TransportationThursday, November 5
Colorado Connector rail tax passes, and starter trains are targeted for 2029
The AM Denver team
If you drive I-25, this one's for you. Ballot Issue 7A, a 0.333% sales and use tax for the Colorado Connector, or "CoCo," passed, and the district declared victory with the measure leading by more than 90,000 votes as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. The starter service from Denver to Fort Collins is targeted for 2029.
The starter line from Denver to Fort Collins, by the numbers
- $332 million
- to build the first phase, down from over $650 million
- 69
- track miles from Denver to Fort Collins
- 8
- stations along the starter route
- 3
- round trips a day at the start
Source: KDVR
- Expected revenue: $295 million a year in sales tax
- Back to communities: about $55 million a year for 25 years
- Starter trip: about an hour and 45 minutes
- On the ballot for: 29 municipalities and seven metro districts
Full service south through Colorado Springs to Pueblo is scheduled to follow within five years of that launch, with up to 10 daily round trips across 190 miles and 12 communities. Before trains roll, the district must finalize operational agreements with BNSF Railway and complete engineering designs. Officials expect that work to wrap up in early 2027, and construction could begin in 2028.
Starter trains are targeted for 2029 after design work and construction
- Nov. 3Voters decide Ballot Issue 7A in Tuesday's election.
- Early 2027Officials expect agreements and design work to wrap up.
- 2028Construction could begin.
- 2029Starter service between Denver and Fort Collins is targeted to start.
Sources: FOX21 News Colorado, Denver Gazette
Sources: FOX21 News Colorado, KDVR, Denver Gazette