On Wednesday, December 13, the Front Range Passenger Rail District held a press event at the History Colorado Center in downtown Denver to acknowledge and celebrate the district’s acceptance into the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development Program. The federal partnership is an essential step toward realizing the vision of Front Range Passenger Rail.
Governor Jared Polis spoke at the event, heralding the federal partnership and the eventual development of the intercity rail system as a way to give Front Range residents and workers access to more transportation options. The average Coloradan spends $1,800 per year on gas and the costs associated with commuting, Polis said – costs intercity rail may help alleviate in the future.
We want to be able to provide the opportunity for all kinds of Coloradans to live the lives they want to live in our great state, reducing traffic, improving air quality, and improving convenience.
– Governor Jared Polis
FRA Administrator Amit Bose, CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew, and Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade also spoke at the event. In describing how Front Range Passenger Rail has received the support of a broad coalition of people in his city, Mayor Mobolade said, “There’s a hunger for connectivity. There’s a thirst for transportation options.” The passenger rail project will connect world-class amenities and serve people traveling for both business and recreation.
Click on the video below to learn more and watch the 30-minute press event.