Colorado's new rail line gets a name—and a funding push
Forget the branding exercises. Colorado’s Front Range Passenger Rail project is moving forward, and voters will soon have a say in what to call the train connecting Pueblo and Fort Collins. The Colorado Front Range Passenger Rail District has launched a public vote to christen the future line, a key step in bringing faster, more reliable transit to the state’s rapidly growing corridor.
A name for progress: fred or coco?
The options are delightfully uninspired: FRED (Front Range Express Destinations), CoCo (Colorado Connector), Colorado Ranger, and RangeLink. Voters can cast their ballots online, contributing to a process that, while seemingly trivial, underscores the growing public interest in the project. The rail line, slated to begin service in 2029 with initial routes connecting Denver to Fort Collins, is being funded in part by the Regional Transportation District.
The decision to solicit public input highlights a broader strategic shift. The District is actively preparing a ballot measure for this November, seeking voter approval to fund further phases of the service. The comparison to the existing ski train is more than just a convenient analogy; it’s a demonstration of proven demand. “Really, the ski train has been a model that all the services have looked at,” stated Sal Pace, general manager of the Colorado Front Range Passenger Rail District. “As we’ve increased service opportunities with the ski train, we've remained at 80% capacity even as we've doubled the number of trains. It goes to show there’s a real demand for service.”
The Front Range corridor has long struggled with congestion, and the rail project represents a significant investment in alleviating that pressure. But the success of the line will hinge not merely on infrastructure, but on convincing voters to open their wallets – again. The upcoming ballot measure is a critical test of the public’s willingness to embrace a transit-oriented future, a future where commutes aren't measured in gridlocked hours but in minutes of comfortable travel. The district hopes the novelty of naming the train will generate additional enthusiasm.