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Taking high-speed rail can reduce travel times and increase safety.
photo © stadlerrail.com |
A big thanks to those of you who filled out the two surveys I sent you these past few weeks about how we can solve these traffic problems along I-70! We really appreciate your input and we reported the results to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) at the October 21st public hearing on I-70. We wanted to let you know the results as well.
The short version is this: if given the choice between crawling along for hours in traffic or zooming up the mountain in a high-speed train, 97% of you told us that you would take the high-speed train. The majority of you also said you’d rather drive to the high-speed train station at I-70 and C-470 and park your car than take transit, that you expect the train to Vail to take an hour and a half or less, and that a one-way ticket should cost $20 or less.
First Survey – Traffic and a Train to Solve It
How traffic in the mountains affects respondents’ behavior now?
- 50% said they travel to the mountains less to recreate that they would if traffic was not so bad
- 30% said they just avoid the mountains altogether on the weekends
- Only 16% said that they go anyway and endure the traffic
Would respondents ride a high speed train to the mountains if it could get them there at least as fast as they can get there now?
- 97% of respondents said yes
Second Survey – The High Speed Train and its Details
For what purposes would respondents ride a high speed train to the mountains
- 87% said hiking
- 75% said skiing or snowboarding
- 75% said cultural events and festivals
- 68% said sightseeing
- 56% said wildlife viewing
- 49% said cycling or mountain biking
- 24% listed other reasons including: visiting family or friends, running, swimming, photography, climbing, shopping, working, fly fishing, snowshoeing, and visiting a second home
If the only station on the Front Range is at the junction of C-470 and I-70 in Golden would respondents still ride the train?
Would they be more likely to drive to the station and park or take RTD’s FasTracks system, using light rail or bus, to connect to the high speed train?
- 86% said they would drive and park
If the respondents stated they would ride transit, how many transfers would they be willing to make to get to the high speed train station?
- 21% said they would not be willing to make any transfers
- 53% said they would be willing to make one transfer
- 17% said they would be willing to make 2 transfers
- 7% said they would be willing to make 3 transfers
How long did respondents think the trip to Vail from Golden should take on the high speed train?
- 33% said one hour
- 48% said an hour and a half
- 16% said two hours
- Less than 1% said two and a half hours or more
How much would respondents be willing to pay?
- 26% said less than $20
- 40% said $20
- 20% said $30
- 4% said they would pay more than $30
