Save our Northwest Commuter Rail!

by: Westminster Progressive Home Owners Association

recipient: RTD Board of Directors



Neighbors! FasTracks commuter rail that voters approved in 2004, and that was promised to our community, may be taken away by a vote of the RTD board of directors on March 8th, 2012!

The communities who are at risk of losing commuter rail service include: Boulder, Broomfield, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Niwot, Superior, and Westminster.

Please make your voice heard!



The upcoming vote by the RTD Board of Directors will determine whether the FasTracks transit system will continue to include the commuter rail transit we were promised or will be downgraded to a bus-only system in our communities.

Either way this vote goes, it is a fact that RTD will be bringing Colorado voters a ballot request in the coming November election to increase the current sales tax which funds FasTracks by another four tenths of one-percent.



If our commuter rail is eliminated in this vote, and the tax increase is approved, this would also result in our community paying 1.4 billion dollars for an expanded bus system with no rail system what-so-ever!



Tell the RTD Board you say NO! to any bus system as a replacement for the rail system we approved!



Tell the RTD Board you say YES! to the commuter rail system we were promised!

read petition letter ▾

We, the undersigned, are writing about an issue of critical importance to our community -- whether the FasTracks transit will include rail transit in the Northwest Corridor.

In November 2011, RTD reported that costs to use the BNSF railroad tracks for the Northwest Commuter Rail project, linking Denver to Longmont, are $500 million higher than originally estimated. RTD estimates that these cost increases will delay the project by an additional three to five years, pushing the projects completion from its original date of 2016 to as late as 2025.

Because of these cost increases, RTD is also seriously considering eliminating rail from the US 36 corridor and substituting expanded bus service.

In 2004, voters approved an RTD sales tax increase of four-tenths of one percent the FasTracks system throughout the Denver metro area, including the construction of commuter rail from Denver to Longmont. RTD is now considering asking for a second tax increase of four-tenths of one percent to address rising construction costs and the impact of the recession on sales tax revenues.

We will not vote for another tax increase, and overall outlay of $1.4 billion, for bus system enhancements that would leave us at a permanent competitive disadvantage compared to the rest of the metropolitan area.

In 2007, the General Assembly showed it’s commitment to commuter rail to the Northwest Corridor, and the taxpayers in our communities have been footing the bill with the full expectation that RTD would deliver on its promise.

We request that RTD preserve the Northwest Corridor rail project and elevate it to the same priority as the line being built from downtown Denver to Denver International Airport.

Signed,











We, the undersigned, are writing about an issue of critical importance to our community -- whether the FasTracks transit will include rail transit in the Northwest Corridor.In November 2011, RTD reported that costs to use the BNSF railroad tracks for the Northwest Commuter Rail project, linking Denver to Longmont, are $500 million higher than originally estimated. RTD estimates that these cost increases will delay the project by an additional three to five years, pushing the projects completion from its original date of 2016 to as late as 2025.Because of these cost increases, RTD is also seriously considering eliminating rail from the US 36 corridor and substituting expanded bus service.In 2004, voters approved an RTD sales tax increase of four-tenths of one percent the FasTracks system throughout the Denver metro area, including the construction of commuter rail from Denver to Longmont. RTD is now considering asking for a second tax increase of four-tenths of one percent to address rising construction costs and the impact of the recession on sales tax revenues.We will not vote for another tax increase, and overall outlay of $1.4 billion, for bus system enhancements that would leave us at a permanent competitive disadvantage compared to the rest of the metropolitan area.In 2007, the General Assembly showed it’s commitment to commuter rail to the Northwest Corridor, and the taxpayers in our communities have been footing the bill with the full expectation that RTD would deliver on its promise.We request that RTD preserve the Northwest Corridor rail project and elevate it to the same priority as the line being built from downtown Denver to Denver International Airport.Signed,