Councilor Gold: Vote ‘yes’ on 7A for passenger rail (PPB)

By Kimberly Gold, Colorado Springs councilmember for District 4

Yesterday officially marked the end of Week Without Driving (October 1–8)—a national challenge asking us to reflect on a simple question: What would change in your life if driving wasn’t an option?

Between my own schedule spanning three cities across two states this past week, I’ll be honest: there’s no way I could have pulled that off without a reliable vehicle. Even if I had canceled my out-of-town plans and stayed right here in the Pikes Peak Region, getting to where I needed to be – in event-appropriate attire – without a car would have been a struggle.

While I couldn’t participate in Week Without Driving, it forced me to pause and reflect on how we are growing as a city. We have to be mindful of building for all residents, because more and more people are asking for real, non-driving options.

Our neighbors want to bike safely to their destinations. They want public transit that shows up on time and gets them where they need to go. And many want expanded passenger rail, like the Colorado Connector (CoCo).

Having spent time in Korea, I’ve seen what it looks like when a place actually gets transit right. Over there, you can navigate entire regions and cross the country without ever sitting behind a wheel. You hop on a train, connect smoothly to a bus or subway, or roll off with your bike. It isn’t just convenient; it changes how you live your life and how you connect with your community.

Supporting CoCo is vital because it brings that same opportunity home to Colorado. What makes CoCo so compelling is that it’s a practical, realistic plan – it uses existing freight rail tracks, meaning passenger service can be online within eight years. Beyond taking cars off our clogged highways and cutting vehicle pollution, it opens up real economic mobility for everyday people.

We have to start thinking beyond motor vehicles. With CoCo, someone can ride their e-bike to the train station and connect to jobs, education, and possibilities all across the Front Range.

Just as importantly, it gives us our time back. Instead of staring at bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-25 with stress levels through the roof, you can spend those miles getting work done, clearing your inbox, or just enjoying a good book – right now, I’m reading “Theo of Golden.”

Yes, plenty of people still want to drive, and that’s fine. But for many, vehicle ownership, maintenance, and insurance are a massive financial burden they simply can’t afford. While I have the privilege of owning a car and an e-bike, that luxury isn’t universal. We cannot make decisions purely from our own desires, privilege, and personal experience.

As leaders, we have to look ahead. This is about building a future for young people, like my own child, who don’t want to be forced to rely on a car just to navigate the world. We need to listen to what our youth actually want and what they can afford, and we need to build that world for them.

As Week Without Driving wraps up, let’s carry this mindset forward. Investing in the Colorado Connector isn’t just about tracks and trains. It’s about freedom, economic opportunity, and choosing to build a community where everyone can thrive. Vote ‘yes’ on 7A.