Northern Colorado Could Finally Get Passenger Rail Soon

People love to take multiple different forms of transportation throughout Northern Colorado. 

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For example, people absolutely love biking around places like Fort Collins, since the city is extremely accessible for cyclists.

In fact, a huge trail that connects many different cities in Northern Colorado has been completed, giving people another way to travel long distances.

However, if you’re looking to take a trip to places like Denver, Boulder, or even Colorado Springs, your only real option is to drive.  

While many people are used to taking roads like I-25 down to some of these places, things can get pretty crazy and hectic on the interstate. Plus, you’ll be paying more for gas as well.

Fortunately, a Front Range Passenger Rail Project was announced last year, and it looks like it is getting a massive push from the government to get things started.

Colorado Given $66 Million Grant for Rail Project

When the Front Range Passenger Rail Project had been announced by the Colorado Department of Transportation, it didn’t have the required funding yet.

In fact, it started with a budget of just $500,000, definitely not enough money to get an ambitious project like this off the ground.

However, they applied for a federal grant as soon as it became available to them to try to get a big chunk of funding.

Fortunately for fans of light rail, the U.S. Department of Transportation gave them a grant of $66 million to move the project forward.

This means that after a few snags with the development of the project, the Front Range Passenger Rail Project is finally getting off the ground.

Where Will the Front Range Passenger Rail Project Go in Colorado?

The Front Range Passenger Rail Project is first aiming to connect the Denver and Boulder metro areas to the Northern Corridor of Colorado, with a station being located in Fort Collins.

However, after they get that done, they want to expand even more.

For Colorado, they want it to be possible for a person to get on a train in Fort Collins and make it all the way to Pueblo.

At its most ambitious, there has been talk of going as far south as Trinidad, Colorado and as far north as Wyoming.

For now, the service is expected to open up to the public in the next 10-15 years.