Governor Jared Polis Directs $135 Million for Colorado Front Range Passenger Rail Expansion

DENVER — Governor Jared Polis and the Front Range Passenger Rail District (FRPRD) announced on Monday the allocation of $135 million in state transit investment capital to complete final track engineering, construct dedicated passenger bypass sidings, and build multimodal station platforms along the 180-mile Front Range corridor connecting Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo.

The investment advances Colorado's highest-priority intercity transit project, resolving track congestion along shared commercial freight corridors operated by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad.

Engineering Intercity Rail for the Front Range Mega-Region The $135 million state allocation finances:

• 4 Dedicated Passenger Passing Sidings: $65 million constructing 2-mile high-speed bypass track segments allowing passenger trains to overtakes heavy freight consists at 79 mph.
• Environmental NEPA and Advanced Preliminary Engineering: $40 million completing federal environmental reviews required to unlock over $1.5 billion in FRA Corridor Identification matching grants.
• Multimodal Station Design & Platform Construction: $30 million designing downtown transit stations integrated with local bus rapid transit and regional cycling trail networks in Loveland, Longmont, and Castle Rock.

"Colorado is growing, and we need modern transportation options that keep people moving without forcing everyone to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-25," Governor Jared Polis said during an announcement at Denver Union Station. "By investing $135 million to finalize engineering and build passenger rail sidings, we are bringing fast, reliable passenger rail service one major step closer to reality for millions of Coloradans from Fort Collins to Pueblo."

Mayors across the Front Range, business alliances, and environmental organizations commended the state's rail investment, emphasizing that intercity rail connects regional workforce hubs while curbing air pollution in the Denver metro ozone non-attainment area.