Rewriting History Under the Continental Divide
Picture the rumble of a locomotive, echoing beneath 3,000 feet of granite, ferrying passengers and freight between mountain towns and the bustling Front Range. Colorado’s Moffat Tunnel, completed in 1926 and stretching over six miles, has long been a lifeline across the Rockies—a vital artery for commerce and, increasingly, for the movement of people. This week, Governor Jared Polis and Union Pacific President Beth Whited inked a transformative 25-year agreement that not only secures the future of this state-owned tunnel but also launches plans for expanded, year-round passenger rail from Denver to mountain communities like Granby, Steamboat Springs, and Craig.
Unlike the dusty old lease signed in the Roaring Twenties—back when Union Pacific paid the state a paltry $12,000 annually for tunnel access—the new pact trades cash for connectivity. The state can now utilize Union Pacific’s tracks free of charge for the much-anticipated Mountain Passenger Rail project. In the words of Whited, the agreement was hard-won: “There were some wrestling matches involved in that and late nights on both sides. But, we did find common ground that will benefit everyone, and we’re very excited to benefit the Colorado businesses to rely upon us to transport their goods and really the greater United States economy.” This cooperative spirit marks a crucial departure from the adversarial standoffs that have historically defined rail negotiations in the American West.
Beyond the tunnel’s shadow, the deal finalizes the state’s purchase of the Burnham Lead Line in Denver—a move that urban planners and transit advocates have cheered as the gateway to transformative, transit-oriented development at the old Burnham Yard. Here, 58 acres of once-industrial land could soon sprout mixed-use communities, affordable housing, and multimodal transit hubs, rewriting Denver’s urban future at a time when affordable, sustainable transportation is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
Passenger Rail: A Progressive Investment in Our Collective Future
Pundits and policy wonks alike agree: this new arrangement is about much more than keeping ancient trains rolling. It’s a deliberate gamble on mobility, equity, and environmental responsibility in a state beset by choking traffic on I-70, sky-high housing costs in mountain towns, and a fast-changing climate. According to a 2023 Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) study, introducing regular mountain rail service could divert up to 20 percent of peak weekend car trips off the interstate—substantially cutting emissions and easing the daunting gridlock that plagues Colorado’s cherished ski and recreational corridors.
Amtrak’s California Zephyr and the seasonal Winter Park Express already ply the rails through the Moffat Tunnel, but the new Mountain Passenger Rail represents a monumental leap. Three daily, year-round round trips—free from the constraints of ski weekends alone—would bring fresh connectivity and economic opportunity to rural and resort communities long cut out of the state’s transit investments. Think about a young professional commuting from Granby for work, or a family in Steamboat Springs choosing rail over eight perilous winter driving hours for a Denver doctor’s appointment.
“The Moffat Tunnel is more than concrete and steel—it’s a bridge to opportunity for communities historically left behind by Colorado’s transportation status quo. This lease reflects a progressive vision: prioritizing shared prosperity, climate action, and the kind of public-private partnership that actually puts people first.”
Conservative critics are already raising their predictable points about project feasibility, expense, and the supposed virtue of car-based individual mobility. Such complaints miss the mark. What opponents hail as rugged self-reliance too often amounts to leaving rural Coloradans marooned without reliable travel options, while pollution and congestion steadily mount. Harvard economist Daniel T. Kline notes, “Public investments in rail can yield significant returns not just in reduced environmental impact, but also in broad-based economic growth—connecting workers to jobs, and businesses to tourism markets.” For Colorado, the stakes are clear: adapt the rail system for the 21st century, or face gridlock and isolation as pressures mount.
Unlocking Denver’s Burnham Yard and a New Model for Public-Private Partnership
A closer look reveals the Burnham Yard component may be just as revolutionary as the expanded rail service itself. This sprawling parcel, recently acquired by the state as part of the Moffat Tunnel lease deal, sits at the southern gateway to downtown Denver. The area has the potential to become a linchpin for the city’s sustainable growth—a focal point for dense, walkable housing, next-generation transit connections, green space, and economic revitalization in one of the region’s fastest-growing corridors.
Transit-oriented development (TOD) like what’s envisioned for Burnham Yard isn’t just a planner’s fantasy. Communities from Portland, Oregon to Arlington, Virginia have seen firsthand how public investment tied to reliable rail transit can drive affordable housing, climate resiliency, and inclusive prosperity. For Denver, where working families are pushed farther from jobs and amenities each year, projects like these could help reverse crippling housing inequality and offer a lifeline to lower- and middle-income residents.
By finalizing the Burnham Lead Line purchase, Colorado positions itself on the cutting edge of equitable urban redevelopment—a tactic that demands long-term vision and political courage. Of course, the challenges ahead are real: Colorado must navigate funding gaps, local resistance, and the logistical intricacies of sharing freight corridors with passenger trains. Yet the alternative—ceding the future to highways and the status quo—would be a surrender of aspiration.
Toward a New Golden Age of Rail in Colorado
After the decommissioning of the Tennessee Pass line in 1997, the Moffat Tunnel became Colorado’s final east-west passenger and freight route—a stark marker of rail’s decline and the triumph of car-centric policy. Today, with this 25-year partnership, state officials and Union Pacific signal their commitment to reversing that trend. The era of the single-use tunnel lease and the isolated freight corridor is ending. In its place: a shared, modern infrastructure serving the collective good.
Progressive solutions often demand imagination and uncomfortable compromise. Colorado’s Moffat Tunnel deal is a clarion call to other states still shackled by outdated, fossil-fueled transportation models. By betting on passenger rail, transit-focused redevelopment, and public-private collaboration, Colorado’s leaders are prioritizing the needs of both people and the planet—and laying literal tracks toward a more inclusive, sustainable tomorrow.
