An exploration of the future of transportation at the local, state, and national levels, including high-speed rail, light rail, streetcars, and other local transit.

Scott Schuster, LEED AP, RTA Architects

Scott recently returned from Europe to study the train stations and rail systems and bring this knowledge back for incorporation into Colorado’s exploration of how to expand our own train networks to better serve our citizens. He will share some of his learned experiences and how the European Rail System may be applied in our region.

Rocky Mountain Rail Authority

Douglas Lehnen, Councilmember,
Town of Castle Rock Vice Chair, Rocky Mountain Rail Authority

The RMRA was founded to take the talk of passenger rail to the next level and act as an intermediary to the federal government. Doug will speak about its origins and progression in the last couple of years as well as the results from their recent study on designation as a high-speed rail corridor. He will review the various technologies and highlight two key system map options and break down the four phases of implementation.

Born and raised in Billings, Mont., Douglas earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Montana State University and later earned a master’s of business administration at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. A retired engineer with Lockheed Martin in Denver, Douglas also has worked for the Department of the Navy and has worked on nuclear submarines and missile systems.

Colorado Springs Streetcar Task Force

Val Snider, Chair

The Colorado Springs Streetcar Task Force, a consortium of community and business organizations, is leading a streetcar feasibility study for the downtown area of Colorado Springs. Members of the consortium include the Downtown Development Authority, Business Improvement District, Colorado College, Urban Renewal Authority, Old North End Neighborhood Association, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and Ed Birchams’s Office Products. Mountain Metropolitan Transit, as the federal transit grantee, sponsored the federal funding for the study.

The purpose of the study is to assess the feasibility of streetcar development and operation in the core area of Colorado Springs. The study is exploring:

• Relationships between streetcars and private development activity in Colorado Springs
• Feasibility and costs of implementing a streetcar system for downtown Colorado Springs
• Associated economic and community benefits
• Federal and local funding options
• Level of business and public support

Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments

Craig Casper, Transportation Director

PPACG is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Colorado Springs metro area. In this capacity, PPACG must maintain a regional transportation plan and transportation improvement program that conforms to a "3C" planning process (continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive), to determine investment priorities for billions of dollars in federal, state, and local funds. With the cooperation of two counties and seven municipalities, PPACG develops a consolidated framework for achieving a safe, efficient, and accessible transportation system that serves needs of people in the Pikes Peak region. Collaborative planning fosters economic growth and development while minimizing transportation-related impacts.