CDOT to hold public hearings on mountain rail | Western Colorado

The exact route has not yet been determined, but CDOT has scheduled a series of public hearings to gather ideas on the subject.

“Planning a mountain rail line between the Front Range, Grand and Routt counties has the potential to transform communities, promote sustainable growth near economic centers like Winter Park and Steamboat Springs, and help areas like Craig and Hayden transition away from coal,” said Shoshana Lew, CDOT Executive Director.

“By leveraging existing rail infrastructure, we can connect our mountain communities to urban centers and recreational opportunities in a way that promotes economic development, reduces traffic congestion and improves the quality of life for residents and visitors alike,” she added.

The push to consider passenger rail to the Western Slope began as lawmakers began looking for ways to stimulate economies hit hard by the reduction or closure of coal mining and coal-fired power plants.

As a result, railway lines that previously carried coal are now mostly silent.

To help get both rail lines up and running for passengers, the Colorado legislature passed House Bill 184 earlier this year.

The bill, sponsored in part by House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Western Slope Democrat, would, among other things, impose a new $3 fee on vehicle rentals to help raise money for design and planning work.

The fee is to be collected through the Department of the Treasury and remitted to the newly renamed Colorado Office of Transportation Investment, formerly known as the High-Performance Transportation Enterprise.

The fee, which can increase based on inflation, is expected to generate about $147 million in profits over the next three years.

The office has until March of next year to develop a new, multi-model strategic investment plan, which must be consistent with existing 10-year transportation plans and help achieve statewide greenhouse gas reduction goals.

The bill also calls on CDOT to work with other entities, such as the Denver Regional Transportation District, to enter into intergovernmental agreements that help oversee the design and construction of rail projects.

While hearings are scheduled for Craig, Granby and Arvada, anyone can comment on the proposal and choose the appropriate path forward.

Interested parties can call the CDOT Mountain Rail hotline at 970-717-8002 or email [email protected].

More information about the projects can be found at www.codot.gov/projects/coloradomountainrail.