Rail
Colorado’s rail systems are critical components of the state’s transportation infrastructure. Trains move people and goods throughout Colorado and help connect businesses and visitors to other states.
The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 requires states to develop a state rail plan. CDOT is currently updating its State Freight and Passenger Rail Plan, completed in March 2012, to incorporate new data, to account for changing trends, and to better prepare Colorado to meet current challenges and act on future opportunities.
Freight and passenger rail have a significant impact on our state economy:
- $707.1 million in direct payroll, spending, and investment by Union Pacific and BNSF in Colorado in 2015.
- For every 1 job in the freight rail industry, another 4.5 jobs are supported in Colorado’s economy.
- $52 million in direct payroll, investment, and indirect tourist spending by Amtrak in Colorado in 2016.
- $5.3 billion invested in the Denver Metro area through RTD
Fastracks between 2004 and 2016 - For every $1 invested in RTD transit infrastructure another $4 dollars in investment is generated.
The current State Freight and Passenger Rail Plan is available by clicking below. Please note that the update to the State Freight and Passenger Rail Plan is being developed concurrently with Colorado's Multimodal Freight Plan.
