Fitch Affirms Denver Union Station Project Authority, CO Sr Notes at 'A'; Stable Outlook

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings has affirmed its 'A' rating on the following Denver Union Station Project Authority, CO (DUSPA) bonds:

--$145.6 million senior lien note, series 2010 (Denver Union Station [DUS] Project);

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

RATING RATIONALE:

--The senior lien note rating relies solely on the Regional Transportation District, Colorado (RTD) portion of pledged revenue, since it covers senior lien debt service and RTD's obligation is evidenced by a bond, payment of which is an operating expense and subordinate to RTD's FasTracks sales tax bonds which are rated 'AA' by Fitch. RTD's ability to make this payment is very strong despite past declines in sales tax revenue, given the payment's small size relative to RTD's 0.4% sales tax revenue for its FasTracks program, which includes the DUS project.

--The senior lien notes are rated below Fitch's rating on RTD's certificates of participation (rated 'AA-') because they are not secured by a hard asset, a debt service reserve fund (DSRF) is not currently fully-funded, and the DSRF, once funded, can be used to meet any deficiencies in the payment of a subordinate lien note placed with the federal Department of Transportation under its Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Act (RRIF). This structure leads Fitch to consider the senior lien note to be effectively without a reserve fund.

--While additional debt is allowed by the indenture, the senior and subordinate note holder is somewhat protected by a strong additional bonds test and the veto rights of any of the four parties (Transportation Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (TIFIA), RRIF, City and County of Denver, and RTD)

--DUS is an important project to RTD, Denver, and other are municipal entities, as evidenced by voter support for the project, the city's many approvals needed to proceed, other entities' revenue allocations, and the city's moral obligation pledged on the RRIF loan. DUS will serve as the new hub for Denver's large and growing transit system, enabling RTD to co-locate its existing light rail system and bus network with its ongoing FasTracks expansion.

--The construction contract includes a guaranteed maximum price, thereby reducing construction and completion risks.

KEY RATING DRIVERS:

--Adequate coverage of senior lien debt service by a reliable revenue source.

--Non-dilution of coverage due to additional debt beyond RTD's proposed capital plan, including its Eagle P3 project.

SECURITY:

The bonds are secured by a senior lien on pledged revenues comprised of a $12 million annual payment from the RTD and property, sales, and hotel tax revenue generated by development in a defined project area adjacent to the DUS facility. RTD's $12 million payment to DUSPA is evidenced by its FasTracks bonds which are secured by a first lien on RTD's 0.4% sales and use tax (approved by voters in November 2004) and excess 0.6% sales and use tax revenue after RTD's senior sales tax bonds are paid.

CREDIT SUMMARY:

DUSPA, a multi-agency non-profit corporation, was created in 2008 to finance and implement the DUS project. DUSPA agency members include Denver, RTD, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). DUSPA has no power to levy taxes, assessments, or condemn property by eminent domain. As a result, it is not subject to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) requirements.

The DUS project will serve as the new hub for Denver's transit system, linking RTD's existing light rail and bus network with its proposed FasTracks expansion which includes 119 miles of new light rail and commuter rail, 18 miles of rapid transit bus service, 21,000 new parking spaces at rail and bus stations, and expanded bus service in all areas.

The $480 million DUS project is to include: an underground bus terminal with 22 bays; a light rail station for current and future light rail lines; a commuter rail station (with eight tracks) that will also serve Amtrak; public plazas and spaces to integrate transit services, private development, and the 16th street (pedestrian) mall; and the renovation of historic Union Station. The project is being developed on 19.5 acres purchased by DUSPA's four member agencies. From this tract, 13.5 acres are designated for the transit facilities and six acres are to be sold for private commercial and residential development. The project budget includes a regional bus facility ($224 million), passenger rail ($140 million), a light rail station ($56 million), streets and utilities ($37 million), and renovation of Union Station ($23 million). The funding sources include a TIFIA loan ($146 million), a RRIF loan ($155 million), grants ($103 million), and cash ($79 million).

The master developer is Union Station Neighborhood Corporation, a joint venture between Continuum Partners and East West Partners, both of which are very experienced residential and real estate developers. Kiewit, which served as the lead contractor on other RTD projects, has been awarded one design/build contract for the entire project as the preferred construction partner.

DUSPA issued two levels of debt in 2010. Specifically, a $146 million TIFIA note and a $155 million RRIF note secured by a senior lien and a subordinate lien of pledged revenues. The senior lien notes are structured with a 30-year maturity. In addition to RTD's annual $12 million payment, pledged revenues on both levels of debt include incremental property and sales tax revenues collected within the DUS project area and DUS metro district mill levies, plus Denver's lodger's taxes on hotel rooms within the project area. While Fitch expects development activity to occur within the project area, the pace and scope of such development is considered very speculative.

The senior lien note debt service has been sized not to exceed RTD's annual $12 million payment, which provides the basis for the investment grade rating. The senior note is structured with zero principal and 92.5% deferred interest through the Dec. 1, 2014. The senior DSRF is equal to 50% of maximum annual debt service (MADS) but can be used to meet deficiencies in the payment of the subordinate RRIF note, leading Fitch to view the senior lien note as effectively without a reserve fund. Credit concern regarding this DSRF structure is offset by RTD's ample capacity and steady revenue source for its annual $12 million payment to DUSPA. Including RTD's Eagle P3 project to construct and operate $1.3 billion of its FasTracks capital plan, annual coverage of FasTracks bonds is ample at over 4 times (x).

The flow of funds for both notes is standard. Upon the established transfer date (Jan. 15, 2015), funds in a surplus fund may be used for the payment of city services and the prepayment of debt, contingent upon a coverage test. Additionally, the indenture requires that the subordinate RRIF note be prepaid in total ahead of any senior lien note prepayment. Additional bonds are allowed by the indenture but are subject to veto by TIFIA, RRIF, Denver, and RTD, and are further contingent on a strong ABT test requiring three successive years of 1.35x coverage of MADS by all pledged revenues. Notably, the senior lien note is not subject to accelerated repayment in the event of default under the RRIF obligation related to payment, covenant, misrepresentation, subordinate DSRF, or cross default.

Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'

In addition to the sources of information identified in Fitch's Tax-Supported Rating Criteria, this action was additionally informed by information from Creditscope, University Financial Associates, and IHS Global Insight.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research

--'Tax-Supported Rating Criteria', dated Aug. 16, 2010;

--'U.S. Local Government Tax-Supported Rating Criteria', dated Oct. 8, 2010.

For information on Build America Bonds, visit www.fitchratings.com/BABs.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

Tax-Supported Rating Criteria

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=548605

U.S. Local Government Tax-Supported Rating Criteria

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=564566

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