Agenda Date: 03/17/2026
Subject:
Title
Front Range Passenger Rail project update and station discussion
Body
From:
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager
Prepared by:
Kathleen Osher, Deputy City Manager
Kenna Davis, Senior Transportation Planner
Presentations:
Kathleen Osher, Deputy City Manager
Kenna Davis, Senior Transportation Manager
PURPOSE:
Staff will present a comparison of the Littleton-Downtown and Littleton-Mineral Stations for a future Front Range Passenger Rail station and seek Council direction on the preferred station to continue to coordinate planning efforts with the FRPR district through the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) grant program through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) to advance coordinated station area visioning for proposed rail stations.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Vibrant Community with Rich Culture; Sustainable Community with Natural Beauty; Robust and Resilient Economy
DISCUSSION:
As the Service Development Plan (SDP) for Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) nears completion, it is defining routes, stations, service levels, costs, and steps to implementation. Unlike previous passenger rail efforts in Colorado, FRPR is focused on using existing freight tracks to deliver service sooner. Littleton's freight tracks along the consolidated main line include both Burlington Northern and Union Pacific service lines with service running through current RTD light rail stations at Littleton-Downtown and Littleton-Mineral stations.
While both Littleton stations have light rail service, only the Mineral Station had previously been explored as part of the SDP because from an engineering perspective, CDOT determined it would be extremely difficult and very costly to fit in a station at Littleton-Downtown given the current freight and LRT infrastructure. CDOT's initial determination was that Mineral's footprint is more conducive. With the new leadership and station area planning focus of Front Range Passenger ...
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