RTD announces preferred bid for entire Aurora light rail project; no more tax money needed

AURORA | The remainder of Aurora’s light rail project could be open to the public, without additional taxpayer money, by 2016 if RTD board members award the construction project to Kiewit Infrastructure Co. at the end of July.

Kiewit won the recommendation from Regional Transportation District staff members at an RTD meeting Tuesday evening, over a competing bid submitted by the Balfour Beatty Ames Joint Venture construction firm.

RTD board members are expected to meet on July 24 to make an official decision on whether the construction contract should be awarded to Kiewit.

Kiewit estimates that it would cost about $350 million to construct the remainder of the 10.5 mile-long light rail line from the East Iliff Avenue station to the Peoria Street and Smith Road station. Balfour Beatty Ames also proposed to construct the Interstate 225 corridor from the East Iliff Avenue station to the City Center Station at Alameda Avenue and I-225; however, RTD officials did not want to divulge the estimated cost of that project because they said those details wouldn’t be made public.

RTD General Manager Phil Washington said there is money in RTD’s coffers to pay for the Kiewit project. As recently as last month, Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan floated an idea to ask Aurora voters to approve a tax increase in 2013 to complete the light rail project because it was uncertain whether RTD would have the money to complete the line.

Since RTD received a $280 million federal loan in December for the Eagle P3 project, which will help build out the East Corridor and Gold Line, enough cash could be available for the entire Aurora rail line, Washington said.

Also, RTD can now afford to pay for Aurora’s light rail project because this year’s revenue projections from the sales tax increase that voters approved in 2004 will be higher than RTD’s original projections for this year, he said.

The fate of other FasTracks light rail lines now remains in question. It’s unclear whether RTD will still ask voters for another tax increase to pay for the remainder of the FasTracks light rail project throughout the Denver metro area — an idea RTD officials have been talking about for two years.

Both construction firm’s proposals were attractive to staff members, said Richard Clarke, assistant general manager of the Capital Programs Department for RTD.

“It’s one of the hardest parts of our job to make these selections. When you reach this level of playing field, you’re dealing with, in this case, the best of the best,” he said.

But ultimately, he said, staff members recommended that Kiewit receive the contract because it proposed to complete the entire line at a fixed price.

Residents and elected officials from Aurora and other cities can weigh in on whether RTD should award the deal to Kiewit at meetings on July 10 and July 17.

“We’re looking to receive public comment and public input from prime stakeholders from around the region,” Washington said.

Kiewit officials said they appreciated RTD staff members’ recommendation to award the contract to them.

“We know there is still work to do and respect that the board will make the final decision later this month,” said Craig Briggs, senior vice president for the Kiewit Infrastructure Group, in a statement. “We look forward to working with RTD during the process and are pleased that they have shown confidence in our approach and team.”