DeGette Hails $36 Million in Federal Funds to Jump Start Denver Union Station

June 30, 2008

DENVER – U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO)announced today, along with the Regional Transportation District (RTD)and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), $36 million infederal funds have been awarded by Federal Highway Administration tojump start Denver's Union Station's (DUS) into a regional intermodaltransportation hub as envisioned by Denver Metropolitan voters.

"I am extremely pleased to help bring these vital federal funds toassist in transforming Denver Union's Station into the region-wideintermodal transportation hub as passed by Colorado voters through theFasTrack initiative in 2004," said DeGette. "With rising oil and gasprices, the need to fully build out our regional rapid transit systemis now greater than ever. The redevelopment of Denver Union Station isthe central core of FasTracks and will be key in quickly moving peoplearound the metro region and beyond. The significant commitment offederal funding is proof of the regional and national importance ofthis 21st Century transportation project."

The $36 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department ofTransportation Federal Highway Administration is part of a total of $50million federal funds secured by U.S. Rep. DeGette through the Projectsof National and Regional Significance which was part of the Safe,Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacyfor Users (SAFETEA-LU) of 2005. The federal funds were secured withthe help and support of CDOT and RTD. The remaining $14 million isexpected to be released in future fiscal years.

"We truly appreciate the hard work by Congresswoman Diana DeGette ingetting this critical funding for Denver Union Station included in thefederal budget," said RTD Chairman Lee Kemp. "We all recognize theimportance of DUS as the cornerstone of the multi-modal transportationsystem for the entire metro area, and this funding will help secure itsfuture."

"We are appreciative of Congresswoman DeGette's efforts and support tosecure federal funding for this key multi-modal hub," said CDOTExecutive Director Russ George. "The partnership between our federal,state, regional and local agencies is stronger than ever and workingtogether we will be able to build this remarkable project."

The specific projects the federal funds will beappropriated to DUS include; preliminary engineering, design work,site preparation, relocation of the 16th Street Mall shuttleturnaround, track work, and construction of the temporary light railstation that will be required while the permanent station is beingbuilt. DUS is scheduled to be completed and open to the publicin 2012 with the full build out of FasTracks scheduled to be running by2016.