Providing Professional Services to Support Intercity Passenger Rail Service Along the Front Range

The population on the Front Range in Colorado is forecasted to grow by nearly 3 million people by 2050. This increase has spurred the proposed development of a passenger rail link from Fort Collins, through Denver and south to Pueblo, providing reliable travel times comparable to car travel to support the population growth and economic vitality of the connected communities along the Front Range.

The proposed 180-mile passenger rail service will be the first of its kind in the state. HDR has played a critical role in the project, starting with an alternatives analysis for the Front Range Passenger Rail Commission in 2019. Our team is now serving as a trusted advisor to the Front Range Passenger Rail District and the Colorado Department of Transportation by providing strategic communications, cost estimating, grant support, governance, and planning and program development.

Studying Rail Feasibility

To gauge the viability of and level of support for the Front Range Passenger Rail, HDR was selected to conduct an initial alternatives analysis. With CDOT and the Rail Commission staff, we coordinated with federal agencies, local jurisdictions, policymakers and interested Colorado residents and organizations to determine the needs and opportunities for the passenger rail system, evaluate potential route alignment and develop strategies to implement the service.

Our strategic communications experts developed an approach based on dividing the proposed service area into north, central and south study regions. This provided our team with a more thorough method of connecting with key entities that were interested in or would be impacted by the new rail line, including major employers, universities, medical institutions, local transit providers, transportation professionals and chambers of commerce. These groups learned about the benefits a passenger rail line could bring, both on a community and regional basis. The result was the growth of public and private partnerships that helped build public support for a rail connector.

Our findings in the alternatives analysis — including evaluation of existing rail corridors for service and public outreach efforts — affirmed that passenger rail was feasible. Our team found that sharing a track alignment with freight operators was a cost-effective strategy for implementing service. The research also revealed overwhelming public support for passenger rail, with our report clarifying the needs of each stakeholder.

Our strategic communications team built a visual implementation brochure, highlighting the findings which helped advocate for a special district. Our branding and messaging framework was later used to successfully communicate the formation of the Front Range Passenger Rail District from the former Front Range Passenger Rail Commission.

Understanding the Costs

Insights from our finance experts provided a high-level evaluation of potential funding sources for the startup, operation and maintenance of the future passenger rail.

A capital and operating and maintenance expenses report provided the Rail District board and policymakers with estimated costs associated with all aspects of the project to guide future investment decisions. The report will play a guiding role in the determination of service frequencies, operating plans, station locations and alignment of the future rail corridor.

We are also supporting the development of a three phase Corridor Identification and Development Program, or CIDP, through the Federal Railroad Administration. This effort sets up the rail corridor and project partners to potentially receive discretionary funding to implement future intercity passenger rail service.

Technical Support for Inter-Agency Coordination

To align the project with deadlines and requirements established by Colorado, our team is supporting the planning, communication and structural implementation of a working relationship between the Rail District, Colorado Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation District in the Denver metro area.

Our planning and project development professionals are helping with the development of a streamlined operating structure and a proposed schedule to meet operational requirements as the three agencies work together on planning and creating a business model. Our passenger rail technical support is also assisting with the management of complex inter-agency coordination.

The Rail District’s implementing statutory language calls for the Northwest Rail project — a long-planned commuter rail service between Denver and Longmont — to become the first phase of the project. HDR’s previous collaboration with RTD on a feasibility study for the Northwest Rail project provides a foundational relationship and a better understanding of the needs of each rail project to help stakeholders and decision-makers build a sustainable and resilient rail service.