Colorado Connector Rail Project to Link Denver and Fort Collins by 2029

Colorado’s “CoCo” Rail Project: Connecting the Front Range

This was chosen by the people of Colorado, and the top two contenders were actually playful names, said Gov. Jared Polis during the announcement at Denver’s Union Station. I think that this name works because it describes what it does. It connects Colorado.

The Starter Service Route

The Starter Service will run from Denver Union Station to Fort Collins, serving eight stations in total. Planned stops include Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder, Longmont, and Loveland. According to official delivery plans, trains will utilize the RTD B Line corridor to Westminster and existing BNSF freight tracks farther north. To facilitate this, the state and BNSF have approved a term sheet setting the main conditions for a 25-year track-access agreement, with infrastructure slated for upgrades to accommodate shared passenger and freight operations. A binding agreement remains the next step in the process.

The project is currently estimated to cost $332 million in capital expenses for the first phase, with annual operations and maintenance costs projected between $30 million and $36 million. Funding commitments are expected from the Colorado Transportation Investment Office, the Clean Transit Enterprise and RTD. Notably, the service will be paid for using existing funds from the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) and other state agencies, meaning no voter-approved tax increase is required to finance the Denver-to-Fort Collins train. This structure removes a potential major stumbling block to the proposal’s approval.

Burnham Yard and Future Integration

Beyond the northern corridor, the rail project may eventually integrate with Denver’s urban development. The Denver Broncos recently finalized a deal with the Colorado Department of Transportation to purchase Burnham Yard, which the team has identified as its preferred site for a new stadium. Plans for the property include preserving part of the historic rail yard and potentially incorporating a stop on the state’s future passenger rail system.

Our master plan for Burnham Yard, still in its preliminary stages of design, includes a potential Front Range Passenger Rail Station. We would welcome the state developing a station there as it supports the multimodal goals for the development. Broncos

The “Joint Service” Strategy

The project represents a “joint service” plan, acting as a hybrid between the Regional Transportation District’s long-delayed B Line—a commuter rail service between Denver and Longmont first approved years ago—and the northern leg of the Colorado Connector. By launching this preliminary service by 2029, state officials aim to demonstrate the viability of rail in the region, regardless of whether a new tax is approved later this year to fund a larger, full-scale Front Range rail project.

The overall goal of the initiative is to connect the state’s growing population and reduce traffic congestion along the I-25 corridor. As the Front Range Passenger Rail District moves forward, it continues to vet candidates and refine plans, having already reviewed potential names for the rail line for trademark conflicts and public appeal before settling on the Colorado Connector. With the term sheet in place and the route defined, the state is moving toward the next phase of implementation for what is intended to be a significant shift in Colorado’s transportation landscape.

Sources: KRDO, Railway.