"All six major (FasTracks) lines will run through Denver and the Denver Union Station and certainly will be a jewel for our city," says Bill Vidal, Denver's public works director. "At the same time, it's a very important regional facility that will provide a great use and will be important for the entire region."
Vidal calls FasTracks, "business friendly and clearly neighborhood friendly. In Denver alone, we will have 12 stations that will have mixed-use development and pedestrian friendly developments."
Denver City Councilman Rick Garcia, another speaker at the ULI forum, says the West line, specifically, will serve many people of color in his district, as well as the lowest income people in his district.
He says that the line could provide for a new sports complex near Invesco Field at Mile High, where the Denver Broncos play. He also says that there also is opportunity for more affordable housing in the area, with the help of the Denver Housing Authority.
Preston Gibson, president and CEO of the Jefferson Economic Council, estimates the 12-mile West Line will cost $492 million and create 14,700 of the 141,00 jobs created by FasTracks.
At the panel, Gibson says the West Line will increase property values, increase property and sales taxes, and will increase travel times for goods and services, as well as making it easier for people to get to work on time, increasing employee productivity.
The next ULI FasTracks meeting will be on April 16 to address the US 36 corridor that links the Denver area with Boulder.
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