This is not the first time there has been a push to move freight rail off of the front range to Eastern Colorado. In fact the first time this idea was purposed was 30 years ago. More recently, a study in 2005: The Public Benefits & Costs Study brought the idea back from the past. It was determinded in the 2005 study that there was such a large public benefit to move the railroad, a second study was started. This study is known as Rail Relocation Implementation Study and will release its final report in January 2009. Links to these studies are below.
Why Move the trains to Eastern Colorado?
There are two reasons why there is a push to move freight off the front range and out to Eastern Colorado. First, simply put, the Colorado front range is growing at an astounding rate and they are looking for a way to reduce some of the congestion and pollution problems. Moving the slow freight trains allows less stopping of traffic, no pollution from the trains, and opens the freight track to passenger rail. There is a major push for the creation of a passenger rail system up and down the front range and potentially West to the ski areas. This is being done by another group, the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority. Their study is the Rail Feasibility Study which is studying the potential for commuter rail in Colroado. There is a link for them below as well. Not all the freight trains will leave the front range. In fact, as the we have learned the projects are mainly looking at coal trains moving off the front range which leads us to the second reason.
The second reason to move the trains out to Eastern Colorado is to save miles and time for the coal trains to move coal out of the Powder River valley in Wyoming (near Gillette) to Texas. Currently the coal trains come from Wyoming to Brush, down to Denver, south thru Monument, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, East to LaJunta and on out to Texas. Cutting thru Eastern Colorado means a large savings in time and miles which equates to big savings to the railroads.
Is it going to effect me?
Yes, if you live in Eastern Colorado, you will either be affected directly or indirectly by the relocation of railroad. Below are a list of the current alignment maps published by CDOT. It is very important to note that if you are not directly in the path at this time, CDOT has made it VERY clear that the line can move once the Environmental Study is completed. There are currently 2 alignments being purposed: Alignment A uses part of the existing track thru Eastern Colorado while Alignment B is a completely new build from Brush south to Haswell. We have developed a List of Concerns that address everything from property values to affects on our economy as a result of the rail relocation. You can view them by clicking on this link: (List of Concerns) or go to our media library.
We have asked questions about grain shipping on this line and have been told at this time there are not ANY plans for grain or freight spurs in any of these projects. The main purpose of this relocation is to shorten the travel of coal from Wyoming to Texas. The railroads are not willing to move their yards out of Denver, private industries in freight and grain have not been contacted to develp this infrastructure and with the state of the current economy; it is not feasible for these freight options to be developed by private companies.
The concerns for Eastern Colorado are very real. Farmers and Ranchers are looking at losing their land for the benefit of a private company. Communities that benefit from the Agribuisness that surrounds them will feel the loss as the incomes of farmers and ranchers decrease so too does their ability to spend money in those communities.
