Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Front Range passenger rail presentation prompts tax and timing questions from Littleton advisory board
Summary
An engagement staff member outlined Phase 2 of the Front Range passenger rail (COCO) connecting Denver south through Littleton and beyond, including a modeled 0.33% sales tax (about 33¢ per $100) and $295 million estimate; board members raised concerns about timing, tax fairness, RTD operations and legal limits on city advocacy once a ballot measure exists.
An engagement staff member briefed the Littleton Next Generation Advisory Board on Phase 2 of the Colorado Connector ("COCO") Front Range passenger rail and solicited feedback on whether the board should provide a general letter to city council endorsing continued engagement.
The presenter described Phase 1 (Denver–Fort Collins) as under construction and said Phase 2 would connect Denver south to Littleton, Sterling Ranch, Colorado Springs and Pueblo. "Phase 2 requires new sales tax revenue," the presenter said, adding that current modeling places the ask at 0.33% ("about 33¢ every $100") with an estimate of roughly $295,000,000 in sales tax revenue to start funding capital and operating costs.
Board members asked detailed operational and equity questions: how the district assigns the tax (communities within five miles of a station), whether the tax would be ongoing, the pilot's limited initial service (three round trips per day in 2029), and how the plan interacts with RTD operations and fare structures. One member cautioned that adding a sales tax during a period of affordability pressure could be politically difficult; another said added transit options could reduce congestion and generate economic development near stations.
The presenter summarized outreach and polling data, saying preliminary work shows "61% support the current version of the ballot language" and that 66% of surveyed respondents think the state will benefit from the project. He said a delivery plan will be published July 13 and that August 28 is a decision point for whether to refer the tax measure to voters.
On next steps the board discussed drafting a short letter affirming general support to city council (not an advocacy campaign) and asked staff to clarify legal limits: once a ballot measure is formally adopted, city resources may not be used to advocate for or against it. The board agreed to continue engagement and recommended staff return with clarifying information and a draft letter for consideration.
