RTD wants to hire Cole Finegan, Mayor John Hickenlooper's former city attorney and chief of staff, to help negotiate the behind-schedule $1 billion agreement for FasTracks redevelopment of Denver Union Station.

The agreement with master developer Union Station Neighborhood Co., scheduled for completion in May, still has not been completed, and RTD needs to move quickly with construction of transit improvements at the historic station.

RTD staff recommended hiring Finegan and his law firm, Hogan and Hartson, at a rate of up to $450 an hour and a total of up to $750,000, to assist with the negotiations because of his expertise in alternative financing, special taxing districts and multi- use developments.

Finegan worked on redevelopment of the Stapleton area, the former Gates Rubber Co. and the Central Platte Valley - home to Denver Union Station.

Finegan resigned from Hickenlooper's staff last year, and is the managing partner of Hogan and Hartson.

Marla Lien, RTD's general counsel, told the board in a memo that she believes Finegan's work, although at a higher hourly rate than a previous outside attorney used on the negotiations, will be more efficient and result in fewer hours billed.

"The project is also at a critical juncture where the expertise of someone able to suggest alternative financing and development strategies and to work with diverse interests may better enable (us) to move forward," Lien wrote.

RTD spokesman Scott Reed said the fee to Hogan and Hartson will come from RTD's anticipated $200 million FasTracks contribution to the station project and won't increase costs.

Finegan declined to comment.

The elected RTD board is to vote tonight on the contract with Finegan.

Union Station Neighborhood Co. was selected in November to handle the redevelopment of the 19-acre station site - including construction of the FasTracks lines that converge there.

RTD needs to move on some of the construction to accommodate the arrival of light rail from Lakewood and Golden and commuter rail trains from Denver International Airport, both scheduled to open in five to eight years.

flynnk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5247