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The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) has selected Denver Transit Partners (DTP) as the preferred bidder to design, build, operate, maintain and finance the Eagle P3 commuter-rail project.

The project is part of RTD’s FasTracks program, a 12-year, multi-billion dollar transit expansion effort to build and operate new commuter- and light-rail lines, and expand transportation throughout an eight-county area. Developed through a public-private partnership, the Eagle project includes a 23.6-mile commuter-rail line from Union Station to Denver International Airport; a new 11.2-mile commuter-rail line from Union Station to Wheat Ridge; a two-mile initial segment of the Northwest Rail Corridor; approximately 50 new electric-powered commuter-rail cars; and a new commuter-rail maintenance facility.

DTP includes Fluor Corp. subsidiary Fluor Enterprises Inc., Macquarie Capital Group Ltd., Balfour Beatty Rail, Hyundai-Rotem USA (which will supply the rail cars), Ames Construction, Fluor/HDR Global Design Consultants, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Interfleet Technology, Systra, Wabtec Corp. and several other companies.

DTP’s bid is $300 million lower than RTD’s budget estimate and plans to open the line by January 2016, 11 months ahead of the agency’s deadline, according to RTD. The agency and DTP expect to sign a contract before year's end.

Under a design-build-finance-operate-maintain arrangement, RTD would make annual payments to DTP based on its performance in meeting the agency’s service standards, reducing RTD’s need for upfront cash. DTP would attract private financing, and under a concession contract, operate and maintain the lines for 40 years.