The Regional Transportation District is struggling with declining bus ridership, the underperformance of the suburban W and R light-rail lines, and budget challenges that are forcing consideration of service cutbacks. RTD also is grappling with delays in the opening of commuter-rail lines and discontent over deferred promises in the voter-approved FasTracks expansion, which is over budget.

“Really, the No. 1 challenge is transportation funding,” RTD general manager Dave Genova said during a panel discussion on Denver’s rail build-out that also included Gov. John Hickenlooper.

“We still have four projects left to complete in the FasTracks program where we haven’t identified the capital funding and also the operation and maintenance fund-

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ing,” Genova said. “The estimate is, we need about $2 billion just in capital alone to complete those four projects.”

But the conference, which is bringing together policymakers, transit agency professionals and transportation advocates through Wednesday at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, is a good place to air such challenges.

Denver isn’t alone in facing them.

The conference’s agenda includes sessions ex- ploring not only transit operations and expansion projects but the intricacies of spurring development around rail stations and strategies to stave off the displacement of longtime residents. The latter is a pressing issue in fast-growing Denver.

“I think it’s important … to recognize that terrific light-rail development, combined with rapid economic development, doesn’t necessarily benefit everyone,” said Christine Marquez-Hudson, the president and CEO of the Denver Foundation and a participant in the same panel as Genova.

City officials and housing advocates have worked to ensure that the low-income residents who need transit access the most can afford to stay amid the rising rents and property taxes that have become the norm across Denver and its suburbs.

But such efforts haven’t kept pace with needs, Marquez-Hudson said, despite innovative efforts such as a $24 million regional transitoriented development fund established several years ago by the Denver Foundation and its partners. It aimed to subsidize the preservation or creation of 1,200 housing units near transit stations, she said.

“I think that that was absolutely critical — it was one of the first funds of its kind in the country,” she said. “Had it not been for that very forward-thinking effort, we wouldn’t have some of the housing we have near transit today.”