January-February-March 2015 Issue #77 Restoring Millennials want to drive less, ski link do more! could be big lift -- if okayed by Jim Souby and R.W. Rynerson Spearheaded by Amtrak Conductor and ColoRail Member Brad Swarz- welter, Amtrak has agreed to con- sider operating a special train from Denver to the Seven Villages of Winter Park Resort in late March. This would be a full scale demon- Just off the train at the Paris Gare de la Est, millenials and others find official informa- stration run of the newly minted tion immediately. At Denver’s Union Station, they would find valet parking. “Winter Park Express” to accom- modate skiers desiring comfortable by Sylvia Brady and hassle free travel day for a day ColoRail's mission is to develop passenger rail and transit services in at the resort. Colorado. This ranges from advocacy for public transit projects, such as The demo would allow Amtrak to the light rail and commuter rail lines that are a part of RTD’s FasTracks work out any kinks in the service. program, to the national system of Amtrak passenger rail and scenic train However, the train requires ap- tourism throughout Colorado. Rail is one part of an integrated trans- proval of the host railroad, the Un- portation network in Colorado. (Continued on page 3) Today’s young adults are especially interested in travel without a car, and passenger rail can provide travel choices for those who cannot or do not wish to drive. If our organization wishes to grow and attract a more di- ColoRail general verse group of rail advocates, we must understand what the current gen- meeting eration’s travel trends and mobility needs are. Millennials, a term used to describe today’s young adults between the on February 28th ages of 16 and 34, have adopted new travel behaviors that differ from gearing up for 2016 previous generations. Millennials desire urban living in walkable, vibrant communities, and they do not want to spend their lives in their cars or “Year of the Train” stuck in traffic. Younger people are also interested in the sustainability of See Page 2. (Continued on page 6) “A Voice for Colorado’s Rail Passengers” Page 2 www.colorail.org
Building blocks to better network Building rail’s future
ColoRail’s Winter Meeting will give members a look into the fu- ture. With four FasTracks lines opening and proposals for Win- ColoRail Winter ter Park service and the Southwest Chief in the agenda, 2016 will be the year of the train. Prospects will be presented. General Meeting Planned activities include the latest on FasTracks rail line construction from 9 am to Noon Richard Clarke, Assistant General Manager, Capital Projects, RTD. Sylvia Brady and Jack Wheeler will show how the Millennial generation are revital- Saturday, February 28th izing our transportation system. ColoRail’s nominating committee will report. Denver Union Station example, obtaining the recent TI- Meeting Room President’s GER grant was a building block for saving the Southwest Chief. A se- 1701 Wynkoop Street cure Chief becomes a building block for expanding Amtrak service to Cab Pueblo, which becomes a building block for Front Range Passenger Rail by serving as a southern anchor ColoRail Board and for the system. Colorado NARP Council Members: ride Each building block can usually be (with telephone numbers) defined and justified as a standalone and
UP owns Winter Park rail link try-out? infrastructure (Continued from page 1) As proposed, the Winter Park Ex- Luckin, Jody Sylva and Jim ion Pacific Railroad, which owns the press would depart from and return Souby. route. This approval has not been to Denver Union Station. The dem- As part of the business plan develop- received as of press time for the Col- onstration in March of 2015 would ment a task force of Amtrak operations oRail Passenger, which was held for herald the return of weekly ski train executives were brought to Winter this news, but ColoRail and other service to Winter Park in 2016. The Park to check out the plan. Winter civic leaders are hoping the UP will service would run from January Park did a grand job hosting the visit help resume this historic service. through March with three or four trips and selling the train’s merits. a week. Amtrak would charge a ColoRail members Bob Brewster, Ira competitive price for roundtrip tickets Schreiber and Jim Souby accompa- designed to fill the six plus Super- nied the team and ColoRail chartered liner car train and attract skiers who a return bus to demonstrate the ad- want to avoid the drive up I-70 over vantages of the train over driving. A the pass and back. return ride plagued by bad weather, This is a momentous opportunity! icy roads and I-70 congestion contrib- Restoring ski train service is one of uted to our cause! It’s the first time ColoRail’s top three goals. ColoRail ever saluted terrifying ser- vice.
A team of volun- teers headed by Brad deserve a great deal of credit. The team included: Jason Hanson, Gary DeFrange, ,Bob Brewster, Ira S c h r e i b e r , Ha r r y Sa f - strom, Rich
Looking back at the Rio Grande Ski Train. In a 1949 timetable, the weekend Ski Train was coexisting on the Moffat Tunnel route with five passenger trains in each direction: Winter Park - then and now California Zephyr transcontinental. Prospector overnight Denver <> Salt Lake City. Mountaineer overnight Denver <> Montrose. #9/10 daylight Denver <> Craig via Steam- boat Springs. #23/24 overnight Denver <> Craig via Steam- boat Springs. Day trip ski trains were operated in the eastern United States and Canada, but were rare in the longer distances of the West. Closest equivalent to the Winter Park “ski from the train” conven- ience was Milwaukee Road’s Snoqualmie Pass trains from Seattle. Winter Park photos at right courtesy of Steve Hurlbert show easy access. Page 4 www.colorail.org
CDOT not hors- ing around Coaches connect regions
‘Bustangs’ wait in the corral for the start of service. February 2015 photos by Bob Brewster. by Bob Brewster Front Range Corridor and the I-70 muter market ended on April 30, ColoRail wishes to congratulate its Mountain Corridor. 1975. Colorado Motorway was the partners at Colorado Department of “It's a start that hopefully will enjoy operator, a sister company to the Transportation's Rail and Transit enough success to justify expansion, Denver Boulder Bus Company, this Division for their spring launch of the and who knows, it might lead to pas- writer's first employer. The buses from both companies passed into BUSTANG interregional bus ser- senger rail linkages.” adds Imhoff. vices along the I-25 and I-70 corri- the hands of RTD's Intercity Divi- Services will be operated under con- sion, based in Boulder, on May 1, dors. tract by Horizon Coach Lines, a well- 1975. And it's not a minute too soon! respected charter bus operator in These services have been desper- the Denver area and elsewhere. Operating rights on the Colorado ately needed for years as Colorado's The buses will be more upscale ver- Motorway (CMW) route north of growing traffic volume has caused sions of RTD's newest regional Longmont were purchased by Conti- extreme frustration for motorists try- buses, but sporting more legroom, nental Trailways, which was more ing to get from Point A to Point B in WiFi, TV monitors, and restrooms. interested in the interstate opportuni- ties of the Laramie terminus of our busiest corridors of commerce. A serious step up from the former FREX service that connected Colo- CMW, so the commuter service Denver's Union Station will be the rado Springs with Denver. Passen- gradually evaporated. Trailways anchor for highway coach service gers will be relieved of their driving also once operated an extensive from Ft. Collins and Loveland in the schedule between Denver and Colo- north, Colorado Springs in the south, duties to read, work, or nap during their daily commutes, not unlike the rado Springs, but service declined and Glenwood Springs in the west. as did much of the intercity bus in- thousands who already commute on The Denver Union Station terminus dustry. will permit easy transfers to RTD's RTD's buses and trains every day. extensive rail and bus network Riders will also save money, if they So, thanks to our friends at CDOT, throughout the metro area. And, of consider the actual cost of driving what was old is new again! ColoRail course, Amtrak's California Zephyr, their personal vehicles. AAA pub- is certain that BUSTANG will be an enhancing access to our famed lishes a handy brochure that reveals instant success. It is not difficult to believe that there will be frequency train. the true operating cost of an auto- mobile, ranging from 50 to 80 cents increases, extensions, such as to “A big piece of the state transit net- Pueblo, and expansion from 5 to 7 work that is missing are the ‘city to per mile, depending on vehicle type. Motorists often fail to realize that days per week operation. And there city’ and/or ‘local transit system to could be other route opportunities, every mile driven has a cost that far local transit system’ connections,” bringing service to Coloradans who exceeds the cost of gasoline, even according to CDOT's Mark Imhoff. have no other mobility options. Col- at today's lower prices. Bustang is CDOT's initial attempt to oRail salutes CDOT for entering connect the six largest transit sys- The last serious attempt to serve the (Continued on page 7) tems in the state along the I-25 Ft. Collins/Loveland/Denver com- www.colorail.org Page 5
ColoRail has its ColoRail’s 25th year celebrated day
ColoRail celebrated its 25th Anni- asked for ColoRail’s support, especially public support. The organization needs versary at Denver Union Station. for Stand Up For Transportation Day to remain goal oriented and high minded, The September 27th meeting April 9, 2015. This is his primary objec- occasionally taking on the powers that brought together all of ColoRail’s tive as this year’s Chair of the American be when they lose sight of key transit past presidents and many mem- Public Transportation Association and rail objectives such as DUS and (APTA). The day will be celebrated in system connectivity. bers from 1989 on to commemo- Washington, DC, and across the nation, The second panel considered the future rate our success as the citizens including Denver. He emphasized that of rail and transit services. Pueblo who “Saved Our Station”. The transportation infrastructure is a key eco- County Commissioner and Southwest meeting convened a moment of nomic contributor and requires sufficient Chief Commission Chair Sal Pace joined and predictable funding. The nature of silence for several founders who freight railroad expert Pete Ricker- transportation systems makes federal have departed, followed by a shauser, Amtrak Senior Government champagne toast in the great hall funding a must. Affairs Manager Derrick James and to all of ColoRail's founders. Two panels followed, the first included CDOT transit and rail Director Mark Im- Simon Tafoya from the Governor’s ColoRail’s past presidents and longtime hoff on the panel. transit advocate Bert Melcher in a re- Office then delivered a proclama- Panelists described the challenges fac- view of the history of the organization. tion from Governor John Hick- ing rail and transit development, princi- Jon Esty moderated the panel, while enlooper declaring September pally the failure of our state and national th Peter Barkmann and Ira Schreiber 27 , 2014 ColoRail Day in the leaders to secure sufficient and reliable participated. State of Colorado. funding. On the other hand, the inexora- Mobilize the public was the panel’s key ble growth along Colorado’s Front Range RTD General Manager Phil Washing- message, in order to secure political and the changing values of the millennial ton keynoted the event with a call for action. Key events such as creating generation is likely to change the political Congressional action to fund the na- RTD, saving DUS, passing the Fas- equation in favor of transit and rail. tion’s transportation infrastructure. He Tracks ballot measure all depended on “Because of their permanency and in- creasing ridership, trains create commu- nity wealth; they are economic engines. CDOT will help spur public support when it launches its interregional bus service in the I-25 and I-70 corridors. “’What’ is a realistic, actionable vision for passenger rail in Colorado, said panelist Pete Rick- ershauser. ColoRail president Jim Souby closed the meeting with a review of ColoRail’s top three goals: Restore ski train service to Winter Park; Save the Southwest Chief and add a stop in Pueblo; and, develop Front Range passenger rail. He explained these goals could be achieved if we approach them incrementally, the ColoRail Building Block strategy. Col- oRail will keep its oar in the water on RTD’s completion of FasTracks and re- ducing congestion on I-70, but as the panels pointed out, with limited re- sources focus is essential, he said. In the year of the train, 2016! The National Railway Historical Society is considering Denver for its 2016 national convention, its first here since 1982. The Society ColoRail member Pete Rickershauser (left) and President Jim Souby is drawn to Denver because of all (right) visit CDOT’s Mark Imhoff, Director, Transit & Rail Divi- the new rail services being acti- sion. ColoRail Treasurer and former President Ira Schreiber tries the vated by 2016, as well as our rich driver’s seat in one of the specially equipped Bustang coaches. rail legacy. Page 6 www.colorail.org
Building on past improvements Offer connectivity without a car
(Continued from page 1) cling infrastructure such as improved current and future generations who their travel modes and reducing their bike lanes and bike-sharing pro- want to drive less and do more. Rail carbon footprint. Biking, walking, grams have made biking an impor- operations must adapt to the in- and public transit are increasing as tant commuting alternative. B-cycle termodal lives of Millennials and modes of transport for all people, led is a successful bike-sharing program offer connectivity to rail stations by Millennials. Colorado Public In- in Denver that allows users to pick without a car. Bike racks at sta- terest Research Group’s (CoPIRG) up a bike in one location and return tions and allowing bikes on board 2014 report on transportation in it to another. Ride sharing and car trains and rail is just one place to Denver found that the number of sharing programs such as car2go, start. Providing car share parking vehicle miles traveled per capita de- Uber, and Lyft have increased the is also another way to achieve creased by 10.6% from 2006-2011, travel options for people without cars connectivity to rail stations. State one of the largest and local tran- d e c r e a s e s sit agencies as across large U.S. well as Col- cities. This is not oRail should just because recognize that people are not fixed route going as many transport sys- places. Transit tems like bus miles traveled and rail are not increased by as flexible as 13.5 % from the car and 2005-2010. Miles can affect peo- traveled by car ple’s mobility if decreased while they cannot miles travel on access these transit increase. networks. In- Millennials in termodal plan- particular are ning is key to leading this allow as many mode switch, people as pos- drivi ng 23% sible to access fewer miles in the rail net- 2009 than 2001. work that Col- oRail is fight- Millennials are more likely than ing for. other genera- Millennials are learning to take advantage of new or revitalized modes. Emphasizing tions to not own the sustainabil- a car because ity of rail can who need the flexibility and mobility they do not see a need for it. Or also draw more interest in rail as a of a car every once in a while. Den- they may own one but use it less. viable travel mode. If ColoRail is ver’s system of light rail and com- Young people have been able to able to reach a new generation of muter rail has also increased the achieve fewer miles in the car by rail passengers, we can achieve our taking advantage of new and in- mobility options for people going goals of expanding passenger rail novative modes of transport. Cy- carless. service in Colorado and continue the cling has always been popular in the So where does rail fit in? Rail advo- legacy of the first 25 years of our Denver/Boulder region, but new cy- cates must recognize the needs of organization.
(Continued from page 8) Don Zielesch 1/1/15. help, but the DUS Amtrak staff has If I have left off anyone's name, expressed their appreciation to Thanks to ColoRail please let me know. many of the volunteers. And thanks much for your help. Not The next opportunity to volunteer Volunteer hosts only does Colorado appreciate our will be the Easter weekend which will be April 3 through April 6, 2015. www.colorail.org Page 7
Texans express CHIEF EFFORT HEADS TO STATE CAPITOL disappointment
Coach service Work continues in three state govern- ments to retain the current routing of to connect regions Amtrak’s Southwest Chief. Colorado’s efforts are focused on General Assem- (Continued from page 4) anew era in statewide transporta- bly Bill 15-176, introduced on a biparti- tion! And we urge ColoRail mem- san basis by Senators Leroy Garcia bers and friends to sample the (D) and Larry Crowder (R). service when it commences. Other sponsors as of press time in- While ColoRail's principle focus is clude Senators Aguilar, Guzman, rail advocacy, we realize that bus Heath, Jones, and Kerr. House spon- services extend the market for rail sorship is led by Joe Salazar. by way of connections. We also understand that initial bus ser- In the photo at right, ColoRail President vices establish a stronger market Jim Souby discusses the bill’s prospects for the development of rail corri- with Senator Garcia. dors, our ultimate goal. Buses In related news, Amarillo and Lubbock, and trains working together for Texas newspapers reported disappoint- better transportation alternatives. ment that the Chief might not be rerouted.
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And thanks from Amtrak staff Kudos to: Station Volunteers by Don Zielesch Ron Kaminen 8/29/, 8/30, the sofas and other seating areas while Jay Jones and I would like to thank and 9/1/14. waiting for the train. Unfortunately some trains were late--as is usual, but that is to The next scheduled holiday was Thanks- the following volunteers who helped be expected during the Christmas sea- giving November 26 -December 1, 2014. out at DUS over the Labor Day holi- son. The following volunteers helped Jay and I would like to thank the follow- day weekend. We appreciate the over this period: effort you made to help. There was ing volunteers who helped over the John Bishop 12/27/14 and a low turn out of volunteers but lots Thanksgiving weekend: 1/2/15. of passengers according to Ron Mike Cronin 11/27/14. Kaminen. Ron Kaminen 11/28 and Mike Cronin 1/3/15. Hopefully with Amtrak back on a 11/29/14. Ron Kaminen 12/27 and regular schedule we can be of more Tom Peyton 11/26/14. 12/28/14. help. It was good to be back at DUS Vince Szafranko 11/27 and Tom Peyton 1/1/15. after a 3 year hiatus. Things are still 11/28/14. David Rasmussen 12/28/14 and a little unsettled but that should also 1/2/15. settle down. Betty Vander Kooi 11/25/14. Vince Szafranko 12/25 and Ron Vander Kooi 11/25/14. Many thanks to the following volunteers 12/26/14 who helped over Labor Day weekend: Don Zielesch 11/26/14. Ron Vander Kooi 12/31/14. John Bishop 8/30/14. At year-end, things were a bit crowded at Mike Cronin 8/30/14. times, but many of the passengers used (Continued on page 6)
P.O. Box 9613 Denver, CO 80209