Community roundtable on passenger rail Coming to Colorado Springs

The Colorado Rail Passenger Association is hosting an informational event Saturday on the future of the Front Range Passenger Rail project and a ballot measure coming to voters this fall.

The event will include a roundtable discussion with association members and members of Coloradans for Coco. Also at the roundtable will be Jeff Thormodsgaard, vice president of government affairs at the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, and Lisa Gagnon, transit planner at the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments.

“CoCo,” short for Colorado Connector, is the name chosen for the project that seeks to reconnect Front Range cities with a passenger rail service using existing railroad. Last month, the Front Range Passenger Rail District board of directors voted 14-1 to refer a funding measure to voters in November.

The rail district is asking voters in 31 cities whether to approve a 0.33% sales tax to expand the service. Plans and funding for a starter service between Denver and Fort Collins are already set, and the line is expected to debut in 2029.

If approved, the service could expand to Colorado Springs and Pueblo by 2032.