Heart of the Rockies Historic Corridor
Trail Feasibility Study
Compiled by GOCO and Colorado State Parks in 1996 and 1997
Reviving the Dream
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Collaborative Study Led by State
Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks brought a stakeholder group together to complete this feasibilty study. While ultimately focusing on the entire 178+ mile line, we have chosen to reduce the scope and focus on the alternative of the ~30 mile segment from Minturn to Leadville.
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The more things change, the more the stay the same
While much has changed since 1996, the nuts and bolts of building a crusher fines trail on old railroad corridor have not. The study looks in depth at topography, geography, land ownership, historic/cultural sites, fisheries and wildlife, materials, trailhead locations, crossings, past spills and EPA status, and much more.
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Costs
There is a common refrain among trail builders: “money is the easy part”. While the study looked at construction costs and maintenance budgets in 1996 dollars, we know from experience that the hardest part of getting a trail built is approvals and red tape. Numerous grant and private fundraising opportunities exist to get the project over the line once approved.
Trail construction, especially “soft surface/crusher fines” design contemplated here, is an extremely cost effective way to build public infrastructure and can be done for pennies on the dollar compared to buildings, roads, paved paths, and rail/transport projects.
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So close!
The roadblocks to implementation of this project in the late 1990’s are no longer issues, mostly due to 20+ years of inactivity. In 1996, trains were still rolling through regularly. The track is no longer of national strategic importance, the coal industry went upside down, and the NTSB is no longer concerned with the then-recent merger between Southern Pacific and Union Pacific.
While new hurdles have been added, we firmly believe these can be overcome and the time is better than ever to pursue this vision for Coloradoans. If the Governor of Colorado and the Chairman of Union Pacific can sign a letter of intent once, they can do it again!
Project sponsors and lengthy partner list
Letters of support were attached from 159 various groups, governments, and businesses!
Study Highlights
Some key findings of the 1996 Heart of the Rockies Scenic Trail Feasibility Study and 1997 Project Concept Paper, in their own words
Signed letter between Governor Romer and UP Chairman Davidson
Alternative A was pursued in 1997 - to reduce scope we are focusing on Alternative B
“Money is the easy part” - discussing acquisition and construction costs in 1996 dollars
“Railbanking” preserves the corridor for future rail use if it becomes feasible and necessary in the future