Aurora mayor eyes loan to RTD to speed up work on I-225 light rail

If Aurora wants to see light rail along the entire Interstate 225 corridor anytime soon, it might have to fund it upfront itself.

That's the message coming from Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, who, like others in the city, is frustrated that the FasTracks project is off track because of a lack of funding.

The Regional Transportation District estimates that light rail through the I-225 corridor ? one of the most congested stretches in the state ? could be completed by 2026. But some are skeptical that date is realistic and contend even if it is accurate, it is too much time to spend completing the project.

Without another tax hike to fund FasTracks, projects like the I-225 corridor could be delayed for years. A coalition of metro-area mayors has balked at asking voters for another tax increase this year or next to further the project, citing the continued struggles in the economy.

So Hogan envisions either asking Aurora voters in 2013 for a sales-tax or property-tax increase to complete the light rail project from East Iliff Avenue to Smith Road near Interstate 70. That stretch of light rail would connect with the east line project running between Union Station and Denver International Airport.

If approved, Aurora would front the money to RTD, which would oversee the construction of the project, then the city could get reimbursed for the costs over time.

At least that's the idea.

Light rail now runs from Interstate 25 in Denver, along I-225 to South Parker Road. Construction is underway to extend that more than 1.5 miles from Parker Road to Iliff. But the majority of the corridor, including the growing Anschutz Medical Campus, will remain unserved by light rail. The entire corridor is about 12 miles long.

"The way to get this done early is to think about doing it ourselves," Hogan said. "Everybody understands we have got to get light rail to the Anschutz Medical Campus."

The campus sees upward of 40,000 "vehicle movements" a day, said RTD board member Tom Tobiassen, who represents Aurora on the board, and there are only 19,000 parking spaces at the campus, located at the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center.

Tobiassen supports having more discussions with Aurora about Hogan's idea that Aurora could "loan" the money to RTD.

"The need is bad right now, and it's going to get worse as the campus continues to add jobs," Tobiassen said.

RTD is soliciting bids from private companies for the I-225 project and other unfinished transportation projects in the metro area. Tobiassen said RTD expects to see proposals sometime in mid-June.

Aurora and other communities waiting for the projects to be completed will have a better sense of what needs to be done and how those projects could be funded sometime after that.

The Aurora City Council has not had formal discussions on whether to go to voters next year.

Councilman Bob Broom, however, agrees that steps need to be taken to ensure light rail on I-225.

"I think Steve's right. We can't just throw up our hands and say that's not going to get done," Broom said. "If RTD doesn't raise revenues, it's going to take a long time."

Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com

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