Lawmakers introduced a bill Tuesday that, if passed, will help RTD build the $463 million Gold Line train from Union Station to Arvada/Wheat Ridge and the $566 million train to Boulder/Longmont.
The bill would limit the liability of freight railroads if there is an accident involving passenger trains operating in a freight corridor.
After a 2005 accident in California, freight railroads demanded immunity from liability if they allow passenger trains in their corridors, said Cal Marsella, general manager of the Regional Transportation District.
The immunity provision is “the only hang-up” remaining in RTD’s efforts to win permission to operate Gold Line and Boulder/Longmont commuter trains in Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway freight corridors, Marsella said.
Senate Bill 219 would allow RTD to buy insurance that would limit the liability of BNSF and the Union Pacific Railroad on all FasTracks lines.
RTD also plans to build lines from Union Station to Denver International Airport and north Adams County that largely run in Union Pacific corridors.
Current Colorado law does not allow RTD to immunize freight railroads from accident liability, Marsella said.
