Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) board of directors formally approved a proposal by Kiewit Infrastructure Co. to complete the I-225 Light Rail Line to Peoria by November 2015. The line would open in mid-2016 after about six months of testing.

With a vote of 14-0 and one member absent, the RTD board’s decision paves the way for the agency to complete another complete FasTracks rail line. On July 3, RTD staff recommended the proposal to the board after finding that it offered the best value with a financially sound solution that allows RTD to take advantage of the current market. The Kiewit team includes Mass. Electric Construction Co., AECOM and RBC Capital Markets.

Completion of the I-225 Rail Line through Aurora to the East Rail Line at Smith and Peoria will connect major destinations like the Aurora City Center, the Anschutz/Fitzsimons Medical Campus, and Denver International Airport. The line will also serve the future VA Hospital, a seven-state regional facility that will serve approximately 60,000 military veterans and their families.

Now that the plan has been approved, RTD will finalize contract negotiations with Kiewit and aim to issue a Notice to Proceed later this summer.

In March, Kiewit approached RTD with an unsolicited proposal. After reviewing the initial proposal, RTD staff determined it had merit and was worthy of moving forward to a competitive procurement process. On June 14, RTD received two competitive proposals for the I-225 Light Rail project — one from Kiewit Infrastructure Co. another from Balfour Beatty Ames Joint Venture.

FasTracks is RTD’s voter-approved transit expansion program to build 122 miles of commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service, add 21,000 new parking spaces, redevelop Denver Union Station and redirect bus service to better connect the eight-county District.