Contents Made in Colorado, Shipped to the World ............................................................................................... 9 The Road to the Future Isn’t Only a Road ........................................................................................... 10 Colorado Delivers ........................................................................................................................ 11 Colorado’s Planning Process ........................................................................................................... 12 About This Rail Plan............................................................................................................. 12 Statewide and Regional Planning ............................................................................................. 13 Rail Planning in Colorado....................................................................................................... 14 Plan Development Partners and Process ..................................................................................... 14 Chapter 1 – The Role of Rail in Statewide Transportation ............................................................ 17 1.1 Colorado’s Rail Vision and Goals ............................................................................................ 17 1.2 The Role of Rail In Colorado ................................................................................................. 18 1.3 Institutional Governance of Rail in Colorado ............................................................................. 22 1.3.1 Federal Agencies .................................................................................................... 22 1.3.2 State Agencies ....................................................................................................... 22 1.3.3 State Authorities .................................................................................................... 24 1.3.4 Regional Authorities................................................................................................. 24 1.4 State Financing Authority and Rail Funding .............................................................................. 25 1.4.1 Funds, Grants, and Loans .......................................................................................... 25 1.4.2 Public-Private Partnerships ........................................................................................ 26 1.4.3 State Rail Funding in Colorado .................................................................................... 26 1.5 Past Freight and Passenger Rail Initiatives ............................................................................... 27 1.5.1 Corridor Development Initiatives .................................................................................. 27 Chapter 2 – Colorado’s Existing Rail Systems ............................................................................. 31 2.1 Description and Inventory of Existing Freight and Passenger Rail Systems ........................................ 31 2.1.1 Freight Rail System .................................................................................................. 32 2.1.2 Intercity Passenger Rail System ................................................................................... 39 2.1.3 Freight and Passenger Rail Intermodal Connections ............................................................ 50 2.1.4 Passenger Rail Service Objectives ................................................................................. 54 2.1.5 Performance Evaluation of Intercity Passenger Services ....................................................... 54 2.1.6 Public Financing for Rail Projects ................................................................................. 58 2.1.7 Safety and Security of Rail Transportation ...................................................................... 60 2.1.8 Economic and Environmental Benefits of Rail Transportation ................................................ 75 2.2 Future Trends and Conditions .............................................................................................. 79 2.2.1 Demographic and Economic Trends ............................................................................... 79 2.2.2 Freight Rail Demand ................................................................................................ 82 2.2.3 Passenger Rail Demand ............................................................................................. 84 2.2.4 Fuel Cost Trends ..................................................................................................... 85 1 2.2.5 Rail Congestion Trends ............................................................................................. 86 2.2.6 Highway and Airport Congestion Trends ......................................................................... 86 2.2.7 Land Use Trends ..................................................................................................... 88 2.3 Rail Service Needs and Opportunities ..................................................................................... 88 2.3.1 Freight Rail Priority Issues and Opportunities ................................................................... 90 2.3.2 Passenger Rail Priority Issues and Opportunities ................................................................ 94 Chapter 3 – Proposed Passenger Rail Improvements and Investments .............................................. 97 3.1 State Funded Commuter Rail Capital Improvement Projects ......................................................... 97 3.2 Intercity Passenger Rail Capital Improvement Projects ................................................................ 98 3.2.1 Passenger Rail Improvements and Investments ................................................................. 99 Chapter 4 – Proposed Freight Rail Improvements and Investments .................................................107 4.1 Previously Completed Rail Improvements ............................................................................... 107 4.2 Proposed Freight Rail Improvements ..................................................................................... 109 4.3 Rail Corridor Preservation Needs .......................................................................................... 109 4.4 Freight Rail Assistance Program ........................................................................................... 109 4.4.1 Freight Rail Investment Needs ................................................................................... 110 4.4.2 Rail Assistance Programs ......................................................................................... 110 4.4.3 Federal Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing ............................................... 111 Chapter 5 – Rail Service and Investment Program ......................................................................112 5.1 Vision ........................................................................................................................... 112 5.1.1 Priority Objectives and Implementation Strategies .......................................................... 113 5.2 Program Coordination ....................................................................................................... 124 5.3 State Rail Agency Authority ................................................................................................ 125 5.4 Program Effects ............................................................................................................... 125 5.5 Passenger Element ........................................................................................................... 128 5.5.1 Passenger Rail Capital Projects .................................................................................. 128 5.5.2 Capital Financing Plan ............................................................................................ 129 5.5.3 Operating Financing Plan ......................................................................................... 129 5.5.4 Public and Private Economic Benefits .......................................................................... 130 5.6 Freight Elements ............................................................................................................. 131 5.6.1 Financing Plan ..................................................................................................... 131 5.6.2 Public and Private Economic Effects ........................................................................... 131 5.7 Rail Studies and Reports .................................................................................................... 131 5.8 Passenger and Freight Rail Capital Program ............................................................................. 133 Chapter 6 – Coordination and Review .....................................................................................135 6.1 Approach to Public and Agency Participation ........................................................................... 135 6.2 Multistate Coordination ..................................................................................................... 138 6.3 Involvement in Preparation and Review ................................................................................. 139 6.4 Key Themes and Issues .....................................................................................................