***Pending Full Funding Grant Agreements***

Two projects are currently pending issuance of an FFGA: the West
Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Denver, Colorado, which is
rated *Medium-High;* and the University Link LRT Extension in Seattle,
Washington, which is rated *High*. For these two projects, FTA
recommends a total of \$160 million in New Starts funding in FY 2009.
Appendix A provides a detailed description of both projects, including
their most recent New Starts rating.

***Colorado: Denver/West Corridor LRT***

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is proposing the West
Corridor LRT project, a 12-station, 12.1-mile light rail transit (LRT)
line extending from RTD's existing LRT system near Colfax Avenue and
Interstate 25 (I-25), and following the former Associated Rail
right-of-way and US 6, to US 6/US 40 in Jefferson County, Colorado. The
proposed project connects with the Central Platte Valley light rail
extension and the Central Corridor light rail line at the existing
Auraria station adjacent to downtown Denver where it interlines to
Denver Union Station (DUS). Service would operate at five-minute
headways between DUS and the Federal Center station in Lakewood and
15-minute headways between Federal Center and Jeffco Government Center
during weekday peak periods.

The West Corridor project parallels West 6^th^ Avenue, which carries the
second highest traffic volume in the region. Regional projections
indicate that local auto travel times will increase by almost 30 percent
by 2030 in an already congested corridor. Neither the Colorado
Department of Transportation nor the Denver Regional Council of
Governments has included widening of this roadway in their long range
transportation plans. Intended as a high-capacity transit alternative to
West 6^th^ Avenue, the West Corridor LRT project is designed to improve
transit travel times in the corridor and to increase transit
connectivity to regional employment centers currently underserved by
public transportation.

RTD completed a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in October
2003, and FTA issued a NEPA Record of Decision (ROD) in April 2004. In
November 2004, Denver-area voters passed RTD's FasTracks funding plan,
which increases RTD's sales tax revenues and is anticipated to support
the construction of over 100 miles of new rail transit (including the
Denver West LRT project) and a 24 percent increase in local bus service.
FTA approved the West Corridor LRT project into final design in August
2005, and recommended the project for an FFGA in the FY 2007 President's
Budget. Since that time, the project has experienced a series of cost
increases, many of which have been mitigated through value engineering
and modest scope changes. FTA is completing its risk assessment in early
2008, which could result in further changes to the cost estimate. FTA
anticipates the project will continue to rate *Medium-High* against the
New Starts criteria, including a *Medium* cost-effectiveness rating. FTA
expects to execute an FFGA for the project in Fall 2008. Revenue
operations are scheduled to begin in 2013.

SAFETEA-LU Section 3043(b)(7) authorizes the Denver West Corridor LRT
project for final design and construction. The capital cost for the
12.1-mile West Corridor LRT project is estimated to be \$656.83 million,
of which RTD is seeking \$290.55 million, or 44 percent, in New Starts
funding. Through FY 2007, Congress has appropriated \$39.90 million in
New Starts funding for this project. FTA recommends \$60.00 million in
New Starts funds for this project in FY 2009.

***Washington: Seattle/University Link LRT Extension***

The Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, commonly known as
Sound Transit, is proposing to implement an all-tunnel extension of the
Central Link LRT Initial Segment, which is currently under construction
from the Segment's northern terminus at Westlake Station in downtown
Seattle to the University of Washington, 3.1 miles to the northeast.
University Link is the first phase of Sound Transit's planned North Link
LRT extension to the Northgate Transit Center in North Seattle.

The University Link corridor is the most densely developed residential
and employment area in the Central Puget Sound region and in the state
of Washington. The three largest urban centers in the state -- downtown
Seattle, Capitol Hill/First Hill, and the University District -- are
located along the University Link alignment. However, travel by private
vehicle and bus between these areas is extremely congested due to high
traffic volumes and the corridor's unique physical geography. First Hill
and Capitol Hill rise sharply northeast of downtown Seattle, and

Interstate 5 (I-5) -- the region's primary north-south freeway corridor
-- runs along the base of these hills, separating them from downtown.
The steep grades and limited crossing points of I-5 exacerbate
congestion between downtown and the First Hill/Capitol Hill urban
center. Farther to the north, the University District is separated from
the rest of the corridor by Portage Bay and the Lake Washington Ship
Canal; only three water crossings (two of them drawbridges) connect the
University with the southern portion of the corridor.

Furthermore, while I-5 north of downtown features reversible express
lanes to accommodate morning inbound and evening outbound travel, the
significant and growing reverse-commute market between downtown (and
points south) and Capitol Hill/First Hill and the University District
enjoys no such advantage. This results in a substantial disparity
between northbound and southbound transit travel times during peak
periods. The University Link LRT Extension is intended to provide more
reliable and faster bi-directional transit service to and between these
urban centers, while supporting local land use goals and contributing to
the maintenance of 1990 traffic levels at the University of Washington,
which, by prior agreement, is necessary for the City of Seattle to
approve any new campus development.

The University Link LRT Extension is part of the Central Link LRT system
that has been in planning for more than two decades. Due to financial
constraints, Sound Transit is implementing the Central Link LRT system
in segments. An "Initial Segment" of the project runs from the Westlake
Station of the existing Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel south to
Tukwila; this project alignment is currently being constructed under an
FFGA executed by FTA in October 2003. The North Link segment would
connect the Initial Segment's northern terminus with the Northgate
Transit Center. Sound Transit completed a Supplemental Draft EIS for
North Link in December 2003. The Sound Transit Board selected the
locally preferred alternative for North Link in July 2005, and the
following month selected the 3.1-mile University Link Extension as the
first phase of the implementation of North Link. FTA issued a
limited-scope Supplemental Draft EIS in October 2005 to address changes
in the preferred alternative, including an alternative route through the
University of Washington. FTA approved the project into PE in December
2005. The University Link LRT Extension was included in the "other
projects" category in the FY 2007 President's Budget. FTA issued a ROD
on the project in June 2006, and approved it into final design in
December 2006. FTA expects to execute an FFGA for the project in
mid-2008. Revenue operations for University Link are scheduled for 2016.

SAFETEA-LU Section 3043(c)(231) authorizes the Seattle Link LRT
Extensions project for alternatives analysis and preliminary
engineering. Section 3043(e)(3)(A) of SAFETEA-LU further makes all
projects in subsection 3043(c) eligible for final design and
construction effective October 1, 2007. The capital cost of the
University Link is estimated to be approximately \$1,798.12 million of
which Sound Transit is seeking \$750.00 million, or 42 percent, in New
Starts funding. Through FY 2007, no New Starts funding has been
appropriated for the University Link LRT Extension. FTA recommends
\$100.00 million in New Starts funding for the project in FY 2009.

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