DENVER — Rep. Lauren Boebert wants to halt federal funding for a state-funded project that would bring passenger rail service to Colorado’s Front Range.
The Republican congresswoman announced Tuesday that she is seeking Elon Musk’s help stopping federal funds from going to the Front Range Passenger Rail Project (FRPR) despite Colorado footing the bill for construction.
The proposal would offer passenger rail service from Fort Collins through Denver and south to Pueblo. A construction or completion timeline is unavailable as the project is still in the planning stages.
Boebert sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) calling for a reevaluation of federal funds already scheduled for the proposed project.
However, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis claims no federal funds are planned for the project's construction and that only $2 million in federal dollars was used for a study that is scheduled to be completed this year.
In the letter to government officials, Boebert claimed the project would hurt Douglas County residents but did not provide specifics.
“As I continue to hear from leaders and constituents across Douglas County, it's clear there are serious concerns with the Front Range Passenger Rail proposal that will harm our community's quality of life and cost hundreds of millions in state and federal funds," Boebert said in the letter.
The Colorado congresswoman also claims that the "project has sparked significant opposition due to its inevitable use of eminent domain to seize private property." However, Gov. Polis said he is unaware "of the need for use of eminent domain."
State leaders, including Gov. Polis, have long advocated for the project, claiming it would relieve congestion on Interstate 25, reduce pollution and save the state millions.
In a statement to Denver7 Tuesday, the Governor's office said the project would use existing rail lines to provide "the lowest cost option."
"The State of Colorado and CDOT are forging a Colorado way forward to provide the lowest cost option using existing freight lines, particularly focused on freight lines that are underutilized due to changes in coal transportation and where there is broad community support. The Governor is focused on delivering daily passenger rail year-round to Granby, known as Mountain Rail, as soon as 2026 and working towards joint service on the Northern Front Range from Denver to Fort Collins a few years after thorough collaboration with the class 1 railroads to use these existing rail lines for mutual benefit,” the statement read.
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