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CDOT outlines phased plan to expand mountain passenger rail; county asked to join station-area planning
Summary
CDOT presented a service-development plan to expand passenger rail from Denver toward Craig in phased steps (initial phase: Denver–Granby). The agency requested county participation in future rail station area planning for towns including Winter Park/Fraser, Granby and potential Kremmling and Hot Sulphur Springs. Commissioners asked about funding, operator selection, parking and freight coordination.
Cody Hedges, senior rail and transit planner with CDOT, briefed the board on a service-development plan that examines phased mountain passenger-rail service and station planning. CDOT described an initial, lower-cost phase that builds on the Winter Park Express (Denver–Granby), then later phases to extend service northwest toward Craig and to evaluate potential stations in Kremmling and Hot Sulphur Springs. Hedges said funding sources could include congestion-impact fees (S.B. 184/230 allocations), MMOF/DOLA/OEDIT grants and federal rail grants; CDOT would likely fund platforms and operations, while municipalities would lead station-area plans.
Commissioners raised questions about funding separation from highway maintenance (CDOT noted different funding pots), operator selection (CDOT plans to run a competitive procurement), freight/passenger priority and the need for track improvements north of Bond (tunnels, rockfall mitigation and positive-train-control implementation). CDOT requested the county adopt a resolution to participate as a partner when municipalities undertake station-area planning; the commission indicated staff will return the resolution for formal consideration later.
