Colorail State
and Regional Issues and Priorities
2011 - 2017
The Colorail Board
has combined the input from members at the last
two membership meetings and created the following
list of key issues. This in no way precludes us
from taking up other issues but it does help the
Board focus our limited resources.
Achieve passage
of FasTracks funding proposal (awaiting final
approval in spring, 2012 with ballot issue expected
for October, 2012).
Keep the SW Chief in Colorado and Protect Kansas
– Colorado – New Mexico right-of-way
and future north south passenger rail options
(see ColoRail Press Release under media).
Protect Public Purposes and Values at Denver Union
Station including expanded intercity bus capacity
(see Colorail Position paper under Issues).
Advance the development
of north south/front range passenger rail with
connecting transit services.
Help develop and
achieve feasible fixes to the I-70 congestion
problem.
Link with nearby states to seek expanded passenger
rail service such as resumption of the Pioneer;
a route from Cheyenne to El Paso; service to
Central Texas via Kansas, etc. as feasible.
COLORAIL CONCERNS
WITH THE CURRENT DENVER UNION STATION PLAN
May 15, 2009
ColoRail concerns regarding
the redevelopment plans for Denver Union Station
(DUS) include the limited capacity allowed for
future transportation service expansion, passenger
convenience and connectivity, and the unnecessarily
high costs for construction and long-term management
of the project. As active participants in the
seven-year planning process, we watched as priorities
were significantly realigned from the initial
transportation-focused design for an intermodal
transportation hub of “international significance”
to one that virtually ignores much of the transportation
issues and results in missed opportunities for
the station, the City of Denver, the State of
Colorado, and the nation.
Please review these concerns and if you agree
that resolving these issues is in the best interests
of the taxpayer and transit passenger, please
share this information with friends and family,
particularly those who will be adversely impacted.
We also encourage you to contact your local,
state, and Federal representatives. Volunteers
are needed to spread the word, write letters
to the editors of local newspapers, and undertake
numerous other activities. So please contact
volunteer@colorail.org
and get involved today.
ColoRail has engaged expert legal counsel who
have determined that there are grounds for successful
legal action that should provide a new window
of opportunity for project review and redesign.
As we go forward with legal action this month,
costs will mount quickly. Your financial support
is necessary to fulfill the promise for historic
Denver Union Station to become a world-class,
21st Century multimodal transportation center.
Click
here to CONTRIBUTE NOW |
Amtrak Extension Studies:
Pioneer Reinstatement
Amtrak
is currently pursuing a feasibility study to
bring back the route of the Pioneer from Seattle
to Denver via Portland, Salt Lake City, and
Cheyenne.
The Pioneer draft feasibility
report from Amtrak has been completed and is
available for download here.
This study does not have the exhibits attached,
but more information will be available at Senator
Mike Crapo's website.
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