Front Range passenger rail officials are moving ahead with plans to build a Colorado Connector train stop on the west side of the Denver Broncos’ planned new stadium south of downtown, along the existing mainline tracks used for hauling coal and freight.
general manager Sal Pace also said in an interview Tuesday that his agency is planning sports-fan-friendly train stops near the new Denver Summit soccer stadium off South Broadway, the University of Colorado stadium in Boulder, the Colorado State University stadium in Fort Collins, and the Air Force Academy stadium north of Colorado Springs.
All depends on voters approving a tax hike of around 4 cents on a $10 purchase to help finance passenger rail service. District officials planned to decide by August whether to place a measure on the November election ballots. The Broncos, Summit, and other “special event” stops also require agreements with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railway companies, owners of the tracks.
Broncos officials first proposed a stop at their new stadium and have been negotiating with state rail officials. A $332 million three-trip-a-day passenger rail “starter service” linking Denver Union Station with Boulder and Fort Collins is scheduled to start in 2029. If voters approve, the second-phase rail service running south from Denver — past the Broncos and Summit stadiums — to Colorado Springs and Pueblo would start in 2032, Pace said. The district would pay $5 million to install the Broncos stadium stop platform, while costs for a station hall and sidewalks not directly related to transportation would fall to the Broncos, he said.
“We as a state have said we want our sports teams to be integrated into the urban environments. Thank God for that,” Pace said, comparing Colorado sports stadiums with those built elsewhere in outlying suburban areas with space for gigantic parking lots.
“You don’t have to worry about congestion, driving, or parking. You could have a couple of beers and be safe – and get back home with fellow Broncos fans. This is going to get people off roads, make our roads safer, and be a transportation benefit.”
Separate talks with Denver Summit and city transportation and infrastructure officials are in progress toward putting a stop near the new soccer stadium, Pace said. District officials are also working on agreements to put stops near stadiums in Boulder and Fort Collins. “We are excited about both. And we have had talks with the U.S. Air Force Academy about a stop” serving crowds for football and other special events in that area north of Colorado Springs.
At the proposed new Broncos stadium, and Front Range rail officials had considered a track spur so that trains could park during games and be ready to handle passenger surges. That would have cost tens of millions of dollars, Pace said. Front Range train schedules instead will be adjusted to serve crowds at major events, he said.
Broncos officials on Tuesday confirmed their interest in a train stop at their stadium, which they plan to open in 2031, with a retractable roof and, eventually, surrounding housing and commercial development spanning 150 acres. Regional Transportation District light rail trains already run along the east side of the 58-acre Burnham Yard property.
