Assistant Leader Neguse and Local Leaders Celebrate $66.4 Million for Front Range Passenger Rail Project
Lafayette, CO — In case you missed it, earlier today, U.S. House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse celebrated the announcement that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded $66.4 million to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to help bring the Front Range Passenger Rail Project to life. The funding was allocated through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which invests in railroad infrastructure projects that improve safety and support economic vitality.
At a press conference in Westminster this morning, Congressman Neguse, Governor Polis, Senator Bennet, Congresswoman Pettersen, CDOT Executive Director Lew, and local leaders announced that four Colorado rail projects will receive a total of $129.5 million in federal funds. The CRISI grants were awarded to CDOT, Colorado State University Pueblo, San Luis Central Railroad Co., and OmniTRAX.
“After years of working to secure federal support for the Front Range Passenger Rail Project, I am excited to see the Department of Transportation heed our calls and commit to modernizing Colorado’s passenger rail system—not just for communities along the Front Range but for residents throughout the entire state. This is a once-in-a-generation investment in our passenger rail infrastructure, creating countless new opportunities for communities to connect, grow, and thrive—and we will continue to work together to ensure this momentum leads to lasting benefits for all Coloradans,” said Assistant Leader Joe Neguse.
“Today’s grant will make freight rail traffic in some of our busiest growing communities safer quickly while providing critical building blocks for Front Range Passenger Rail. This major funding will help achieve important priorities like complying with longstanding federal standards and improving the safety of rail crossings, which can be the sites of dangerous incidents. With more than $66 million in federal support from the Biden-Harris administration, the future of Colorado’s rail network is a clear priority for the federal government, as it should be. We thank Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet, Congressman Neguse and Congresswoman Pettersen, and our communities for their support of this important project,” said Governor Jared Polis.
This announcement is the result of the persistent advocacy from Neguse, members of Colorado’s federal delegation, and state officials who have long championed investments in the state’s transit infrastructure. Earlier this year, Rep. Neguse led his colleagues in a letter to House Appropriators, requesting full funding for the FRA's passenger rail programs. This follows previous outreach to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, urging the inclusion of the Front Range Passenger Rail in the FRA’s newly established Corridor Identification and Development Program (CDIP)—created as part of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help the federal government identify new passenger rail services.
Leaders across the Front Range joined in celebrating the news:
“The recent award by the Federal Rail Administration of $66.4 million dollars is a great big step in the right direction for Colorado to realize our front range passenger rail! Thank you Representative Neguse for leading the way, at the federal level, on this critical project,” said Jeni Arndt, Mayor of Fort Collins.
“The Front Range Passenger Rail District Board (FRPRD) is deeply grateful to Congressman Neguse, Senator Hickenlooper and the Secretary of Transportation for their advocacy with the FRA. Their support played a significant part in the $66.4 million award that the FRA awarded to the FRPRD, which will play a pivotal role in advancing rail transportation on Colorado’s front range. This support enables us to move forward with the construction, which will greatly enhance connectivity and improve accessibility for our community. Thank you for your commitment to our vision and for helping us make this important project a reality,” said Joan Peck, Longmont Mayor.
“This landmark grant from the Federal Railroad Administration is a huge step forward for passenger rail in Boulder and across the region. Front Range Passenger Rail will finally provide long-awaited train service from Boulder to Denver, Longmont and points beyond, and will make a transformative impact on mobility in our community for decades to come. We're incredibly grateful to Congressman Neguse as well as Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for their persistent advocacy for this project,” said Aaron Brockett, Mayor of Boulder.
Background on Project
The $66,400,000 for CDOT will go toward the project titled ‘Modernizing Rail on the Front Range: PTC Installation, Siding, & Grade Crossing Safety and Operational Improvements’ involves systems planning, project planning, project development, final design, and construction activities to for provide track improvement, siding installation, and PTC design/installation in northern Colorado. The project will design, install, and test positive train control with a complementary siding on a portion of the Front Range Subdivision, along with several railroad crossings that could benefit from operational and safety improvements. It will also evaluate, design, and construct site-specific crossing solutions at five high-priority locations along the Subdivision.
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