DENVER | Transportation Thread

[TakeFive]

In The News

'No longer affordable': Sound Transit outlines future of light rail projects
May 29, 2026 By Sebastian Robertson -- KING5 News

SEATTLE — Sound Transit’s governing board approved a sweeping overhaul of its voter-approved ST3 expansion plan Thursday, acknowledging a projected $34.5 billion funding gap that agency leaders say makes the original schedule unaffordable.

The vote follows months of discussion over rising construction costs, inflation, lower-than-expected revenues and increasing operating expenses that have left the agency unable to fully fund the regional transit expansion package voters approved in 2016.

Given ongoing inflation this is likely an overly optimistic assessment trying to please as many as possible.

[TakeFive]

"It's better to be lucky than good" -- Lefty Gomez

It's fair to say most people in Denver aren't even aware enough to appreciate how lucky RTD was with their FasTracks effort.

After securing funding for the FasTracks W Line and commuter rail lines there was no clear path on funding the R & N Lines. Neither qualified for 'matching' funds from the FTA.

"Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose"

I tracked down the retrospect success on Wikipedia

In March 2012, RTD received an unsolicited proposal to build the I-225 Corridor line from Kiewit Infrastructure Co. After determining the proposal had merit and seeking other bids, RTD selected Kiewit to build the line.

In 2013, RTD received a second unsolicited proposal this time to build the North Metro Line. RTD sought bids to build the line out in multiple phases. After receiving four bids, RTD selected the partnership of Graham Contracting Ltd., Balfour Beatty Rail Inc. and Harmon Contractors Inc. (GBBH), the same group that had submitted the unsolicited proposal.

Southeast Corridor Extension

Regional Transportation District sent four teams a Request for Proposal for the Southeast Corridor extension, consisting of 2.3 miles (3.7 km) of new track south of Lincoln station that would serve three new stations: Sky Ridge Medical Center, Lone Tree City Center, and the terminus at RidgeGate Parkway

This 'late' addition came together rather easily with Lone Tree contributing funds and they did win an FTA grant.

But Complainers Gonna Complain

[TakeFive]

Totally Hilarious

Driver follows GPS onto Seattle light rail tracks at Mount Baker Station, disrupting service for two hours
Jun 3, 2026 BY MYNORTHWEST STAFF -- KIRO

According to witnesses at the scene, the driver said she was following her GPS, which led her to drive onto the tracks. The driver even drove a “significant distance” on the tracks before getting stuck

Photo courtesy of Reddit Seattle

[TakeFive]

The Plot Thickens?

RTD gets serious about cutting public transit up to 20%
June 12, 2026 By Bruce Finley | The Denver Post

Efforts to find savings outside of service cuts have fallen short

Regional Transportation District board members are proceeding with detailed planning to cut bus and train service by up to 20% starting in 2027 — a possible painful-but-necessary public transit retrenchment to help fix the agency’s $215 million annual budget deficit.

The directors voted unanimously at an operations committee meeting on Wednesday night to task RTD service planners with identifying specific reductions in service hours, frequencies, and routes, and to present them later this month. The planners will propose combinations of cuts to achieve service reductions of 15%, 17.5%, and 20%.

[TakeFive]

This follows another recent announcement

Colorado moves to fix RTD with board restructure, accessibility mandates
May 27, 2026 By: Robert Garrison -- Denver7 News

New law leaves RTD's budget woes untouched

DENVER — Public transportation in the Denver area is about to get a boost, according to Gov. Jared Polis, after the governor signed Senate Bill 26-150 into law aboard a Regional Transportation District bus Tuesday.

The bill, introduced to the State Senate in March and sent to Polis’ office last week, promises to modernize the troubled transit district by shaking up RTD’s board structure and sharpening the agency’s focus on accessible transit.

I've never seen such a Dog & Pony Show led by our 'transit genius' Governor Polis but par for the course in passing yet another UNFUNDED mandate.

Morning Humor: Instead of a 'double post' I made one post into two, lol

[Nouvellecosse]

New Denver channel just dropped and they only have 3 subscribers so far. Hope everyone gives them some love!

• Video Link

[TakeFive]

East Colfax BRT project advances with approval of next-generation buses
May 28 2026

RTD’s Board of Directors approved the purchase of 47 new 60-foot articulated buses on Wednesday, May 27, marking a significant step forward for East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), one of the region's largest transit infrastructure projects.

The new buses are created specifically for BRT service and will replace existing articulated buses operating in RTD’s fleet. Features such as three-door access, level boarding, and bicycle storage are expected to reduce station wait times... These vehicles are also expected to improve reliability and reduce long-term maintenance needs across the system.

Courtesy RTD

[TakeFive]

Update -- I recently came across this:

TriMet to cut over 400 positions, reduce bus service
July 3, 2026

Reported previously that last year Blue Oregon legislature passed a number of tax increases to benefit transit in particular (as well as road/bridges). "Known as the gas tax, the measure would have increased the state’s gas tax by 6 cents per gallon, temporarily hiked the payroll tax, and doubled fees for registrations and titles." Didn't take long to collect signatures for a ballot initiative to cancel those. This year they moved the vote up to coincide with their primary voting thinking they might get a friendlier reception. Nope; The ballot initiative to raise taxes was voted DOWN by 87% of the voters.

While Trimet et al is singing the blues it is nothing that RTD didn't address years ago through their "Reimagine RTD" project from August 2019 - December 2022 .

[TakeFive]

Refresh and Update

RTD is still working on the total rebuild of the original 5.3 mile Central Corridor light rail line. There's significant work going on this year
and the project will wrap up with final work in 2027.

All this was possible because RTD sequestered the necessary funding for this going back to COVID funding.

Now we can add RTD's ability to order 47 new 60-foot articulated buses; where did the money come from?

AI Overview

... However, this $66.9 million fleet purchase was authorized as a procurement contract with New Flyer of America, rather than being funded by a direct, single federal grant for the buses themselves.

While the buses were internally authorized by the RTD board, the agency did receive a major $149.9 million federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in early 2025 specifically to build the infrastructure for this first Bus Rapid Transit line.

I'm not concerned with RTD's Operating Budget; that will work itself out over time. But you have to love how shiny their capital asset side of the ledger looks. Precious few agencies across the country are as in good of shape as RTD when it comes to capital costs and needs.



Postscript: The new Federal Transportation Bill ran out of time to be passed before expiration of the iija bill. Good Chance they do this between the election and new Congress in 2027. How that will impact transit funding is still anybody's guess.