Council approves phase‑1 design agreement for First & Main transit garage, with RTD funding and city contribution
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Summary
Council unanimously approved a phase‑1 development agreement with Thiebaud Properties and RTD to design a bus garage/RTD parking facility and advance a mixed‑use transit‑oriented development at First & Main; RTD pledged $16.4 million and the city committed $8.5 million toward the garage design and construction funding plan.
Longmont City Council unanimously approved a phase‑1 development agreement on Nov. 18 to proceed with concept design for the First & Main transit facility and associated mixed‑use development.
City staff described the project as a partnership among the City of Longmont, Thiebaud Properties and the Regional Transportation District (RTD). The agreement covers concept design for a garage facility that will include space for RTD buses and parking; later phases will address construction and financing of the garage and the mixed‑use development.
"This is a partnership between the city of Longmont, Thiebaud Properties, and RTD, the regional transportation district, to construct multimodal transit facilities with a mixed‑use development at 1st and Main in Longmont," said Laura, a city staff member presenting the item. She noted the design schedule aims to have the garage constructed by Dec. 31, 2027, and that RTD has committed $16,400,000 for the garage construction with the city providing $8,500,000 and assuming responsibility for cost overruns beyond that amount.
Staff said property acquisition, remediation and demolition work are already underway and that the project will be phased: phase‑1 for concept/garage design, and a phase‑2 development agreement for construction and financing. The project is located in the Southeast Longmont urban renewal plan area and staff indicated they will coordinate with the Longmont Urban Renewal Authority and local taxing entities to close remaining funding gaps.
Councilors who asked questions emphasized the project’s potential to catalyze downtown redevelopment and the need to align timing with planned street and infrastructure work. With no public speakers signed up to speak against the item during the hearing, council moved and approved the agreement unanimously.
What happens next: staff will proceed with concept design as laid out in the phase‑1 agreement, continue funding conversations with RTD and the Urban Renewal Authority, and return to council with phase‑2 details for construction financing and design approvals.