The Colorado Department of Transportation is getting $1.4 million from the federal government to study the potential for intercity passenger rail around the state. The money is part of $8 billion in stimulus funds the Obama administration announced Thursday for intercity rail nationally.
Colorado’s amount is low because the state does not have one of the high-speed rail corridors approved by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Of the award to Colorado, $1 million from the federal government will be matched with state money to conduct a “Connectivity Study” that will examine how rail from other Colorado cities might tie in with RTD’s FasTracks-expanded rail system in metro Denver. The review will build on an intercity rail feasibility study underway, said CDOT spokeswoman Stacey Stegman.
The other $400,000 in federal funds also will be matched with state money to develop a State Rail Plan that is needed if Colorado is to win federal designation of a high-speed rail corridor. Jeffrey Leib, The Denver Post
