On November 2nd, Denver metro-area voters approved $4.7 billion in funding to complete the FasTracks expansion of light rail and bus service, a major victory for smart growth efforts. FasTracks’ approval means that the Denver region will complete the largest build-out of public transit since the Washington, D.C., Metro system in the 1970s.

But this victory means more than just expanded transportation options for the region’s residents. Environment Colorado and other conservation groups supported FasTracks because it presents the region with an opportunity to change the way the region is growing.

“FasTracks’ victory on the ballot is a historic step forward for the Front Range,” said Will Coyne, land use and transportation advocate for Environment Colorado.

Although the voters have approved the plan, the fight for FasTracks is not over. During the next several years, the final decisions about the types of transit technology that will be used, the alignment of the transit lines, and the locations of stations are yet to be finalized. We expect FasTracks opponents will continue to oppose the FasTracks plan in favor of building more highways.

Although our work is not over, FasTracks also provides the momentum for our future work on smart growth. Over the next year, we will be working with our allies to harness the political momentum from FasTracks to push for regional smart growth. FasTracks provides the incentive and framework to create new transit-oriented neighborhoods that will offer more urban housing options, small urban centers and expanded lifestyle choices.

“Transit, if designed properly, can act as a magnet for smart growth,” noted Coyne. “The FasTracks plan has the potential to shape land use and protect open spaces from future development.”

Key findings from FasTracks research

Environment Colorado Research & Policy Center recently released “Creating Livable Communities through Transit.” The report examined how building out the FasTracks transit system would create transit-oriented development (TOD) opportunities and curb sprawl in the Denver metro area.

A few key findings include:

• TOD would reduce the overall growth in the amount of vehicle travel in the Denver region by at least 2.5 million vehicle miles traveled every workday by 2025.

• TOD would help the region realize its MetroVision 2030 plan for saving valuable land and open space. Each urban center would save over 960 acres of land as a result of more compact development patterns, lowering the costs of expanded public infrastructure.

• TOD would significantly raise property values for current residents, small business owners and others within two miles of the stations.

• Transit-oriented communities would offer Denver metro area residents new options for neighborhoods, shopping, working and lifestyle choices even before the transit lines are completed.

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