Front Range Passenger Rail: Station Area Readiness Study

Project Overview

The City of Fort Collins is completing a Station Area Readiness Study for the future passenger rail station planned for a location near the existing Drake Station on Transfort's MAX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line. The station, known as Fort Collins Station, is part of the Colorado Connector — Colorado’s planned intercity passenger rail service, also called “CoCo” or Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR). The Study will help plan the station and the surrounding area.

The Front Range Passenger Rail District and the state chose the area north of Drake Station - which is north of Drake Road just west of College Avenue - as the site for Fort Collins’ CoCo station.

The Station Area Readiness Study will:

• Identify the infrastructure needed for safe, convenient train service
• Gather community input
• Plan how the station connects to local transit, streets, trails and community destinations
• Identify infrastructure needs, costs and funding options
• Explore transit-oriented development opportunities near the station

This study builds on earlier planning by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Front Range Passenger Rail District (FRPRD). The City is working with regional partners to align the station with the broader CoCo vision and with City goals in the City Plan (2019), Midtown Plan (2014), Transit Master Plan (2019) and Our Climate Future (2021) (see City plans here). The community's input will help shape a station that is safe, accessible and easy to navigate — a welcoming gateway that reflects the character of Fort Collins, connects well to the surrounding area and supports local economic development.

A visual map of the planned station location.

What is Intercity Passenger Rail?

Intercity passenger rail connects cities with multiple trips each day. It’s designed for longer trips than a typical commuter train, with wider seats, room for luggage and bikes, and food and beverage service. CoCo will provide daily service at 12 stations between Fort Collins and Pueblo.

How CoCo Stations and Service Will Evolve Over Time

Station design will stay consistent across the system, while the size and amenities at each station will reflect ridership, operations and local needs. The Station Area Readiness Study plans for Starter Service now and full service later.

Station development will happen in three stages:

NEAR-TERM: Starter Service (2029)

Starter Service begins Jan. 1, 2029, with three daily round trips between Fort Collins and Denver’s Union Station. It uses existing funding, so it requires no new tax. Starter Service will run on the existing BNSF Railway line in Fort Collins, so no new track is needed.

Starter Service stations will be simple, with platforms next to the BNSF mainline tracks. They will use existing parking and amenities where possible. This approach offers a low-cost way to start train service quickly, using tracks and infrastructure that already exist.

Planned features include:

• Temporary platform
• ADA accessibility infrastructure
• Shared facilities with the MAX station and aligned transit schedules
• Safety features: lighting, fencing, security cameras, and emergency call boxes
• Canopy with a wind screen to shelter passengers from the elements
• Wayfinding signage to help passengers navigate the station

MID-TERM: Full Service (2032)

Full Service would be funded by a sales tax that could go on the November 2026 ballot. Only communities close to permanent stations would vote on the tax, and only those communities would pay it. Once funded, Full Service would extend daily service south to Colorado Springs and Pueblo within five years.

At Full Service, Fort Collins Station will offer six daily round trips between Denver and Fort Collins — twice as many as Starter Service — giving riders more flexibility throughout the day. The temporary platform will be replaced with a permanent platform, and a full station building will give passengers a place to wait, buy tickets and access services. The station area will also get improved connections to MAX and Transfort buses, paved trails and rideshare. Transit-oriented development (TOD) will advance nearby, bringing new housing, shops and businesses designed around convenient access to the station.

LONG TERM: Expanded Service (2047)

Expanded Service (Phases 3-5) would add more trips over a 20-year period, building the corridor step by step. The long-term goal for Front Range Passenger Rail is 10 daily round trips between Denver and Fort Collins, offering frequent, reliable service throughout the day. At this stage, the station will become a true mobility hub — a central place where trains, buses, bikes, rideshare and other travel options come together, so riders can complete their whole trip without a personal car. The surrounding area is expected to keep growing, with more housing, shops, offices and other development creating a vibrant, walkable Midtown built around frequent train service.

Fort Collins Station Selection

CDOT, FRPRD and the City of Fort Collins reviewed multiple sites using criteria that included space, multimodal connectivity, ridership potential, feasibility and cost. The City chose the MAX BRT Station location near Drake Road for these reasons:

• Ridership potential (centrally located in Fort Collins)
• Enough space for the platform and layover facilities
• Existing public parking
• Compatibility with existing and future land uses
• Multimodal connectivity (bus transit, multi-use paved trails, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities)
• Opportunities for transit-oriented and economic development near the site and station area
• Does not require street closures

Learn More

Learn more about CoCo and sign up for updates from FRPRD about the project here: coloradoconnector.com.

For updates from the City of Fort Collins about this study, click or tap the Subscribe button on this webpage.