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State study finds starter Front Range rail between Denver and Fort Collins could run on existing funding
Summary
State officials presented a March 1 report to the Longmont City Council estimating capital and operating costs for a three–round-trip “starter” passenger rail between Denver and Fort Collins and said the study found enough existing revenue to begin service with further verification and agreements.
State transportation advisers told the Longmont City Council on April 1 that a March 1 report mandated by SB 184 found a viable starter passenger rail service between Denver and Fort Collins could be built using existing revenue sources, but that costs and agreements still need verification.
The study, presented by Lisa Kaufman, senior strategic advisor to the governor, and Brandon Schafer, special adviser for passenger rail and transit, modeled a “joint service” that would leave Denver Union Station, run on RTD’s B line before switching to the BNSF freight line and stop at eight stations including Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder, Longmont, Loveland and Fort Collins.
Why it matters: The study seeks a path to begin passenger rail service before seeking new voter-authorized taxes. The advisers said starter service would build infrastructure useful for a future full build-out of Front Range Passenger Rail and could position the corridor to receive larger federal and state funding later.
The study’s headline findings included…
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