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The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver and BNSF Railway Co. recently signed final agreements that will enable RTD to purchase rail property from the Class I and relocate BNSF facilities to advance the FasTracks program.

The pacts totaling $144 million provide RTD the property needed to build the Gold Line in the Northwest rail corridor, and gain access in and out of Denver Union Station and a commuter-rail maintenance facility, according to the agency. The parties also reached a joint corridor use agreement governing ongoing operations between RTD and BNSF in shared corridors.

The FasTracks program calls for building 122 miles of commuter- and light-rail lines, constructing 18 miles of bus rapid-transit lines, adding 21,000 new parking spaces and redeveloping Denver Union Station. Last year, RTD and Union Pacific Railroad completed a land transfer deal that enabled the agency to acquire right of way on a 33-mile industrial lead from Commerce City to Boulder for the North Metro line.