Another major transit PPP procurement currently being developed will be for a portion (or portions) of the FasTracks capital program being developed by the Regional Transportation District ("RTD") in Denver, Colorado. FasTracks is an ambitious 12-year, $6.1 billion plan to improve transit in the Denver area by developing 119 miles of new commuter rail and light rail, transit stations, bus rapid transit, an enhanced bus feeder system, park-and-rides and other parking capacity. RTD is considering using a PPP structure for the development, design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of two or more of the rail corridors that will make up the project. RTD has selected a financial advisor to help it examine its innovative financing options and to help establish a procurement process for these PPP projects. RTD expects to get public input on a draft Request for Proposals for the PPP procurement of the East, Gold Line and Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility by the summer of 2008.50 Among the benefits of a PPP structure for RTD is that it would "allow a private entity to borrow funds and repay costs over time, enabling RTD to spread out large upfront costs and preserve cash in the early years of FasTracks implementation."51
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50 Draft Procurement Schedule available at: http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_91 (last visited July 7, 2008)
51 FasTracks Focus: Public-Private Partnerships, Fall 2007 Public-Private Partnership Brochure available at: http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/media/uploads/main/FTfocusPPPweb_2.pdf (last visited July 7, 2008)