As I prepare to transition from my duties at the Regional Transportation District to become the new CEO of Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, I take great pride in having been part of the unique model of regional collaboration here in the Denver metro area. It is truly special. Our counterparts from around the world have come to visit the metro region to see how they can replicate our brand of collaboration in their communities.
We are a region with varied community interests, yet we demonstrate on a routine basis the ability to work together to get things done. This includes all of us: the governor of Colorado, our congressional delegation, the U.S. Department of Transportation; the mayors and county commissioners and their staffs; the Denver International Airport team; the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Union Pacific (UP) Railroads; the private utilities; large and small/minority businesses, consultants and contractors; colleges and universities; community organizations; and, most important, the citizens of our region.
Together, we brought the FasTracks program to life and are getting it done. Six years ago, when the current RTD senior staff team assumed the day-to-day leadership mantle of the agency, no FasTracks projects were in construction. Now, two projects are done, six are in construction and another is moving toward construction.
We’ve completed the West Rail Line and Denver Union Station ahead of schedule and within budget. We are nearing completion of the Eagle Public-Private Partnership (P3) Project — East Rail Line to DIA, Gold Rail Line to Arvada, and the first phase of the Northwest Rail Line to Westminster — scheduled to open in 2016 on time and within budget. We are in full construction on the Aurora/I-225 Light Rail Line, scheduled to open in 2016 as well.
We partnered with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to construct the U.S. 36 Bus Rapid Transit project as part of FasTracks, which will open in less than a year. We jump-started the Southeast Rail Extension, with groundbreaking and construction scheduled to begin in the next 12 months. The North Metro Rail Project is more evidence of our region’s progressive and innovative thinking. And while we did not accomplish all that we would have liked during my leadership tenure, we sure got the transportation infrastructure ball rolling in this region.
Our infrastructure investments have helped create 14,000 jobs and inject $5 billion into the Colorado economy.
The RTD Board (past and present) and our wonderful staff have shown bold leadership and have been willing to make tough decisions that could have been deemed risky at the time, but paved the way for the success we are experiencing. I have appreciated the voices of our most optimistic supporters and our biggest critics because reality often lies somewhere between the two perspectives. This includes the local media who have been diligent in keeping the public informed and have held our feet to the fire to ensure we’re delivering the service that the public deserves.
The greatest impact that one can have on any enterprise is to continue to see the results of their involvement long after they have left. I will always be proud to speak to my years here at RTD and the success and experiences that we have shared. Our collective footprints will be present on all of the existing and future infrastructure projects currently underway.
There is much more to do, but I trust that through the region’s continued collaboration, current momentum, and innovation the path forward will bring even more success and opportunity to this great region.
Phillip A. Washington is the outgoing general manager and CEO of the Regional Transportation District.
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