May 8, 2009

Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter applauds the announcement of $40 million for the West Corridor Light Rail as part of H.R. 1, the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. Upon completion - the West Corridor will provide light rail service from Union Station in Denver to Golden with key stops at the Denver Federal Center and the Jefferson County Municipal Complex.

“I would like to thank Secretary LaHood and the Obama Administration for prioritizing the West Corridor for stimulus funding. With the development and expansion of the Denver Federal Center and surrounding areas this mass transit line will ease traffic, reduce emissions pollution and help provide the Denver Metro area with a world class multi-model transportation system. Continued construction of the West Line will help with RTD’s bottom line and create or save many jobs,” stated Perlmutter.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today that transit projects around the country will receive $742.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds. Specifically he announced $40 million for the West Line from Union Station to Golden, CO.

“This money will not only put people back to work and spur the economy, it will also provide an alternative form of transportation for people around the country to get to their homes, work and school,” Secretary LaHood said.

The grants will go toward projects for which the Federal Transit Administration has already entered into multi-year federal commitments known as “full funding grant agreements,” in Arizona, California, Colorado, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington State. The ARRA grants announced today do not increase the federal commitment to the projects, but expedite funds committed under the agreement between federal government and the transit agencies.

The arrival of federal funds will allow the transit agencies to save on financing costs while putting additional dollars into the local economy; will supplement local resources, which have declined during the economic downturn, and allow for a quicker investment in the project.

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