WASHINGTON D.C.-- In a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative Elon Musk, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) called for a reevaluation of the federal funds currently scheduled to go towards construction of the Front Range Passenger Rail. Lawmakers and constituents from Douglas County and across the 4th Congressional District have expressed serious concerns over the current plans and the potentially billions in federal taxpayer funding that could go towards the project, which many in Douglas County do not believe is necessary and would harm their quality of life.
The full letter can be read HERE.
“As I continue to hear from leaders and constituents across Douglas County, it's clear there are serious concerns with the Front Range Passenger Rail proposal that will harm our community's quality of life and cost hundreds of millions in state and federal funds," said Congresswoman Boebert. "Our nation owes more than $36 trillion in debt, and we simply cannot afford spending resources on projects that will not benefit most Coloradans. It's imperative that DOGE and USDOT reevaluate the importance of this project before we spend another dollar."
“I commend Congresswoman Boebert for her work on transportation," said State Senator John Carson, District 30 (Highlands Ranch). "The Front Range Passenger Rail project should not be a funding priority for the federal government or any level of government. There are far better uses of scarce transportation tax dollars. Those dollars should instead go to repairing our decaying roadways and improving highway safety.”
"Douglas County shouldn't be forced to bankroll a train we didn't ask for," said State Representative Max Brooks, District 45 (Castle Rock). "It's outrageous for the state to keep nickel-and-diming our residents for projects that ignore local priorities. I fully support efforts to reevaluate and halt unnecessary spending on the Front Range Passenger Rail, which Castle Rock neither wants nor needs."
“The last thing our federal tax dollars should be going to is the Front Range Passenger Rail, which nobody in Douglas County has asked for or needs," said State Representative Brandi Bradley, District 39 (Lone Tree). "We want help with our roads in Colorado, not another one of Governor Polis’ progressive pet projects. It’s time to reprioritize where every single one of our federal tax dollars is going and we need to make sure none of them go towards a train running down the heart of the Front Range.”
“Colorado does not need—and cannot afford—a Front Range passenger rail system," said State Representative Anthony Hartsook, District 44 (Parker). "What we truly need is improved road infrastructure that allows our residents to get to work and school more quickly and cost-effectively. Investing in better roads would reduce traffic congestion, and in turn cut down on pollution. I oppose placing an additional tax burden on hardworking Coloradans to fund an expensive rail project that fails to meet their daily transportation needs or help them achieve their goals.”
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