As skiers celebrate mountain rail, Yampa Valley residents are hopeful for local transit
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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — As Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad to expand passenger rail service through the historic Moffat Tunnel, a 6.2-mile passage through the Continental Divide, Yampa Valley leaders celebrated the possibilities it could bring for decades to come.
The agreement includes three points: a 25-year lease for Union Pacific’s continued freight use of the 6.2-mile-long Moffat Tunnel; a 25-year access deal for the upcoming Mountain Passenger Rail with up to three daily passenger routes; and the Colorado Department of Transportation’s purchase of the Burnham lead line, which opens up the Burnham Yard in Denver for transit-oriented development.
“This is an opportunity to bring tourists not just to Steamboat but to the whole Yampa Valley,” said Rick Ridder, an Oak Creek resident and member of the Colorado Transportation Commission. “More urgently, it enhances prospects for commuter rail from Craig down to Oak Creek.”
Currently, Amtrak’s Winter Park Express and California Zephyr use the Moffat Tunnel. The California Zephyr Train connects Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area with Colorado stops in Fort Morgan, Denver, Fraser, Granby, Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction. The Winter Park Express operates from January to March, carrying passengers from Denver Union Station to Winter Park Resort.
The Yampa Valley, encompassing Routt and Moffat counties, includes the cities of Steamboat Springs and Craig, plus the towns of Hayden, Oak Creek, Milner, Phippsburg and Yampa. In recent years, Hayden and Oak Creek have seen population growth due to rising housing costs and limited availability in Steamboat Springs, whose ski resort is the main economic driver for the valley.
Hayden’s town leadership hopes to use its close proximity to Yampa River State Park to draw visitors into town. Oak Creek is doing the same with the nearby Flat Top Mountains. Hayden Town Manager Matthew Mendisco said he’s excited about how mountain rail could entice visitors to make Hayden a trip of its own, not just a stop outside of Steamboat Springs.
“Hayden is a really special place,” Mendisco said. “And now the state gets to see that.”
Hayden is preparing to break ground on its future train station 100 feet west of its existing depot.
Many residents from Hayden and Oak Creek commute to Steamboat Springs for work, leading to increased traffic and crashes on US Highway 40 and Colorado Highway 131. Colorado State Patrol has responded to 400 crashes between Steamboat Springs and Craig in the last four years, The Steamboat Pilot reported.
“Transitioning commuters from Highway 40 to a reliable rail service between Steamboat and Craig is crucial for reducing congestion and enhancing safety,” said Matthew Mendisco, Hayden's town manager.
Mendisco said approximately 80% of Hayden's residents commute daily to Steamboat or Craig. With the impending 2028 closure of the Hayden Xcel station, Mendisco anticipates a rise in commuters, as 75 workers from the station will lose their job, and Hayden employment opportunities remain limited.
Currently, the rail line from Denver Union Station traverses Kremmling, Yampa, Phippsburg, Oak Creek, Steamboat Springs, Hayden and Craig, transporting coal between mines and power plants around the area.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) plans to initiate year-round passenger service between Denver and Granby by 2026, with future extensions to Steamboat Springs, Hayden, Craig and South Routt County.
Michael Buccino, a Steamboat Springs City Council member and representative on the Mountain Rail Coalition, emphasized the need for a robust bus system to complement the rail service. While Steamboat Springs offers a bus system with 20-minute intervals and limited routes to Hayden and Craig, it currently lacks service to Oak Creek, Yampa and Phippsburg, areas integral to the southern Yampa Valley. The bus only transports passengers to Hayden and Craig twice a day, which Buccino said isn’t practical for the needs of the workforce.
“There’s more excitement about a commuter option around the valley than the option to get to Denver,” Buccino said.
Buccino said the six-member Regional Transit Authority Formation Committee, which is made up of representatives from Steamboat Springs, Hayden, Craig, Yampa, Oak Creek and Steamboat Resort, have looked down south to the Roaring Fork Transit Authority as inspiration for what could be possible in the Yampa Valley. The RFTA has been recognized nationally for its robust transit operation in a rural area.
All six committee members have agreed on an RTA proposal to send to CDOT. If the state approves, voters could be asked to make the final decision in November.
“I think one of the things that’s really changed over the last couple years is people starting to believe this can be a reality within their lifetimes, which is an unbelievably quick timeframe,” said Sonja Macys, a Routt County Board of Commissioners member.
Macys, who lives in Steamboat Springs but commutes around the county as an elected official, said she would use rail and buses daily.
“When I first started talking about mountain rail and the train, I would be laughed out of the room,” Macys said. “This is a dream come true.”
Eric Schankerman, an Oak Creek resident, said he expects the mountain rail to mostly be used by tourists coming to recreate in Steamboat, but he believes a bus system could be particularly beneficial for local commuters. Still, Schankerman is skeptical that mass transit could compete with cars in terms of timeliness and ease of service.
“If the train ride is an hour and my commute is 30 minutes, then I’m going to stay with my car when I want to take my kids into town,” Schankerman said. “There are just still so many questions, like what the actual transit times are going to be.”
A study conducted by New Bridge Strategy, a California-based research firm, found 58% of Republicans, 72% of Independents and 90% of Democrats in the two counties supported new transit. The same study found 82% of Steamboat residents were in support, while 70% of residents elsewhere in Routt County supported the idea and 61% of Craig residents were in favor.
Macys said most of the feedback she’s received from constituents is positive, if skeptical. Some Routt County residents, she said, feel like the train and bus system is “too good to be true.” Others, Macys said, are against a vessel to bring more visitors into town.
“The people who are not as enthusiastic feel as though they’d like to see what's in for them,” Macys said. “And/or they think it will just be skiers from the Front Range using it.”
Michael Davis, a Steamboat Springs resident, considers himself a train critic. He believes state funding should be prioritized elsewhere.
“We have dangerous roads like Highway 40 that need improvement,” Davis said. “We don’t need more people coming to town, we need to fix the damn roads.”
When she speaks to skeptical constituents, Macys tries to assure them that less cars on busy roads is good for everyone, even those who never plan to use public transit.
Type of story: News
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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