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July 12, 2019: USDOT BUILD GRANT APPLICATION submittal at 16:08:53 PM EST

Under the auspice of the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding, the collective entities formed an Oversight Committee to provide administrative guidance and governance. On June 26, 2019, the Oversight Committee supported requesting planning funds under the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program. If awarded, these funds will be used to complete planning, design, engineering, and Class I RR operational approval for the project known as the Front Range Dual-Service Rail Park of Southern Colorado. 

​The Front Range Dual-Service Rail Park of Southern Colorado will be located on over 3,000 acres of rural land situated between the Colorado Springs Nixon Power Plant (CSU) and Fort Carson Military Reservation. The foundational premise of the project is to extend an existing CSU dual service rail spur (UP and BNSF) that will provide a catalyst for commercial development and job creation under a public-private partnership (P3) and strengthen the military resiliency of Fort Carson; whereas availing a secondary rail service access on behalf of rapid deployment capabilities. 

USDOT BUILD Grant files:
USDOT application is categorized under the CLASSIFICATION: Rural and ALLOCATION: Planning ; award notification timeline: November 2019

Project Benefits

  • Serves unmet demand for heavy industrial/manufacturing zoning in rural Southern Colorado. 
  • Provides catalyst to diversify the local economy and create approximately 5,000 high paying jobs. 
  • Increases post-service employment opportunities for veterans from five military installations. 
  • Creates a nexus of public, private, and military infrastructure investment –     a true Public-Private Partnership.  
  • ​Reduces regional truck traffic, increases safety and extends life expectancy of roadway infrastructure. 
  • Integrates with planned Fort Carson base expansion at Gate 19 though rail extension and harmonious adjacent land use. 
  • Enhances training capacity and provides rapid deployment redundancy at Fort Carson.

Historical Record

PictureClick here for conceptual map PDF
In 2007, the City of Fountain identified the potential for the creation of an Industrial Rail Park within its Strategic Plan for business development and Job creation.  Upon the release of the strategic plan, the Great Recession hit the american landscape; with the local region loosing >15,000 manufacturing jobs. 

In 2013, a bounce-back in job recovery started within the economy ; which transpired in regional partner, El Paso County, efforts to hire a consultant team to assess the viability of the proposed Industrial Rail Park.  

In tandem of these effort, Fort Carson Army base began a Vision 20/30 plan in 2015 as to the future design, scope of services, and infrastructure upgrades for long-term sustainability of the installation.  The Plan was completed by HB&A which identified;
  1. A secondary railway line as a Top 2 Critical aspect of the installation's operational and deployment efficiency  
  2. Gate 19 upgrades where necessary for transportation congestion impacts and base accessibility
  3. HDR Engineering to release Fort Carson Wilderness Plateau Area Development Plan (rev. Summer 2018)

​Fort Carson represents the second largest employer in the State of Colorado; 30,303 EE.
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In 2016, the regional consultant team released a The Proof of Concept report , which identified the following:  
  • Topography Grade meets criteria for railway infrastructure
  • Ray Nixon Power Plant railway loop identified as feasible to develop a spur into the park (Conditional Support Letter by CSU)
  • Private Industrial Users are allowable and complimentary operations to abut Ft. Carson Army base
  • Dual Serviceability is critical to maintain a competitive pricing model for end users  (BNSF/UP issued a Joint Service Corridor Statement, as of Winter 2017)

In spring 2018, a Memorandium of Understanding (MOU) was signed to signify the cohesiveness among the primary parties of the project, which includes:
The MOU provides for dedicated funding to move forth with secondary due-diligence phase, which embodies a Feasibility Study and Site Certification; slated as a mid 2019 deliverable. The MOU also symbolizes the initial steps towards the formation of a Public/Private Partnership Authority board for the project's long-range scope, decisions and deliverables; similar to the Denver Union Station Model depicted below.
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Current day activity, includes  engineering design, Class I RR operational compliance, economic and workforce analysis, environmental and traffic studies, and alternative-funding initiatives from the following entities:

LEGISLATIVE

Picture2017 Governor Hickenlooper signing of HB 17-1054; with the City of Fountain and Colorado Springs EDC representation
​​State of Colorado Legislature has passed two House Bills that directly support the project:
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  • HB 15-1262 - allows for the formation of a Public/Private Partnership Authority

  • HB 17-1054 - encourages collaboration between local municipalities and military installations for shared-services and increase cost efficiencies

MEDIA

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Contact Us:

Kimberly Bailey, Fountain Urban Renewal Authority/City of Fountain
719-322-2056 or kbailey@fountaincolorado.org

Tammy Fields, Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC
719-471-8183 or tfields@cscedc.com  

Gary Barber, Project Consultant/Analyst
719-660-0948 or gary@hydrosw.com