Let's do it right, let's do it rail, let's do it now

During the PEIS analysis process, CDOT examined, in varying levels of detail, scores of combinations of modes, technologies and operational/management alternatives. Rail alternatives included heavy rail (Amtrak-type train), light rail, commuter rail including obsolescent Swiss electric trains, and magnetic-levitation monorails using linear induction motors, along with bus and Bus Rapid Transit, were examined. All rail was screened out of the final “preferred” list because CDOT set an arbitrary capital cost limit of $4 billion and priced the rail alternatives above that level to eliminate all but rubber-tire alternatives.

The Alignment

A rail system can carry enough people to eliminate several lanes of paving and traffic each direction and it can use wind power to eliminate fossil fuels, greenhouse gases and air pollution. It will give travelers a choice. The route would have about 12 to 14 stations from the west side of the Metro Denver area to Vail via A-Basin, Keystone and Breckenridge, would include heavy rail from Vail to Eagle County Airport, and would require minimal highway safety and other essential improvements.

Transit First Cross Section

A fully elevated guideway in the corridor would perform best in terms of minimizing environmental impacts and transportation system footprint. All of CDOT’s “T-Rex in the Mountains” alternatives would have a very wide “footprint” with enormous bulldozing, blasting, erosion and deicing materials into the streams, sound walls in towns and a “Berlin Wall” for wildlife. The elevated guideway was studied intensively by FTA and CDOT and can be readily adapted to a fast light rail train.

The Vehicle

By autumn, one of our team brought to our attention a new Swiss train that began operation in Eurpoe in 2004, after the Draft PEIS was prepared. This train is ideally suited to the Colorado mountains. It is an electric Fast Light Rail (FLR) train developed by Stadler Rail AG. A Stadler company executive visited Colorado in April 2006 and made presentations in Denver and in Frisco to the Regional Transportation District – Denver and the I-70 Mountain Coalition. The train has a top speed of 100 mph, can handle a 7% grade at 65 mph. and can even handle a 9% grade for short distances.