CDOT drops Black Forest from high-speed rail study

A state feasibility study for a high-speed rail line between Pueblo and Fort Collins no longer includes Black Forest, the Colorado Department of Transportation said Thursday.

CDOT spokeswoman Ashley Mohr said building a line so far east would be too expensive. She said part of line included Herring Road because it runs along an existing utility corridor.

“Black Forest has been completely ruled out, and will not be added at a future time,” said Mohr.

Two community meetings, one this week and the other next week, were canceled in advance of CDOT’s decision.

Many residents opposed the line, saying it would have disrupted neighborhoods, historical sites and open spaces. Some residents said considering Black Forest made no sense, given that it had no scheduled stop for the train.

Judy von Ahlefeldt, editor of the Black Forest News and Palmer Divide Pioneer, said she wants more clarification from CDOT about its decision to exclude Black Forest.

“What does that area cover exactly?” she asked. “Is it the area that’s in the planned preservation boundary, or is it the area between (Interstate) 25 and Eastonville that we had asked to be excluded?”

CDOT now will include the I-25 as one of several possible routes for high-speed rail.