Board members for several Colorado transit agencies have approved an agreement to establish new rail connections between Denver and Fort Collins. Folowing months of negotiations between the Joint Service Executive Committee and BNSF Railway, the term sheet establishes a 25-year access agreement, setting the stage for three daily round trips between the two cities and a series of needed capital improvements totaling $330 million.
In addition to setting up the access agreement, the participating transportation agencies implemented appropriations to move the project into the design phase. These investments will help kickstart capital improvements while participants finalize a formal access agreement by June.
The six participating public entities include:
- The Transportation Commission.
- The CTIO.
- Clean Transit Enterprise.
- Front Ranger Passenger Rail District Board.
- The Denver RTD Board.
Under the agreement, public entities will operate passenger trains on BNSF-owned infrastructure. Coordination between BNSF and public partners will cover shared use of track, scheduling priorities and infrastructure upgrades to ensure transit operations coexist with freight services.
The estimated $330 million needed for capital improvements will cover the basic necessities to support dual freight and passenger travel. Projects included in the term sheet will include upgrading the track to support high speeds, creating passing sections to mitigate conflicts between passenger and freight trains and implementing safety enhancements.
The design phase is anticipated to last several years with a projected opening date set for January 2029. This section of the project will cover infrastructure requirements, operational planning and cost estimates needed before signing the finalized access agreement.
Full execution will allow all project partners to collectively share resources and expertise while serving growing communities with more transit options along the Interstate 25 corridor. Officials note that the agreement enables an increase in public transit infrastructure that requires no new taxes.
Photo by Thomas Ward from Pexels
For more of the latest from the expansive government marketplace, check Government Market News daily for new stories, insights and profiles from public sector professionals. Check out our national contracting newsletter here.
