U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Democrat from Denver, appears to have pulled off a coup by securing $50 million for Union Station redevelopment in the new $286 billion multi- year transportation bill passed by lawmakers Friday.
DeGette said she was able to get the money for the venerable station in Lower Downtown Denver by having it named a Project of National and Regional Significance.
Such projects “are considered to have major economic benefits for the region and nation, including facilitating international trade, relieving congestion and improving passenger and freight travel by rail,” her office said.
A redeveloped Union Station will be the hub of RTD’s light-rail and commuter-rail network once the $4.7 billion FasTracks transit expansion plan is completed in 2016.
The Regional Transportation District’s FasTracks project will add at least six new rail lines, along with new bus service, to the Denver area.
On Friday afternoon, state and local transportation officials across the country were trying to identify their projects among more than 6,000 highlighted in the bill.
Those with dollar figures attached to them are considered high-priority projects.
The bill passed by the House and Senate on Friday also included $270 million in federal money for the West light-rail line, which will be the first constructed under FasTracks.
Staff writer Jeffrey Leib can be reached at 303-820-1645 or jleib@denverpost.com.
