This month’s USA News Summary reports on the August 5, 2010 DUSPA meeting and includes a schedule of public meetings for the next several months. USA’s Roving Reporter in the Field has provided an informative report on construction progress including a recent photo of the in-process bus box and light rail terminal.
August 5, 2010 DUSPA Summary
TIFIA/RRIA LOAN UPDATE
The loans closed on July 23. Both closed with lower interest rates than anticipated. DUSPA is now working on reporting and compliance details.
OWNER REPORT
There will be a new construction schedule issued in the next 30 days. The project is now 18.5% complete. The Light Rail Platform is 30% complete, the Bus Box is 17% and the Streets and Plazas are 16% complete. The 100% completion date has been moved up a month to April 2014 from May 2014. There are 46 months of construction left in the schedule. There have been 521 consecutive work days accident free.
Design will be 100% complete by October for everything but the public realm.
Concrete pours have started and there will be 15 separate pours each needing 110 to 130 concrete trucks. The pour days commence at 3:30 a.m.
The east platform wall is 100% done. The utility relocations are going well.
The USA resolution was distributed to the board members and they were told that the design of the pedestrian bridge was being refined.
Ground water remediation is still a challenge, but they continue to be in compliance yet are trying to become more efficient.
An asbestos survey of the site was done. There are two areas of remediation that are unavoidable. One is the storm line through the north parcel and the other is the waterproof wrap around the pedestrian tunnel.
A revised budget was handed out. There will be a quarterly review of the budget from here on out.
The next DUSPA board meeting will be a tour of the construction site. Starting in September the meetings will be reduced to once a month on the 1st Thursday.
August 24, 2010 USA Construction Update from USA’s Roving Reporter in the Field
Since the July newsletter, much progress has been accomplished. Most notable is the construction of the elaborate rebar structure that will provide strength for the floor of the bus terminal.
Multiple flatbed tractor trailers have been delivering loads of rebar each a day for several weeks. Much of it is 60-feet long #10, which is 1.25 inches in diameter and 4.3 pounds per foot. Each piece weighs 258 pounds. After the rebar is unloaded and staged, the crane “flies” it into the specific work spot at a rate of 2.5 tons per flight. The base level of rebar is the typical raw steel. Vertical pieces of green, epoxy-coated rebar are shaped like an upside-down V. Straight, green pieces are tied to the top of the vertical pieces to form a giant three-dimensional grid. Sheets of membrane material that are being installed over the concrete mud slab and under the rebar will adhere to the bottom of the new concrete floor, making the terminal water proof.
Four of 17 sections of the bus terminal concrete floor have been poured. Each section requires 100-140 trucks delivering 1,000-1,400 cubic yards of concrete. The floor is very thick (four feet) to be sure that it will not float once the dewatering system is dismantled and the ground water rises back to its normal level.
Work also continues on other segments of the project. Concrete forms for the bus terminal walls are being constructed and staged along the sides of the hole. Foundations for the new light rail tracks and passenger platform are still being constructed and foundations for the catenary system (overhead electric lines for the light rail) are being installed. Foundations for the elevators and escalators have been completed. Interior renovations of the temporary Amtrak station at Wewatta and 21st streets are nearing completion and work has begun on retaining walls adjacent to the current passenger tracks near the Union Station building.
Remember to go to Denverinfill.com/blog/ for frequent updates and photos.
DUS Construction Celebration Planned for September 7
The Regional Transportation District (RTD), Denver Union Station Project Authority and City and County of Denver will host a Denver Union Station Construction Celebration on Tuesday, September 7, 2010, at 1:30 P.M. Governor Bill Ritter, Mayor John Hickenlooper, RTD Chairman Lee Kemp and General Manager Phil Washington will make remarks.
Denver Union Station is the centerpiece of the RTD’s FasTracks transit expansion program and will serve as a multimodal hub for the region. The project will generate thousands of jobs and add more than $3 billion into our state's economy over the next decade, creating jobs and improving transportation mobility choices. With the unique financing structure completed, construction on the transportation facilities is in full swing.
The public is invited to attend and celebrate this remarkable public-private partnership and the impact it will have on our region for generations to come.
RTD Historic Station Building Task Force Update
The following is the update provided to the RTD Board recently concerning RTD’s analysis of the historic Union Station and their process for its future restoration and reuse:
RTD DUS Historic Building Task Force
Meeting since March to develop information for RTD Board decision on long‐term interest in DUS future uses and management
Union Station Neighborhood Development Company (USNC)
Contracted with Denver Union Station Project Authority (DUSPA) to develop an assessment of building infrastructure requirements, potential future uses, and capital/operating cost estimates
DUS Historic Structures Assessment (Historic Denver)
Analysis of critical deficiencies and solutions required to rehabilitate, restore or preserve the historical features of the building
Study timing
Important to keep pace with existing DUS construction and to prepare for infrastructure investments needed to support use or current condition
Public investment required
Developing a common understanding of building and investment required for redevelopment is important in weighing viability of future uses
Amtrak facility requirements
Requirement under any scenario to have space for Amtrak to move back into the building
Open process
Stakeholder /public involvement important because of interest and historic importance of the building
Develop goals/objectives for process
Overall goals/objectives to use for framing ultimate Board decision. Steps to develop recommendation for Board:
1. Develop understanding of building through use of USNC ‘s Technical Assessment and Historic Structures Assessment
2. Evaluate types of uses that would be viable for the building
3. Look at options for dealing with capital and ongoing operating costs and evaluate ownership/governance options for the building
Solicit public/stakeholder input
Conduct series of meetings to introduce analysis, solicit input, shape alternatives, display preliminary findings for comment
Third party review
Independent consultant/expert panel to provide feedback to the Board on USNC’s analysis and recommendations from process Provide staff recommendation with feedback and input from process for a RTD Board decision
Next Steps
Aug 24 - RTD Board; process overview/kick‐off
Sept 2 - DUSPA Board: process overview, goals/objectives
Late Sept/early Oct - Initial public meeting
Oct. 5 - FasTracks Monitoring Committee update
Oct/Nov - Stakeholder meetings: ID potential uses, viability
Dec. 7 - FasTracks Monitoring Committee update
December - Stakeholder meetings: review potential uses, governance, costs
Jan. 4 - FasTracks Monitoring Committee update
January - Final public meeting
Feb. 1 - Findings/staff recommendation to Board
Feb. 15 - Board action
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