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Library
Review materials, past and present, in our resources library.
Informational Materials
Advocacy Guide (August 2023)
Overview Presentation (Updated January 2024)
District Fact Sheet (Updated April 2025)
December 13, 2023
Public Meeting Presentation
Grant Applications
In March 2024, FRPR District, alongside the City of Colorado Springs, the City of Pueblo, the City of Trinidad and CDOT jointly applied for a $10 million U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE grant. This application seeks funding to advance planning and initial design for passenger rail stations in Trinidad, Pueblo and Colorado Springs.
In December 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration accepted the Front Range Passenger Rail District into the Corridor ID Program on step 2.
The Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission was awarded $548,000 from the Federal Railroad Administration to complete a Service Development Plan from Pueblo to Fort Collins. Local partners, including CDOT, the Rail Commission, ColoRail, the City and County of Pueblo, and the City of Trinidad, provided $3,377,000 in matching funds.
Past Studies and Reports
This report documents the history of the Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission and lays the foundation for the transition to the Front Range Passenger Rail District.
Front Range Passenger Rail Alternatives Analysis (2020)
In 2020, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission (predecessor to the current Front Range Passenger Rail District) completed an Alternatives Analysis that evaluated corridors for passenger rail service to the major population centers, considered governance options, and conducted stakeholder outreach. The Alternatives Analysis showed that FRPR is technically feasible and can be implemented using existing transportation corridors. It also demonstrated overwhelming public support for FRPR.
The Alternatives Analysis recommended a system whereby passenger trains operate on shared track with freight operations, which would decrease the initial investment capital needed to implement future FRPR service. In conjunction with this effort, CDOT and metropolitan planning organizations along the Front Range incorporated FRPR into their planning documents and the Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission secured a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to develop a formal Service Development Plan (SDP).
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LegislationFront Range Passenger Rail District Act (Colorado Senate Bill 21-238) SB 24-184 Support Surface Transportation Infrastructure Development SB 24-230 Oil and Gas Production Fees
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Bylaws and PoliciesFRPRD Bylaws and Board Policy Manual FRPRD Procurement and Purchasing Policy for Goods and Services FRPRD Director Reimbursement Procedure
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ResolutionsResolution 22-E001 Public Meeting Disclosure Resolution 22-F001 Recognition of Prior Fiscal Commitments Resolution 23-01 Adopting the 2023 Budget Resolution 23-02 Ratifying Contracts for the Administration of District Start-Up Business Resolution 23-03 Authorizing Director and Employee and Reimbursements Resolution 23-04 Amending the District's Notice Policies Resolution 23-05 Adopting a Colorado Open Records Act Compliance Policy Resolution 23-06 Adopting a Procurement and Purchasing Policy for Goods and Services Resolution 23-07 Joining the Colorado Retirement Association Resolution 23-08 Ratifying Contract to Participate in COLOTRUST Resolution 23-09 Regarding Participation in the Colorado Local Government Liquid Asset Trust (COLOTRUST) Resolution 23-10 Adopting a Contract with HNTB Resolution 23-11 Adopting a Contract with CDR Resolution 23-12 Regarding District Policy Direction for 2024 Resolution 23-13 Adopting a 2024 Budget Resolution 23-14 Approving a Contract for Financial Advisory Services Resolution 23-15 Renewing a Contract with Andrew Karsian Resolution 23-16 Route Determination Resolution 24-01 Annual Administrative Resolution Resolution 24-02 Approving a Contract for Professional Services and Task Order Number 1 with Novitas Communication Resolution 24-03 Approving a Contract for Services with WPAI Resolution 24-04 Approving a Contract for Professional Services and Task Order Number 1 with CDR Associates Resolution 24-05 Approving a Contract for Professional Services and Task Order Number 1 with Linhart Public Relations Resolution 24-06 Approving an Amendment to Task Order No. 1 and Task Order No. 2 with Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors, LLC Resolution 24-07 Approving Contract for Services with Aspect Strategies, LLC Resolution 24-08 Adopting an Updated Reimbursement Policy Resolution 24-09 Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cheyenne Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Resolution 24-10 Approving an Engagement for Legal Services with Nossaman LLP Resolution 24-11 Approving a Contract for Marketing and Communications Services with HDR Engineering, Inc. and Approving Task Order No. 1 Resolution 24-12 Approving the Primary Station Locations for Front Range Passenger Rail and Establishing Criteria for Secondary Station Locations Resolution 24-13 Providing Further Policy Direction for 2024 and Beyond Resolution 24-14 Approving a Contract for Planning and Project Development Services with HDR Engineering, Inc. Resolution 24-15 Approving Task Order No. 1 with HDR Engineering, Inc. for Planning and Project Development Services Resolution 24-16 Approving a Contract for Professional Services with Communication Infrastructure Group, LLC Resolution 24-17 Approving a Contract for Professional Services with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. Resolution 24-18 Approving Task Order No. 3 for Professional Services with Linhart Public Relations, LLP Resolution 24-19 Accepting an Audit of the District's Financial Statements for the 2022 Fiscal Year Resolution 24-20 Adopting Amended and Restated Bylaws Resolution 24-21 Adopting A Budget and Summarizing Expenditures and Revenues for the Front Range Passenger Rail District for Fiscal Year 2025 Resolution 24-22 Amending Task Order No. 1 with HDR Engineering, Inc. for Planning and Project Development Services Resolution 24-23 Appointing an Interim General Manager of the District Resolution 25-01 Amending Task Order No. 1 with HDR Engineering Inc. for Planning and Project Development Services Resolution 25-02 Authorizing Grant Funds Transfer to The City of Trinidad
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Adopted BudgetsFRPRD 2023 Final Budget FRPRD 2024 Final Budget FRPRD 2025 Final Budget
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Annual Reports2023 Annual Report 2024 Annual Report
Southwest Chief Thru-Car Service Study
The Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission and CDOT received a federal grant to study the feasibility of adding passenger rail service between Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and the existing Amtrak Southwest Chief station in La Junta. The Southwest Chief Thru-Car Service Study was a project aimed at understanding a range of potential service options for passenger rail in southwest Colorado. The study explored various alternatives, including operational strategies and capital investments—changes to physical infrastructure—needed to support expanded service. This passenger rail service would have offered direct connections—or thru-car service—between the cities of La Junta, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs, linking these communities with Amtrak’s existing Southwest Chief service, which operates between Chicago and Los Angeles.
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To learn more, visit the Southwest Chief Thru-Car Service Study Website.
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