1. Transit as a Catalyst for a Winning Region: A Denver Case Study Maria Garcia Berry May 17, 2018

2. Regionalism is Born 1960s 100-year Flood
1970s School Desegregation and Busing
Annexation Wars
1980s Retail Wars
Denver International Airport
Convention Center
16th Street Mall 2

3. Regionalism Grows Up 1990s: Formation of Metro Mayors Caucus
Sports Facilities
T-REX Project - Rail and Roads
TABOR – Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights
2000s: Water Wars
FasTracks - Expansion of Transit
Growth and Development
The Great Recession
2010s: Statewide Transportation Challenges
Marijuana – The New Mile High City 3

4. The Early Years of Transit
1960s: Denver Tramway Company files for bankruptcy and transfers assets to city- owned Denver Metro Transit
1969: RTD was created by the Colorado General Assembly
1973: Voters approved .05% sales tax for RTD
1974: Denver Metro Transit becomes part of RTD
1994: Central Connector Light Rail Line opens
2000: Southwest Light Rail Line opens
2002: Central Platte Valley Spur opens 4

5. Laying the Groundwork for FasTracks
Proposed “Guide the Ride” expansion failed in 1997 (57% to 43%)
Dysfunctional board
Conceptual Plan – “trust us with your money”
The “yes” campaign spent $650,000; “no” $50,000
In 1999, CDOT and RTD collaborated on two ballot measures approved by the voters
Granted CDOT authority to pledge federal revenues to retire debt
Allowed RTD to seek additional bonding authority for rail construction
TREX expanded I-25 and built 19 miles of light rail 3

6. Laying the Groundwork for FasTracks
By 2001, RTD Board and local communities began collaborating on a comprehensive, region-wide transit plan called FasTracks
Legislature granted RTD authority to go to ballot, by petition, in May 2002
Formal review and unanimous approval of plan by DRCOG (Regional MPO)
Two light rail corridors opened in 2000 and 2002
Southeast Line under construction 4

7. FasTracks Plan 122 miles of new light rail and commuter rail
18 miles of bus rapid transit (BRT)
57 new transit stations
31 new Park-n-Rides with over 21,000 new spaces
Enhanced suburb-to-suburb bus service
Development of Denver Union Station 5

8. Keys to an Effective Campaign
Research, Research, Research!
Between June 2002 and March 2004, privately funded entities conducted 3 baseline polls and 24 focus groups
Throw out all preconceived notions and myths as to who supports transit and who doesn’t
Start Early
Research started shortly after legislature granted RTD the authority to go to an election
Utilize data gathered to assist public policy makers
Be Inclusive and Proactive
Use the issue to bring divergent views but common interests together
Pick the “right” election cycle 6

9. Things We “Expected” to Learn
Transit riders most likely to support
Higher income households less likely to support
Republicans will never vote to increase taxes for transit
It won’t make a difference in “my lifetime” 7

10. Key Findings of Research
Voters wanted something done now to address traffic – 12 years was too long
Usage does not equal support
Highways alone would not solve congestion
General awareness of the success of light rail
Voters did NOT know about the FasTracks Plan – needed major education 8

11. Understanding the Voters
Understand your voting “world”
Develop a “voting model” on how to win in each county
Not all counties are equal – each have different populations and voting patterns
In Denver metro area:
Voters wanted a specific plan/map
Voters wanted choices and options in transportation
Roads alone were not the answer; but roads weren’t the enemy either – one size doesn’t fit all
Voters wanted something done NOW! 9

12. Challenges Faced by the Campaign
Very competitive election year
Open Senate seat
Presidential election
Campaign budget increased by 15 – 20%
Ballot clutter – Colorado has a very long ballot
Governor and Executive Director of CDOT opposed the campaign
Rocky Mountain News editorialized against the campaign 13 times 10

13. Key Messages The Map was key
Translated the cost - 4 pennies on a $10 purchase
The time is now (“Population Explosion”)
Can’t stop growth - must plan for it (“Highways Not the Answer”)
FasTracks provides choices (“New Door to the City”)
Unanimous support of all 32 Mayors in the region 11

14. Election Results Final results: YES – 57% NO – 43%
All Republican majority counties voted for FasTracks
One out of three Democratic counties voted against FasTracks 12

15. The Elements of Success
Created a disciplined, focused, flexible campaign plan
Anticipate changing world of electoral politics
Plan for surprise events
On-time/On-budget delivery
RTD and the region had undertaken large infrastructure projects and delivered them on time and on budget
What it takes
Strength, passion, commitment, courage and unbridled determination to deliver
Great city and region
Need desire and political will to be a great city and region
Vision
Should be lofty, but attainable
Should capture the region’s imagination
A plan
Must have a specific plan 13

16. What it Takes to Win Start early Political will
Business/community/environmental support
Public buy in – research is key
Plan for implementing
Strong public education campaign
Gauge the economy and the impact on voter
Choosing the best election cycle possible 14

17. RTD Today Service Area Statistics Ridership Total Operating Budget
Population: 3.03 million
Cities and Towns Serviced: 42 municipalities, 8 counties
Square miles in service area: 2,342
Ridership
Average weekday boardings: 336,576
Annual boardings: 100,942,818
Total Operating Budget
2017: million
Fixed Routes
Commuter Rail: 2
Light Rail: 8
Bus: 132 15

18. FasTracks Progress 2013: W Line opened
2014: Denver Union Station opened
MetroRide opened
2016: University of Colorado A Line opened
B Line opened
Flatiron Flyer opened
2017: R Line opened
2019: G Line and N Line scheduled to open 15

19. Leveraging Federal Funds
$5.6 billion spent since 2004 election
$1.767 billion in federal funding
Federal funds equal 33.8% of overall budget
Project
Total Cost
Federal
% Federal
Flatiron Flyer
$190 M $0 0%
Central Platte Valley
$48 M
West Rail Line
$678 M
$309 M
44%
Central
$117 M
Southwest Corridor
$178 M
$120 M
80%
North Metro
$837 M
Eagle P3 Project
$2.3 B
$1 B
52%
R Line
$677 M
Southeast Corridor
$879 M
$525 M
60%
Southeast Extension
$232 M
$92 M
43% 15

20. Private Investment Follows Transit
Nearly $3B in private investment around Union Station since 2009
77% of office space build in last decade in the Denver Tech Center along I-25
40% of multifamily units proposed or under construction are within ½ miles of rail transit 15

21. Questions? Maria Garcia Berry CRL Associates, Inc.
1660 Lincoln Street, Suite 1800
Denver, CO 16