Colorado Voters to Decide on Rail Expansion Tax
Front Range Passenger Rail District voters will decide in November whether to approve a sales tax to extend the Colorado Connector rail service to Pueblo.
Voters in the Front Range Passenger Rail District will decide in November whether to approve Ballot Issue 7A, a proposed 0.333% sales and use tax to fund the expansion of the Colorado Connector passenger rail service. If passed, the measure would generate approximately $295 million annually to increase trip frequency and extend the rail line south to Pueblo.
The Front Range Passenger Rail District is currently preparing a starter service between Fort Collins and Denver, scheduled to launch in 2029. This initial phase utilizes existing BNSF railways and is funded by the Regional Transportation District and the Colorado Transportation Investment Office.
Supporters, including Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett, argue the expansion is transformational for regional mobility and will reduce highway congestion and emissions. Opponents, such as Randal O'Toole of the Independence Institute, question the project's costs and passenger demand, citing the failure of the previous FasTracks plan to provide rail service to Boulder County.
