Northern Colorado 'Ski Train' Moves Forward

A ski train serving the Denver–Winter Park–Granby–Steamboat Springs corridor moved a step closer to reality this week when Colorado Gov. Jared Polis late last week signed a new bill that will provide funding toward the effort.

Senate Bill 184 allows the state to charge car renters a $3-per-day fee to help fund transit projects, "including rail projects, that reduce traffic congestion and degradation of existing surface transportation infrastructure is part of the transportation enterprise's statutory charge...."

The measure is expected to raise some $50 million per year. Colorado leaders hope to use the money to attract federal grants, which could potentially cover most of the cost of a full-blown passenger rail system.

Significantly, the federal government believes in rail projects in Colorado .

Currently, the Denver–Winter Park section is the only section of the route that has passenger trains, and those are not operated in summer. Coal trains run along the rest of the corridor.

Sen.s Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder) and Janice Marchman (D-Larimer), and Representatives Julie McCluskie (D-HD13), Andrew Boesenecker (D-Larimer) are the sponsors of the bill.