Ahead of First Committee Hearing, Colorado Climate, Community and Business Leaders Applaud Legislation to Establish Passenger Rail in Colorado
DENVER, CO – On the eve of its first committee hearing, Colorado climate, community, and business leaders today applauded legislation aimed at leveraging millions in federal infrastructure funding to bring passenger rail service to Colorado and expand public transportation options across the state.
SB24-184, sponsored by Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, would implement a congestion reduction fee that would be used to offset climate impacts and mitigate the congestion, and wear and tear on Colorado’s roads caused by rental vehicles. Proceeds from the fee would create a sustainable funding source to be used as a matching source for federal investment opportunities for statewide transit and rail, as well as other forms of public transportation.
"This bill will give Coloradans more transportation options and cut planet-warming pollution by funding passenger rail and directing more transportation funding toward climate-friendly projects,” said Elise Jones, Executive Director of SWEEP. “To guarantee the success of this initiative and create a complete and connected transit network, we need to pair passenger rail with significant investment in local transit service and land use policies that focus housing and job growth around transit. We look forward to working with the legislature on future efforts to bring this vision to life."
“The opportunity to secure our mobility future is now! We have an obligation to Colorado’s future economic vitality to lay the tracks for the Northwest Passenger Rail service from Denver to Ft. Collins, though Boulder County, as the cornerstone of a statewide rail system. We urge our legislative leadership to seize this opportunity,” said John Tayer, Boulder County Chamber CEO & President.
"GreenLatinos supports expanded public transportation to tackle pollution and emissions, prioritizing vulnerable communities reliant on transit. We're dedicated to mitigating negative impacts, such as noise and air pollution, on those living closest to train routes," said Ean Thomas Tafoya, GreenLatinos Colorado State Director.
“We applaud and appreciate President Fenberg's leadership on this innovative approach that will help ensure Colorado can strongly compete for federal rail funding. Front Range Rail will help move Coloradans around efficiently and in a way that reduces our climate pollution -- and we hope to see additional robust investments in expanded local and regional transit, as the Governor laid out in his state of state speech, to ensure that Coloradans will have greener and more affordable and convenient transportation options in communities across the state," said Kelly Nordini, Executive Director, Conservation Colorado.
“We are taking a visionary approach to allow for the reintroduction of passenger rail to our Front Range and mountain communities. With much of the railway infrastructure in place and access to federal funding, the opportunity is now,” said Rob Perlman, Executive Vice President Alterra Mountain Company. “With this nominal fee, Coloradoans and our guests will have access to sustainable transportation to our mountains aboard passenger rail.”
“YIMBY Denver has long believed the freedom to move is essential. Owning a car should be optional for those living in Denver or traveling around our great state. Reliable and efficient transit frees Denverites and Coloradans from the financial burdens of car dependency while also reducing greenhouse gasses and other air pollutants that contribute to our poor air quality along the Front Range. This bill will expand equitable access to jobs, education, healthcare, and recreational opportunities across our state without the reduction of planned transit service intended for communities most in need, and combined with the Transit Oriented Communities bill and Federal credit programs TIFIA and RRIF, could unlock opportunities for future housing development in existing communities along planned rail lines.”
"Trains and buses give Coloradans more travel options to get around the state, their city and their community," said Danny Katz, Executive Director of CoPIRG. "More and better transit options allow people to choose to take the bus or train to the places they want to go safely and with less pollution, hassle and costs. I'm glad the Governor and legislative leaders are committed to going big on transit in 2024 from statewide rail to eliminating fares for youth riders to expanding the frequency of local service."
SB24-184 will be heard in the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee tomorrow, Wednesday, March 27. Learn more about the bill HERE, and track the bill’s progress HERE.