Locating Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility at Fox North site would cost taxpayers millions or could result in loss of hundreds of local jobs DENVER, April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Owens Corning, a local employer and a leading global producer of building materials, publicly voiced this evening its strong opposition to the Regional Transportation District's (RTD's) plans to build a Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility (CRMF) at the site of the company's Fox Street roofing plant. The company was joined tonight at a RTD public meeting by approximately 250 employees and other supporters who oppose selection of the Fox North site because of the considerable expense to taxpayers or the possibility it could ultimately eliminate hundreds of Denver area jobs. "We support the RTD's FasTracks program, but we strongly object to locating the CRMF on the Fox North site," said Bill Shockley, plant leader at Owens Corning's Fox Street roofing facility. "It will cost $80-$100 million to relocate and rebuild Owens Corning's roofing facility and taxpayers would ultimately pay the bill. This includes the costs of identifying and purchasing new property, building or purchasing new infrastructure, relocating equipment, securing the required permits and the disruption to our business during construction." The company argued that the RTD's analysis of the Fox North site fails to recognize the significant expense to relocate and rebuild Owens Corning's roofing facility and that the RTD's relocation timeline is unrealistic. Owens Corning estimates it would take up to three years to relocate/rebuild. The RTD has proposed forcing Owens Corning off of the Fox North site as early as 2010.
