DENVER — Following several years of negotiations, RTD approved a $185 million land acquisition deal with Union Pacific for the transportation district’s financially beleaguered FasTracks rail system.

The FasTracks program, running approximately $2 billion above original estimates, has become a political football as the RTD board scrambles to tailor the program to financial projections. In addition to the $185 million in property costs, $25 million in civil engineering work to be performed by RTD will bump the total cost to approximately $210 million. The preliminary agreement is subject to approval by the boards of directors of both RTD and UP, as well as final legal negotiations.

According to language contained in the agreement:

• RTD would acquire UP’s entire Boulder Industrial Lead (BIL) from Brighton Blvd. to Boulder. A portion of it is planned for use on RTD’s North Metro line. UP will reserve general operating rights for the first mile and for one train per week in the segment between the first and eight mile. Freight operating rights will be reserved to limited windows.

• In the East Corridor, the property to be acquired starts just beyond Denver Union Station and extends to Airport Boulevard. In addition to the acquisition cost for right of way RTD will pay UP relocation costs necessary to allow UP to move to the north side of the corridor and convey RTD the property on the south side. RTD will be responsible for site preparation and additional civil work.

• On the Gold Line from approximately Pecos Junction to Sheridan Boulevard., RTD would acquire a strip approximately 40 feet wide and 2.2 miles in length on the north side of UP tracks. No direct UPRR relocation is required.

• On the West Corridor Burnham Lead, UP agreed to the relocation of the existing lead to its shop facility. The existing UP Burnham Yard Lead Row will be turned over to RTD to facilitate its new LRT alignment, station and future 13th Street flyover.

Contact MetroWest Staff Writer Gene Sears at 303-659-2522 Ext.217, or e-mail gsears@metrowestnewspapers.com. Alternately, you can send comments to Gene or join the community conversation on this topic via his blog, fortlupton.blogspot.com.