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Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The numbers behind Boebert's call for DOGE to pull Front Range Passenger Rail funding
DENVER (KDVR) — U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert wants Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to reevaluate 'potentially billions' in federal funding for the construction of the Front Range Passenger Rail project. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis' office, however, said that funding does not really exist. FOX31 broke down what each lawmaker said and where they got the numbers for their claims. In a Tuesday press release announcing a letter sent to DOGE and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Boebert said she was calling for a 'reevaluation of the federal funds currently scheduled to go towards construction' of the project, which will connect Pueblo to Fort Collins with a passenger rail line, with plans for interstate connections to New Mexico and Wyoming. The Republican congresswoman who represents parts of the Front Range said she had heard from constituents in Douglas County about concerns over the plan and the 'potentially billions in federal taxpayer funding that could go towards the project.' Uber warns it may leave Colorado if rideshare safety bill passes I write to express concerns regarding the Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) project in Colorado and to request an inquiry into the potential misuse of federal taxpayer dollars. Given the significant financial burden the project places on American and Coloradan taxpayers, the threats it poses to private property rights, and the lack of transparency in its development, I urge the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to evaluate support for the FRPR and, pending further review, immediately halt all federal funding. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in the letter to DOGE and the Department of Transportation According to the letter, Boebert said the projected costs of the rail project have skyrocketed to estimates of more than $14 billion. Meanwhile, the Front Range Passenger Rail District's website says costs are estimated to be around $3 billion to $3.5 billion. FOX31 has inquired with the FRPR District and Boebert's office about the difference in estimates, and while the district has not yet responded, Boebert's office cited reporting from Colorado Public Radio on a 2020 analysis of the project. That analysis estimated capital costs to be between $8 billion and more than $14 billion. However, that same CPR article also says planners are focused on a more 'bare-bones' estimate with the $3-$3.5 billion range. That estimate came from a financial model developed by Ernst & Young introduced in a March 2024 FRPR district board of directors meeting. Polis's office said in a statement that the federal government to date has provided less than $2 million for a study on the rail plan, and his office does not expect any federal funds to be used for the construction of the rail. Pushback over the Denver police chief's plan to add 'Education-Based Discipline' 'The State of Colorado and CDOT are forging a Colorado way forward to provide the lowest cost option using existing freight lines, particularly focused on freight lines that are underutilized due to changes in coal transportation and where there is broad community support,' his office said. Boebert's office again cited a CPR story on the federal government looking into expanded national rail connections through the Front Range, such as Houston to Denver and El Paso to Billings, Montana via Denver. That study, while it did estimate billions for the project, was for long-distance Amtrak routes that would only utilize the pre-existing Front Range Passenger Rail. The Front Range Passenger Rail specifically was not included in that study. Additionally, the state did receive a more than $60 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant from the Federal Railroad Administration for 'Modernizing Rail on the Front Range,' not for the Front Range Passenger Rail itself. The grant will go toward track improvements, collision prevention and railroad crossings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
22-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Lauren Boebert Wants DOGE To Cut New Train Line Funding
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Representative Lauren Boebert is urging the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to reconsider federal funding for Colorado's proposed Front Range Passenger Rail, calling the billion-dollar plan costly and unwelcome in parts of her district. In a letter addressed to DOT Secretary Sean Duffy and DOGE head Elon Musk, Boebert criticized the multibillion-dollar project for diverting federal resources that she said would provide little benefit to many Coloradans. "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," Boebert said in a statement. "Our nation owes more than $36 trillion in debt, and we simply cannot afford spending resources on projects that will not benefit most Coloradans." Why It Matters The proposed Front Range Passenger Rail would connect Pueblo to Fort Collins along the Interstate 25 corridor, serving urban hubs, including Colorado Springs and Denver. With costs projected at roughly $3.2 billion, the project is being pitched as a long-term solution to traffic congestion and pollution across one of Colorado's fastest-growing regions. But Boebert and local GOP legislators see it as a misuse of federal resources, warning of low ridership, excessive delays and a mismatch with rural transportation needs. Lauren Boebert is seen on May 16, 2024 in New York City. Lauren Boebert is seen on May 16, 2024 in New York City. Andrea Renault/Star Max/GC Images What To Know The rail would use existing freight corridors, with a target completion year of 2035, according to the Denver Post. Colorado's Legislature established the Front Range Passenger Rail District in 2021 through Senate Bill 238, enabling the group to pursue ballot measures for funding. "Federal transportation investments should be made with fiscal responsibility, accountability, and respect for the rights of American citizens," Boebert wrote in her letter to DOGE. "The FRPR project fails to meet such fundamental standards, and I urge your offices to take immediate action to protect taxpayers and property owners from unnecessary government spending and overreach." Skeptics, including transportation economist Randal O'Toole, also warn that the rail's economic case is weak. "The benefit is to political egos. That's it," O'Toole said in an interview with 5280 Magazine. He predicted that the project could cost up to $20 billion once fully implemented and would fail to deliver the promised ridership gains. What People Are Saying Republican State Representative Max Brooks said in a statement: "Douglas County shouldn't be forced to bankroll a train we didn't ask for. I fully support efforts to reevaluate and halt unnecessary spending on the Front Range Passenger Rail." Republican State Representative Anthony Hartsook said in a statement: "Colorado does not need—and cannot afford—a Front Range passenger rail system. Investing in better roads would reduce traffic congestion and cut down on pollution." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "Rep. Boebert's request for DOGE to look into Colorado's Front Range Passenger Rail reflects general disillusionment legislators have at the federal level with these major rail projects at a state level. We've seen other states scale back or completely cancel similar projects due to the sheer cost involved, the extensive time commitment, and fears the results may not be as popular with state residents as originally thought." Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of told Newsweek: "Given that 27 percent of her district is rural, concerns about eminent domain are likely being raised by her constituents. Eminent domain is a powerful and often controversial tool, and residents may be worried about the federal government seizing private land for a project they don't fully understand or support." What Happens Next The Front Range Passenger Rail District is expected to complete its Service Development Plan by 2029, the deadline set by Colorado lawmakers. A new ballot measure to fund the project could go before voters as early as 2026. Boebert's call to reevaluate funding may complicate federal support as Congress navigates budget negotiations and watchdog oversight. Further public and environmental reviews, as mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act, will have to be conducted. With logistical and political roadblocks mounting, the train's future—and the funding it relies on—remains far from guaranteed. "Will DOGE listen? Possibly," Thompson said. "Her request aligns with DOGE's stated goal of rooting out wasteful government spending. If the project has become unpopular or inefficient, it may be flagged as an example of unnecessary spending."
