Metro Mayors Caucus: Push FasTracks tax question to 2010

If the Regional Transportation District is going to ask voters to approve a new tax to fund the rising cost of the FasTracks projects, they'd be better off waiting until 2010.

At least, that's the consensus at the Metro Mayors Caucus, the consortium of mayors of 37 cities and towns in the Denver metro area, including Aurora. According to sources at RTD, the body agreed unanimously that 2009 is not the right year for a ballot question regarding a new tax for the transit project.

Some have suggested that a tax question in an odd year would not be as likely to pass because of traditionally lower turnout numbers. What's more, having an extra year to campaign for a new tax could make a difference, especially considering the fact that RTD General Manager Cal Marsella, who is slated to leave his post in July, could take up the PR cause in his new role as a private citizen.

When voters first approved FasTracks in 2004, the project cost was estimated at about $4.7 billion. Rising costs in materials have pushed the price tag up to $7.9 billion, and RTD has cited a $2.2 billion shortfall for the project.

In March, the Metro Mayors Caucus said that RTD should ask the voters to approve a new tax so that all of the corridors are completed as originally planned. Failing a new tax, they said, the agency should seek a way to equitably share cuts across the entire project.