Making passenger rail from Pueblo to Fort Collins a reality - Part 2

The 8th Sustainable Transportation Summit met on Aug. 27 to address the question of how to make a rail system from Pueblo to Fort Collins a reality. The Summit was hosted and delivered by Commuting Solutions. Part 1 of this 2-part series addressed the vision of Colorado's leaders for a functional rail system. Part 2 addresses the Summit's discussion of a similar system that is in place in Washington state.

As part of the Summit, Katie Drewel, Government and Community Relations Acting Director for South King County at Sound Transit spoke at length about the geographic, funding and operational demands for regional transit in the greater Seattle and Washington state communities. The Sound Transit bus and passenger rail system is currently serving three million people or 40% of the state of Washington's population.

Sound Transit was presented as a model for inter-regional partnership and state travel authorized by the state legislature.

The first light rail in the Sound Transit system in Washington was established in 1996 from Westlake to SeaTac Airport with associated express bus service for other areas.

Today there are three light rail and bus lines over 35 miles with 40 stations. Funding sources for the years 2017 through 2046 come from state and federal grants, local taxes on vehicles, rentals sales and debt.

Drewel explained that operation and maintenance costs are the largest funding requirements.

Key lessons concern delivery improvements. Delivery takes lead time and revision. Getting the public excited about the service is also of key importance. Drewel reported that regional players such as Starbucks and Boeing have helped by providing company transit to stations.

Stakeholders partner together for delivery. Amtrak maintains and stores the trains. Sound Transit trips have signal priority during easement windows. BNSF owns the corridor and shares it with freight haulers and Amtrak. Local communities supply garages and access improvements.

This model of shared partnership among stakeholders for transit and rail delivery has been proven in Washington's Sound Transit System and Colorado's leaders hope to replicate it in Colorado.

Following Director Drewel's presentation, a round table discussion ensued with members of the Front Range Passenger Rail Board (FRPRB). Panel members included Chris Nevitt, Board Chair and City Manager for Denver Transit-Oriented Development; Mayor Nancy McNally, City of Westminster; Dennis Newman, Executive Vice-President Strategy and Planning, Amtrak; and Debra A. Johnson, General Manager and CEO Regional Transportation District (RTD). Andy Karsian, General Manager, Front Range Passenger Rail District was the moderator. Longmont Mayor Joan Peck is also a member of the FRPRD but did not participate in the discussion after her speech.

During the course of speaker presentations and round table discussion, in addition to a statewide rail system, it was suggested that a real regional transportation solution must include travel from Raton, New Mexico through Colorado to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

All members spoke to the importance of establishing and furthering relationships for all the stakeholders. Johnson emphasized the importance of the relationship with the infrastructure owners who are needed to supply the estimates of required funding to improve, secure and maintain the current infrastructure for passenger rail.

Newman, from Amtrak, agreed and asserted that Amtrak is experienced in developing these kinds of relationships as it has done in Washington and the Northeast Corridor from Boston to D.C. Newman also said that Colorado is ahead of the curve in getting to intercity light rail. He said that working now to get funding worked out with needed capital improvements will continue to keep Colorado at the fore.

Mayor McNally, having been involved for decades in corridor transit needs, noted that passenger rail is different from commuter rail. Passenger rail is high speed and long distance. Commuter rail is focused on peak to peak timing. Both are needed, she said. She concluded that the Seattle model is good as it demonstrates the importance of partnerships.