Colorado voters approve 0.333% sales tax for new commuter rail
The measure, passed by a margin of over 84,000 votes in 13 counties, funds a direct line from Pueblo to Fort Collins.
By Lucas Navarro ·
Residents in 13 Colorado counties will pay a 0.333% increase in sales tax to fund a new public commuter train. The measure, known as Ballot Issue 7A, passed with 453,474 votes in favor and 368,746 against as of 10:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The state’s Secretary of State office reported the final tallies while election results continued to roll in.
The funding supports the Colorado Connector, a rail line that will run from Pueblo to Fort Collins with Denver’s Union Station as the central hub. Amtrak will operate the service. Planners outline a rollout that includes 12 stations, with an eventual stop in Trinidad at the New Mexico border. The Front Range Passenger Rail District, established by the state legislature in 2021, notes that rail corridors already exist for most of the planned route.
Voters in these communities have previously approved large transit packages that faced delays. In 2004, residents backed FasTracks, a multi-billion dollar initiative for bus routes and six new rail lines in the Denver metro area. While light rail expanded to Golden and Westminster, it has not reached Boulder or Longmont. Officials acknowledged earlier this year that the Northern Colorado portion of that plan will never be finished due to higher construction costs and outdated design plans.
The new tax is projected to generate approximately $295 million annually. Voters also approved the sale of $580 million in bonds to help fund the project. The stated repayment cost for these bonds is $785 million. Construction costs for the rail line to Colorado Springs and Pueblo are estimated at $2.7 billion.
The Front Range Passenger Rail District states that the funding structure ensures money is available to maintain operations. The plan differs from previous fragmented transit efforts by building a single, straight-line commuter system. This approach aims to reduce vehicle traffic and fuel consumption while providing affordable transit options and work opportunities.
The project timeline targets a completion date of 2031 for the rail construction to Pueblo. This follows a seven to 10 year development period outlined by proponents. The new tax will begin applying to sales in the 13 participating counties immediately following the certification of the election results.
The measure advanced despite the concurrent congressional races, where Democrats were poised to flip at least two districts. The 2.4 million eligible voters in the affected counties cast their ballots on the rail question alongside other state and federal measures.
