Colorado Seeks Public Input On Name For Proposed Front Range Passenger Train
Published: March 14, 2026
By: Adam Burns
Colorado officials are inviting the public to help name a proposed passenger train that could one day connect major cities along the state’s heavily traveled Interstate 25 corridor. The initiative, recently promoted in a social-media post by Governor Jared Polis, is part of the broader effort to develop the long-planned Front Range Passenger Rail project—a proposed intercity rail line stretching across Colorado’s most populous region.
The naming survey, launched by the Front Range Passenger Rail District in early March 2026, asks residents to vote on their favorite among four potential names for the future service. The public outreach campaign highlights both the project’s growing momentum and the effort by state leaders to build public engagement ahead of potential funding decisions.
A system map of the proposed FRPR project.A Long-Planned Passenger Rail Corridor
Front Range Passenger Rail is a proposed intercity passenger rail service designed to link communities along Colorado’s Front Range—the populous corridor stretching from Fort Collins in northern Colorado to Pueblo in the south. The line would generally follow the Interstate 25 corridor and is envisioned as a modern rail alternative to the region’s increasingly congested highways.
Historically, many of the Front Range communities were connected by passenger trains during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. However, most intercity rail service in the region disappeared by the mid-twentieth century as automobile travel expanded.
Interest in restoring service has steadily grown in recent decades, particularly as Colorado’s population has surged and traffic along I-25 has intensified. State transportation planners have increasingly viewed passenger rail as a potential solution to relieve congestion, improve regional mobility, and provide a more environmentally friendly travel option.
The current proposal envisions trains operating between Fort Collins and Pueblo with intermediate stops in cities such as Loveland, Longmont, Boulder, Denver, and Colorado Springs. Depending on final plans, the service could eventually extend north to Cheyenne, Wyoming, or south toward Trinidad and New Mexico.
Early planning studies suggested the line could support 18 to 24 daily round trips, with trains reaching speeds of up to 110 mph and end-to-end travel times of roughly 2½ to 3 hours. Ridership projections have estimated more than 2 million passengers annually, though final service levels would depend on funding and infrastructure upgrades.
Creation Of The Front Range Passenger Rail District
Momentum for the project accelerated in 2021 when Colorado lawmakers created the Front Range Passenger Rail District, a regional body responsible for planning, developing, and eventually operating the service. The district includes all or parts of numerous counties along the I-25 corridor and works in partnership with the Colorado Department of Transportation, local governments, and freight railroads.
The district’s responsibilities include refining the route, negotiating with freight rail operators, planning stations, and securing funding for construction and operations. Governor Polis has been a strong supporter of the project. His administration has framed the proposed line as a key piece of Colorado’s future transportation network, designed to provide an alternative to highway travel while supporting economic growth across the region.
“Front Range Passenger Rail will connect communities across the Front Range, increase transportation options… reduce traffic and pollution,” Polis said in a recent statement promoting the naming effort.
Public Survey: “Name The Train”
In early March 2026, the rail district launched a “Name the Train” campaign to engage residents across the state in the project’s development. Officials initially reviewed roughly 100 suggested names, narrowing the list to four finalists after reviewing trademark and branding considerations.
The four proposed names are:
- Colorado Connector (“CoCo”)
- Colorado Ranger
- Front Range Express Destinations (“FRED”)
- RangeLink
Coloradans can vote online through March 23, and the winning name will help shape the service’s branding once the rail line is ultimately built. Participants in the survey will also be entered into a drawing for two seats on the train’s inaugural run, currently projected for the end of the decade.
Officials say the naming effort is meant to build public excitement and create a sense of ownership among residents who would eventually use the service. If you would like to take the survey please click here.
Funding Questions Still Ahead
Despite growing support, the Front Range Passenger Rail project still faces major financial hurdles. Construction and startup costs have previously been estimated between $7.8 billion and $14.5 billion, depending on the final alignment and service level.
To fund the project, the rail district is considering a regional sales-tax measure that could be placed on the ballot. Early proposals suggest a tax increase of up to one-half cent per dollar within the participating counties.
Officials hope to determine later this year whether such a measure will appear on the November 2026 ballot. If approved by voters, the tax would provide a significant share of the funding needed to move the project from planning into construction.
The district has also been pursuing federal grants and infrastructure funding. In recent years, the state has already received tens of millions of dollars to upgrade portions of freight rail infrastructure that could eventually host passenger trains.
A Possible Launch By The End Of The Decade
Current planning efforts aim to begin service around 2029, though that timeline depends heavily on securing funding and completing necessary track improvements. Initial service would likely begin with a smaller segment of the corridor—possibly between Denver and Fort Collins—before expanding to the full Pueblo-to-Fort Collins route. If built, the service would represent Colorado’s first modern intercity passenger rail system connecting major Front Range cities in decades.
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