RTD directors voted informally tonight night to endorse diesel-powered trains for FasTracks rail lines that will serve Boulder/Longmont and north Adams County from Union Station in Denver.
Only Regional Transportation District director John Tayer, who represents most of Boulder County, opposed the resolutions at the study session of RTD’s board.
Planners for the transit agency said self-propelled diesel trains will cost tens of millions of dollars less to build for the Northwest and North Metro rail lines than electric trains, largely because diesel railcars avoid the need for overhead electric wires.
“We’re obsessed with the budget; we have a limited amount of money,” said RTD General Manager Cal Marsella in explaining a key reason for his staff’s recommendation of diesel over electric for the two lines.
On Oct. 16, RTD’s full board will have its official vote on the selection of rail technology for the two trains.
Tayer said he may be able to support the decision to go with diesel on the two lines if RTD officials include a policy statement saying the agency will seek out railcars with innovative, “leading-edge” technology that offers maximum fuel efficiency, the fewest emissions and the least noise.
RTD also should consider vehicles that have the ability to adapt to emerging fuel technologies for rail transit, including hybrid-electric and biodiesel, Tayer said.
