I really do try to limit my postings about the FasTracks boondoggle but with so much good ammunition out there, it is hard to resist.  This past week has seen a flurry of stories about the project and how a bad situation is getting worse. 

Somehow though, local politicos continue to try to push the project forward despite the fact the wheels are falling off the train before it even leaves the station.  I am not sure if they are trying to save face because they all spent a ton of political capital in selling the boondoggle to the taxpayers or what but none seem to want to do what needs to be done and kill it. 

Here are some of the recent highlights:

March 4, FasTracks’ cost drops, but so does revenue – Due to decreased construction costs, TaxTracks now will cost taxpayers “only” $6.9 billion, down from last summer’s projection of $7.9 billion.  That sounds like good news until you factor in that tax revenues are down and the funding gap has actually widened to $2.1 billion.  RTD manager Cal Marsella said, “The only real revenue generator” that will get close to filling the gap, “is a sales-tax increase or getting substantially more federal money.”  Either way you and I – the taxpayers – foot the bill for RTD’s incompetence. 

March 5, Working to deliver FasTracks to north area – Thornton’s former mayor and current RTD director Noel Busck wrote a guest editorial in the Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel that was interesting.  In it he says:

“As a bit of background, all four RTD light rail lines were built on time and on budget using the same finance model that was used to develop the FasTracks budget.

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“Cutting any of the corridors short or eliminating any of the corridor elements is not an option as far as I am concerned, and that is not what the RTD Board wants to see happen. Through mutual cooperation and partnerships we can work together towards completing the FasTracks program as approved by voters.”

I have a couple of big issues with what Mr. Busck says here.

First, the claim that the existing RTD light rail lines were built on budget is entirely FALSE.  I don’t know where RTD gets off pulling out this same, tired line all the time.  Here are the facts: 

• The Southwest light-rail line major investment study projected a cost of $127 million but the actual cost was over $177 million – a 28% increase (inflation adjusted percentage).
• The Southeast light-rail line major investment study projected a cost of $445 million but the actual cost was $879 million – a 59% increase  (inflation adjusted percentage).

The Independence Institute’s Center for the American Dream sums it up like this: 

“Suppose contractors advertise, “we always build on budget,” and they offer to build you a house for $100,000. After you hire them (and give them $100,000), they tell you that—due to unforeseen circumstances—the real cost will be $200,000. Not wanting to lose the $100,000, you reluctantly agree. When they complete the house for $200,000, they say, “We built it on budget.” That’s because the final budget you agreed to was $200,000.

“This is how RTD builds its lightrail lines “on budget.” First, it makes an estimate. After it gets approval to build the line, it revises the estimate upwards. Since funders are already committed to the project, they agree to the higher cost, which becomes the new budget.”

Second, the former mayor’s contention that FasTracks can be completed, “as approved by voters” is an obvious fallacy.  Are voters going to get the project within the timeframe and budget approved on?  Obviously not and as such this is untrue.  I voted on a $4.7 billion project that was to be complete within 15 years.  That is not going to happen.

March 5, FasTracks unity derailed – Cracks begin to show in the coalition of Front Range mayors trying to fix the project.  This is quickly coming down to the haves and have-nots.  Denver is going to get Union Station no matter what so they are happy regardless.  The DIA line and the Gold Line to Arvada have federal funding so they are pretty much a done deal.  That leaves everyone else, including Thornton, out in the cold.  That didn’t bother RTD as they asked the mayor’s caucus to go ahead and support the two lines.  Thankfully, some of the mayors balked at that idea.  Aurora mayor Ed Tauer was particularly vocal saying, “You’re asking us to support the concept of completing East (DIA) and Gold.  We’re not going to go there. Trains are leaving one by one, yet if you’re the last train, you may not leave at all.”

March 8, No new taxes for FasTracks, Denver Post editorial – The only remaining major newspaper in Denver shockingly comes out and says no more taxes.  Considering their liberal leanings this was pretty shocking.  Of course it comes with the caveat that this just isn’t the time for it leaving themselves open to campaign for an increase at some point in the future. 

March 8, Halt FasTracks or change its management, Denver Post perspective – Written by Kevin E. Holst, executive director of the Colorado Freedom Coalition, Mr. Holst pretty much sums things up nicely.  Rather than summarizing his comments, here is his exact conclusion, one which I agree with: 

Apparently, RTD overpromised and underpriced FasTracks. The completion of FasTracks under RTD’s direction is likely to result in more ballooning budgets and further deficits. There is simply little reason to trust that RTD will fulfill the commitments made to this community in 2004. Unless there are dramatic changes, communities that have diligently contributed millions of dollars in taxes to the project (e.g., Aurora, Broomfield, Boulder, Longmont and Thornton) will likely never see the promised rail lines and the corresponding economic and community benefits.

Perhaps FasTracks should be halted altogether or transferred to a more capable entity’s management. Since RTD appears unable to manage the current FasTracks budget and scope, why in the world should we trust that its promises become a reality?

March 9, Mayors seeking new FasTracks consensus, new ideas for threatened lines – I will give Thornton mayor Erik Hansen credit.  Even with the project being the disaster that it is, he is out there doing his best to protect our city’s interest.  Mayor Hansen proposes “bundling” our north line with one of the other lines as a way to help ensure ours gets built.  From the article:

“It is critical that we not walk away from the hard decisions because there is not yet consensus,” Hansen wrote to the mayors Sunday. “I believe we need to address this now in order to avoid an even more serious crisis that is turning into an increasingly likely story: RTD builds out three lines (or maybe even only part of those three) and leaves huge swaths of the metro area without service with no prospect to build for another 30 years.

“I don’t believe this is RTD’s intention, nor is it the metro mayors’, nor mine when I voted for this in 2004 and supported it as a Thornton councilman. It is our responsibility to see this through.”

I applaud our mayor for trying his best to get us FasTracks.  However, I think the writing is on the wall and maybe it is time to take another tact – that of cutting our losses and getting out. 

March 10, New tax for FasTracks? – Front Range mayors are finally coming to the realization that asking for a sales tax increase to further fund the state’s largest boondoggle in this economic climate is a recipe for disaster.  The problem is that the DIA and Gold line’s have federal funding and most likely will be completed no matter what happens – and be completed first.  If those get finished, what incentive do those areas have to approve a tax increase down the road that funds other areas?  Thornton mayor Erik Hansen was quoted as saying, “We can’t put ourselves in a position where we get nothing.” 

As my headline reads, this whole ordeal is like some sick Greek tragedy with as big of a disaster it has become.  On the other hand, maybe it is a comedy because the incompetence of those at RTD is quite comical and watching everyone run around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to save the sinking ship only adds to the humor of the situation.  One would almost laugh out loud if it wasn’t for the fact this is anything but funny.  Taxpayers are getting ripped off – that is a fact.

The only way the project can get built out as it was promised to voters is with a tax increase.  There is no way around that.  RTD promised a bill of goods that they simply could not deliver.  So, I offer up this solution.  Put it on the ballot – this year.  Make it an ‘all or nothing’ deal.  If it is approved, RTD gets their tax increase and they can continue their fleecing of the taxpayers.  If it fails, they get nothing and they have to refund the taxes our hard working citizens have already paid toward the boondoggle. 

If area politicos and RTD are so confident that folks truly ‘want’ FasTracks, give the taxpayers the say in the matter.  Let us make the decision and put this to bed one way or the other.