Elated RTD officials plan an Aug. 31 news conference to announce a $1.03 billion federal grant to help pay for East Corridor commuter rail to Denver International Airport and the Gold Line to Arvada/Wheat Ridge.
The federal money is critical to a FasTracks program facing long delays after costs have soared since voters approved an initial sales tax for the project in 2004.
Major construction on the East Corridor train from Union Station to DIA is scheduled to begin by the end of this year.
The Federal Transportation Administration notified the Regional Transportation District by e-mail Tuesday afternoon that U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FTA chief Peter Rogoff would make the announcement publicly at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at Olde Town Arvada.
