Colorado voters to decide on sales tax for Front Range rail (KKTV)

Voters across the Pikes Peak region and in Pueblo will decide November 3 whether to approve a .333% percent sales tax increase that supporters say would extend the Colorado Connector Railroad to Southern Colorado.

The measure, known as Issue 7A, will appear on ballots in every county the railroad passes through — from Fort Collins all the way to Pueblo.

The project requires a simple majority to pass, but it must be approved across the board in all participating counties across the state. Even if voters in El Paso County do not approve the measure, it would still need to pass in the other counties along the route to move forward.

If approved, supporters say the measure would provide infrastructure to connect the train to pre-existing track in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, leased from BNSF and Union Pacific.

Sal Pace, the General Manager of the Front Range Passenger Rail District, said, “It’s gonna generate about $295 million annually, and we have modeled it out so that we can bring service everywhere, with a focus of Colorado Springs and Pueblo.”

Pace also argued the railroad is the best solution to highway congestion along the Front Range.

“If we wanna get cars off the road and have less congestion on our highways. Colorado connector is the best option for doing that.” Pace said.