Leaders join Polis to celebrate path to completion for Front Range rail projects

DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado transportation project promised decades ago could finally become a reality if lawmakers get the dollars needed to make it happen. On Thursday, Gov. Jared Polis was leading the charge to get a passenger rail line connecting Denver to Longmont.

The short answer is they want the money to come from several different places. But federal dollars will be a key part of getting this done.

Polis, state leaders and some federal transit agencies are excited about the future of passenger rail in Colorado.

“I want to talk about why we are able to do this today,” Polis said. “First and foremost, I want to thank Congress and President Joe Biden for the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure and jobs act. Over $60 billion for rail, and we are anticipating several hundred million dollars for investment.”

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While federal dollars are kicking in to support the state’s effort of connecting the Front Range through passenger rail, leaders said the state needs to do its part to help meet the goal.

Polis takes a train from Denver to Longmont

Senate President Steve Fenberg said he’s encouraging the Regional Transportation District, Colorado Department of Transportation and those involved in the Front Range Passenger Rail project to work together on the mission.

“I’m working on legislation to accomplish a few things. Number one, it encourages RTD, Front Range Passenger Rail and CDOT to explore options for coordination and collaboration on efforts to secure funding to establish passenger rail service from Denver to Fort Collins via Boulder, Longmont and Loveland,” Fenberg said.

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Leaders took a train from Union Station to Longmont on Thursday to show Coloradans what it could look like if the northwest rail line between Denver and Longmont were completed, fulfilling a promise that voters approved of some 20 years ago.

“We certainly will have a few kinks to work out before we are fully up and running, but this is a very exciting moment, and we need to take stock in that today. While today marks the first train to Longmont, we are here because we want to ensure that it absolutely, most certainly, will not be the last,” Fenberg said.

State leaders are also seeking federal grant dollars to help complete the effort. The governor said the goal is not only to connect people to transit — he also hopes the new transit options would reduce pollution and make the state greener.

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