Colorado Connector Unveils $1.7 Billion Rail Plan as District Secures $6 Million for Tax Outreach
Updated
Updated · denvergazette.com · Jul 20
Colorado Connector Unveils $1.7 Billion Rail Plan as District Secures $6 Million for Tax Outreach
3 articles · Updated · denvergazette.com · Jul 20
Summary
$6 million in state and RTD funds will finance polling, town halls, coalition building and branding before the Front Range Passenger Rail District decides Aug. 28 whether to send a 0.333% sales-tax increase to voters.
The draft Colorado Connector plan lowers phased cost estimates, putting starter service from Denver to Fort Collins at $332 million without a new tax and full service to Pueblo at $1.7 billion.
The proposed line would run mostly on existing freight tracks along I-25 and add special-event stations for the planned Denver Broncos stadium at Burnham Yards and Denver Summit FC near South Broadway and I-25.
Public comments on the draft run through July 27 ahead of board review July 31, while critics question using public money before ballot language is finalized and supporters say the outreach informs voters about congestion and economic benefits.
The project targets intercity service linking 12 cities from Fort Collins to Pueblo, with voting boundaries narrowed to municipalities near planned stations to preserve ridership and potential federal-funding eligibility.