If you’ve read the headline and have lived in Colorado for some time, surely you are rolling your eyes at yet another story on how the state is going to study the feasibility of getting a passenger rail service rolling along the Front Range.

Light rail and high-speed hyperloop ideas have been derailed for one reason or another over the years, so why should Coloradans believe the latest rail tale?

Those working to bring a passenger rail system to fruition acknowledge the skepticism but believe their most recent plan has a number of key elements moving in its favor — namely stable support from high-ranking officials and, despite toll lanes being added, frustration with Interstate 25 congestion impacting private and commercial travel reaching a boiling point.

The latest Front Range passenger rail hype began late last month, when the Colorado Department of Transportation sent a news release announcing it is looking for a consultant to evaluate the feasibility of various proposals of a passenger rail system and other multi-modal options covering 173 miles from Fort Collins to Pueblo. In 2018, the legislature gave the the Southwest Chief and Front Range Passenger Rail Commission $2.5 million to help study proposals.

"I would have agreed with the skeptics two to three years ago (that this is just another study going nowhere), but it seems like the stars are aligning now for this to happen,'' said Jill Gaebler, the rail commission chair and Colorado Springs City Council member.

Randy Grauberger, the rail commission's project director, said those stars started aligning with the project’s strong backing from Gov. Jared Polis and the connections and vision of CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. Both assumed their roles in the past year.

"We are much farther down the road than this has ever been and that’s because of the champions we have in Gov. Polis and Shoshana,'' said Grauberger, who works for CDOT. "Before I took on this job, I first looked at the positions of gubernatorial candidates and I said if this gentleman (Gov. Polis) wins, there will be a new tone regarding what Front Range rail passenger service looks like.''

Grauberger said the plan is to hire a consultant by August. The study will streamline multiple required review processes by the Federal Railroad Administration and National Environmental Policy Act to accelerate implementation of the best rail transportation options identified.

Grauberger said all options are on the table, but here is what the service might look like:

The rough cost estimate is around $30 million per mile using a diesel engine with mostly singletrack operation over the proposed 173-mile stretch, which would total just less than $5.2 billion.

It would use new tracks in the excess rights of way of train companies, which are willing to discuss leasing or selling the land. That could be less expensive than constructing the passenger rail corridor with or adjacent to I-25.

Diesel or electric train engines would be used instead of light rail. That’s because the train would need to run at minimum speeds of around 80 mph, like the A train from Denver to DIA, which is 5 mph over I-25’s posted speed limit. Light rail reaches a maximum speed of about 60 mph.

Station locations suggested by the legislature when creating the passenger rail commission in 2017 included Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, Boulder, Denver (likely several stops), Castle Rock, Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

Funding options might include a ballot referendum vote on a regional transportation authority or special tax district. An election could also possibly determine types and amounts of state and local matches for federal funding. i.e. options such as sales tax and property tax.

The system would likely be done in phases, with easier rail accessibility being completed before more difficult pieces. The first sections could possibly be serviceable in five to seven years.

The study will look at public, private and public-private ventures.

Other states have similar systems in place.

Grauberger and Gaebler said despite toll lanes being added to sections of I-25 from north of Colorado Springs to Fort Collins, the interstate will not keep up with the pace of population growth. According to last month's release, 85% of the state’s population lives along the Front Range, and the Front Range region is forecast to grow from 4.9 million people in 2020 to 6.6 million by 2045. The North Front Range region, including Larimer and Weld counties, expects the highest growth rate of 65% — from 700,000 to nearly 1.2 million people in the next 25 years.

CDOT is currently spending $300 million to add a toll lane in both directions on 15 miles of I-25 between Johnstown and Fort Collins and $350 million to add a toll lane in each direction on 18 miles on I-25 between Castle Rock and Monument.

But "in the next five to 10 years, we will be right back to where we are now with congestion on I-25,'' Gaebler said. "I think people are starting to realize that cars are not the only answer to transportation along the I-25 corridor.''

Grauberger said he feels the anxiety of uncertainty just as much as the next driver traveling I-25.

"I live in Johnstown and my office is in downtown Denver and it took an extra 45 minutes coming home the other night,'' he said. "I had a meeting in Pueblo the other day and it took me an extra hour to get there. What you get with train service is dependability.''

Miles Blumhardt looks for stories that impact your life — be it news, outdoors, sports, you name it he wants to report it. Have a story idea, send it his way. Email him at milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com or find him on Twitter at @MilesBlumhardt. If you find value in these stories, support Miles and the other journalists at the Coloradoan by subscribing atColoradoan.com/subscribe.