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CDOT launching $1.8 million high-speed rail study |
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Thursday, November 17, 2011 06:10 |
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By CADDIE NATH, SUMMIT DAILY NEWS
For some, a high-speed rail through the mountain corridor sounds like a pipe dream, but transportation officials say with the right combination of public-private partnerships and hopes for a Colorado Olympic bid, the project might come to fruition.
In January, the Colorado Department of Transportation plans to launch a $1.8 million, 18-month study to find out what the train might look like and how much it could cost. The study will be the first to delve into the details of a rail system since the idea was approved as part of a long-term solutions package for the Interstate 70 mountain corridor this summer.
The feasibility study will address three initial considerations on a rail, or advanced guideway system (AGS) proposal: technology, alignment and financials.
The three issues are inextricably linked. A rail fast enough to compete with the option of driving would face huge challenges in the corridor, including steep grades, unpredictable weather and sharp curves. CDOT officials said the only train in the world that crosses terrain similar to that found in the corridor is located in Tibet, but it is a steel-wheel system, which, Summit Stage director John Jones said, likely wouldn't be fast enough to tempt travelers away from their cars.
A more advanced system that could handle mountain terrain at high speeds is likely to come with a steep price tag to match.
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