Eagle P3 Project

At a glance

  • Eagle P3 is part of RTD’s 2004 voter-approved FasTracks plan to expand transit across the Denver metro region.
  • The $2.2 billion project comprises the A Line and G Line, the first segment of the B Line to Westminster, procurement of 56 commuter rail cars and a commuter rail maintenance facility, all scheduled for completion in 2016.
  • P3, or public-private partnership, is an innovative financing and delivery method in which a public entity partners with the private sector. The private team invests its own money and assumes much of the risk on the project. That allows the public entity to spread out large upfront costs while preserving public cash for early construction.
  • Funding for Eagle P3 comes from federal grants and loans, RTD sales taxes and the contractor’s financial contribution. The project received a $1.03 billion Full Funding Grant Agreement from the Federal Transit Administration.
  • RTD entered into a 34-year agreement with Denver Transit Partners (DTP) under which it will pay DTP to operate and maintain the system; DTP repays its private financing from that amount, much like home mortgages are repaid.

Project Overview

  • A Line: a 23-mile electric commuter rail corridor between Denver’s Union Station and Denver International Airport that will pass through east Denver and Aurora, and include intermediate stations at 38th•Blake, 40th•Colorado, Central Park, Peoria, and 40th Ave & Airport Blvd•Gateway Park and 61st•Peña Boulevard.
  • G Line: an 11.2-mile electric commuter rail corridor between Union Station and Ward Road in Wheat Ridge that will pass through northwest Denver, Adams County and Arvada, and include intermediate stations at 41st•Fox, Pecos Junction, Clear Creek•Federal, 60th & Sheridan•Arvada Gold Strike, Olde Town Arvada, Arvada Ridge and Wheat Ridge•Ward. This line opened April 26, 2019.
  • B Line: a 6.2-mile first segment running between Union Station and Westminster Station near 72nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard. This line opened July 25, 2016.
  • Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility: located at 5151 Fox Street, where vehicles serving the four FasTracks commuter rail corridors are repaired, cleaned and stored.

PROJECT FUNDING

Total Project Funding is $2.2 Billion

  • Includes $1.03 billion in federal funds
  • Includes $450 million in private financing

PROJECT PHASES

Phase I -

  • Property acquisition begins
  • A Line from downtown Denver to Denver International Airport
  • Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility and Control Center
  • Electric Multiple Unit vehicles
  • Electrical systems at Denver Union Station

Phase II

  • G Line to Arvada and Wheat Ridge
  • First segment of B Line to south Westminster

PROJECT SCHEDULE

  • 2009: RTD released Request for Proposals
  • 2010: Final proposals received; RTD Board of Directors selected Denver Transit Partners as P3 team; Phase I Notice to Proceed issued.
  • 2011: $1.03 billion federal grant awarded; Phase II Notice to Proceed issued.
  • 2016: Project opens with launch of the A Line on April 22. The B Line opened July 25, 2016.
  • 2019: G Line opened April 26, 2019.

Eagle P3 Project