RTD is back on track after a four-month delay with its plan to privatize two FasTracks corridors, a key element in its strategy for managing the under-funded transit program that was hit by huge cost increases the past few years.

At a public hearing Tuesday night, the RTD board heard from just a handful of people, all of them in favor of proceeding later this month with issuance of a request for proposals – RFP – to three pre-qualified trams of bidders. That is scheduled for Sept. 30, pending on formal board approval Sept. 15.

The privatization plan includes the East Corridor to Denver International Airport and the Gold Line to Arvada and Wheat Ridge, along with some other elements. It breaks out the two lines separately, with construction of the DIA line first and the start of the Gold Line contingent on the second phase being feasible.

RTD wants bidders to submit their proposals by March 31 next year, with RTD evaluating them and the board selecting a winner by June 15. While work on the DIA line and other Phase 1 elements would start by August 2010, RTD would have until the end of 2011 to decide whether to proceed with Phase 2 and the Gold Line. By that time, the agency figures its financial picture will be much clearer.

The Regional Transportation District will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 1, on its plan to issue a request for proposals for its public-private partnership — dubbed P3 — to build three rail lines and a rail car maintenance facility for FasTracks.

The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. at RTD’s offices at 1600 Blake St. RTD plans to issue the RFP on Sept. 30, a spokeswoman said.

RTD is seeking a team of private partners to design, build, finance, operate and maintain three rail lines: the East Corridor from downtown to Denver International Airport, the Gold LIne to Arvada and Wheat Ridge, and a small segment of the Northwest Rail line from downtown to south Westminster, plus a commuter rail maintenance facility.