Former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater commended the Regional Transportation District (RTD) at the Government Relations Committee meeting of the RTD Board of Directors for the agency’s forward-thinking innovations. The former secretary spoke to the RTD Board to convey his support for RTD’s creative approaches to building out its FasTracks transit expansion program.
“This is one of the most dynamic, visionary and capable cities in not only the country, but the world when it comes to some of the things you’ve done in transportation,” said Slater, who served as transportation secretary under President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001.
He touted the agency’s history of completing projects on time and on budget, and the influence that has had on the federal government continuing to make investments in RTD’s projects.
"If we put two projects for Denver in the President's budget, that's a good investment. Many communities don't have even one project in the budget."
Earlier this week, President Obama released his FY 2016 budget, which includes funding for two RTD projects – $165 million for the Eagle P3 project and $92 million for the Southeast Rail Extension.
The Eagle P3 is building the East Rail Line to Denver International Airport, the Gold Line to Arvada/Wheat Ridge and the first segment of the Northwest Rail Line to Westminster. The Southeast Extension will take the Southeast Line farther south to RidgeGate Parkway in Lone Tree.
Slater helps state and local government clients address the challenges of building transportation improvements with limited funds by employing public-private strategies and innovative financing solutions.
“Continue to do what you’re doing. Work around this table, work through the issues, expressing opinions and being transparent, and then leave here united.”
RTD serves the Denver Metro area by offering safe, clean, reliable, courteous, accessible and cost-effective service in an eight-county service area with a new record ridership of nearly 105 million passenger trips annually.
