The proposed Northern Colorado Passenger Rail service, the Colorado Connector—also known as CoCo—has been promoted as a new way to connect communities along the I-25 corridor. The express intercity train promises to be a fast, comfortable way to travel the Front Range, building on already existing tracks.

The intercity passenger rail is designed to connect 12 communities along the Front Range and the proposed corridor could eventually cover almost 200 miles between Fort Collins and Pueblo. The real question is, will the train bring customers, workers, and economic activity to the Northern Colorado region?

The honest answer is yes, it could. But the benefits won’t happen automatically and they won’t be distributed evenly.

Where does the Colorado Connector Start?

According to the Colorado Connector delivery plan, the starter service is targeted to begin in 2029 with three round trips daily between Fort Collins and Denver. The eight planned stations for this initial service include Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, Boulder, Louisville, Broomfield, Westminster, and Denver’s Union Station.

This initial timetable is funded with existing commitments without additional taxes, and key partners have already signed up to participate, including BNSF, Amtrak, Union Pacific, CDOT, and RTD. CoCo would mostly run on existing track shared with the host railroads, enabling a faster path to service.

Later phases would extend service south to stops in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, among others, while gradually increasing the number of daily trains. The long-term plan envisions as many as ten daily trips north of Denver, and eight round trips from Union Station to Pueblo.

The delivery plan projects that the northern part of the corridor will generate a large share of the ridership. While this doesn’t guarantee customers for the region, it does suggest that communities north of Denver could become the most active part of the system.

For a range of businesses including restaurants, hotels, and breweries—for which Fort Collins is world renowned—the activity could mean access to a larger customer base. Riders from Denver and other stops north could take a tour of Odell Brewing, and maybe take in a CSU Rams game at Canvas Stadium without the burden of traffic or parking.

Residents from the communities could travel freely among them, creating new opportunities for business-to-business relationships. CoCo could change the perception of the region as a group of small-to-medium cities into a dynamic metropolitan area.

The Biggest Opportunity Is Increased Customer Access

A Michigan passenger-rail study identified traveler spending at hotels, restaurants, taxi services, and retailers as one of the economic benefits associated with rail service. A related peer-reviewed analysis estimated that Michigan’s Amtrak service generated more than $45 million in statewide impact in 2011, including passenger spending, travel-cost savings, and Amtrak expenditures.

The Front Range Passenger Rail District’s Delivery plan touts similar benefits, including added jobs, reduction in pollution and a return of $5 for every $1 invested.

This doesn’t guarantee that CoCo will produce the same results. Michigan has different communities, travel patterns, and unique needs. However, it does support the broader argument that passenger rail can funnel spending into the communities it serves.

Businesses don’t need to be directly station adjacent to benefit, however they do need to be easy for passengers to find and reach after getting off the train. This is critical, especially for the Old Town district considering the decision to locate the station in the mid-town area.

CoCo’s plan emphasizes connections with walking routes, bicycle paths, and other last-mile forms of transportation. Fort Collins could leverage the broader Transfort system, especially the MAX line which would take passengers to Old Town with stops serving Canvas Stadium. This could be of particular interest to Denver’s large contingent of Colorado State University alumni.

Rail Could Expand the Northern Colorado Labor Market

Passenger rail could also allow small businesses to recruit workers from a larger geographic area. The project’s initial timeline places Fort Collins roughly an hour away from Boulder and an hour and a half from Denver. These estimates are still dependent on various factors, but it could expand commuting to these cities for certain workers.

This might not make Denver-to-Fort Collins a practical daily commute, and the initial three round trips per day would also be a limiting factor. But the service could be useful for some, and over time more frequent service could make the employment benefit sustainable.

Research on transportation access finds that transit can enlarge the pool of workers, though results depend heavily on frequency, affordability, station access, and connections at both ends.

The Benefits Come With Conditions

There’s good reason for cautious optimism, but there are several factors that could limit the benefit for small business owners.

The initial schedule would likely be too limited for many commuters, and final fares have not been established. Unless favorable details are determined, the ridership may not be large enough to provide an economic boon.

Future phases—which include increased service between Fort Collins and Denver—carry a funding question not present with the initial phase. Expanded service would require additional dedicated funding, potentially through a sales-tax proposal for communities closest to permanent stations.

There is also the possibility of investment near the stations raising rents and property values. While this could benefit property owners, it could also pinch independent businesses that lease their space. Businesses without a symbiotic owner/tenant relationship could be priced out.

What’s the Bottom Line for Northern Colorado Businesses?

CoCo has the potential to be a net benefit for Northern Colorado communities and small businesses, but only if the proper connections and infrastructure are built around it.

The opportunity is real, and there is a desire among the population for a new way to travel along the I-25 corridor. Imagine a group of CSU alumni traveling from Denver’s Union Station to a CSU Homecoming game without having to find parking or worry about driving home after the game. Buoyed by a Rams victory, they might take the MAX downtown to celebrate at the many bars and restaurants.

This means that local business groups should get involved now, not after trains begin running. Wayfinding, transit connections, visitor information and joint marketing will shape where passenger spending goes and the local business community should have a seat at the table while details are being finalized.

To learn more, visit Colorado Connector’s get involved page.