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Rocky's stance on rail system shortsighted
Tuesday, January 23 at 12:01 AM

The Rocky Mountain News’ abrupt dismissal of a statewide passenger rail system is extremely shortsighted (“Ranger Xpress a very low priority,” Jan. 5).
The editors believe the Ranger Xpress, proposed by former state representative and RTD Board member Bob Briggs, is too expensive and would attract too few riders to make the venture worthwhile.
It is exactly for this reason that Briggs and his organization, the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority, are doing a study of the proposed travel corridors. A grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation and matching funds from local governments will help answer the questions about cost and travel demand for such a system.
Though the scope of the study might include travel from Casper to Albuquerque and Denver to Grand Junction, it is entirely possible the study might find costs and ridership for only one or two segments may be justified.
For example service between Fort Collins and Denver or Denver to Colorado Springs and Pueblo may have the strongest potential in the near future compared with the other corridors studied.
Intercity passenger rail service provides a comfortable, safe and reliable alternative mode of transportation for those who cannot or may not wish to drive. Given the snowstorm experiences of recent weeks, I would imagine many travelers would gladly trade a trip on Interstate 25 over Monument Hill for a pleasant, relaxing train ride.

Jon Esty
President,
Colorado Rail Passenger
Association
Denver


READER COMMENTS

As we face global warming and hundreds of billions of dollars spent on a war in Iraq, we must look at the cheaper, cleaner transportation alternatives and develop them. Commuter rail saves time, money, oil and our air. It is irresponsible to dismiss this quick, efficient transportation for the 21st century. Certainly light rail had nay sayers as it was approved initially, but the oilmen-critics were quieted when the people spoke-twice; first to approve rail and then to ride it in numbers much beyond the most hopeful projections. Let us embrace this economic engine. Let the Renaissance continue and spread along the front range, from Casper to Albuquerque.


Sheila Sloan
Pueblo, Colorado

Posted by Sheila Sloan on January 27, 2007 11:03 PM

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