Full Breakdown
Colorado Connector Funding Faces Voter Decision on New Sales Tax
7/22/2026, 12:11:34 PM
Proposed Sales-Tax Measure and Project Scope
Voters in the Front Range Passenger Rail District will consider a one-third-cent sales-tax increase on the November ballot. If approved, the tax would generate roughly $295 million annually to finance the Colorado Connector (CoCo), a passenger-rail system extending from Fort Collins through Denver, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs, with long-range plans to reach New Mexico and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The district’s board will decide in late August whether to place the measure on the ballot.
Background & Context
The Front Range Passenger Rail District, overseen by General Manager Sal Pace, has secured funding for phase one—a limited service line between Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins slated to begin operation in 2029. Phase two, adding stops in Pueblo and two locations in Colorado Springs, requires an estimated $1.7 billion. The district’s 31 municipalities, including Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Pueblo, and Trinidad, would be eligible to vote on the tax.
Timeline
- Late August 2026 – Board votes on pursuing a November ballot measure.
- November 2026 – Potential voter referendum on the sales-tax increase.
- 2029 – Completion of phase one limited service (three round-trip trains daily).
- 2032 – Projected completion of phase two if the tax is approved.
- July 27 2026 – Deadline for public comments on the project.
Data & Statistics
- Phase one cost: $332 million, funded by a state transportation innovation fund and RTD reserves.
- Phase two cost: Approximately $1.7 billion; total system cost projected at $2.7 billion.
- Annual operating budget (full system): $85 million to $116 million.
- Ridership forecast: 2,300 daily trips between Denver and Fort Collins; about 11 % work-related, the rest leisure or family travel.
- Tax impact: Adds roughly one penny to every three dollars spent, exempting food and gasoline. About 20 % of revenue would be returned to municipalities for station upkeep.
Official Statements & Responses
Sal Pace noted the funding would be “in perpetuity” for operations, upgrades, repairs and future expansion. The district highlighted that federal passenger-rail funding is currently unavailable, making local financing essential.
Why It Matters
The Colorado Connector aims to provide an alternative to declining bus and light-rail ridership, which has fallen 40 % among Denver’s 3 million metro residents and contributed to a $200 million budget shortfall for RTD. By using existing BNSF and Union Pacific tracks, CoCo seeks to avoid the high costs of dedicated rail lines while expanding intercity connectivity across the Front Range.
What’s Next
- The board’s late-August decision will determine whether the sales-tax proposal proceeds to the November ballot.
- If placed on the ballot and approved, the tax would fund construction and operation, with phase two expected to finish by 2032.
- Community input remains open until July 27, after which the board will incorporate feedback into its final recommendation.
