The awarding of the 2034 Winter Olympic Games to Salt Lake City has sparked a coordinated push from passenger rail advocates in both Utah and Colorado. Desiring to capitalize on federal infrastructure funding, transit groups are urging lawmakers to establish an interconnected passenger rail network linking the two prominent skiing states before the Olympic torch is lit.
- Related: Colorado’s Mountain Rail Project Advances Toward Denver to Steamboat Springs Connection
As reported by the Vail Daily, the conversation surrounding Olympic transportation has evolved significantly since the 1970s. Colorado famously rejected public funding for the 1976 Winter Olympics — becoming the only host city to ever return the Games — largely due to concerns raised by late environmentalist and legislator Dick Lamm regarding the unfixable vehicle bottleneck on Interstate 70. However, modern Olympic mandates now heavily prioritize utilizing existing venues and minimizing carbon footprints. Rail advocates argue that expanding train capacity is the most environmentally sound way to move the massive influx of international spectators between resort hubs.
James Flattum, the leader and co-founder of Greater Denver Transit, pointed out that the return of the winter games to Utah provides a clear opening to fund and expand train infrastructure, giving spectators an alternative route to the venues, Vail Daily reports. To capitalize on this, Flattum’s group and the Western Rail Coalition are pushing for state-backed feasibility studies to reactivate quiet tracks like the Tennessee Pass Line in Eagle County. They are also backing broader efforts to grow passenger rail between Denver and Grand Junction, with the ultimate goal of creating a continuous transit corridor that cuts through the historic Moffat Tunnel to link Colorado directly with Utah.
While Colorado has recently made strides by passing dedicated funding for mountain rail and state-run bus systems, advocates in Utah face a steeper uphill battle. Mike Christensen, executive director of the Utah Rail Passengers Association, noted that while the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics successfully brought light rail infrastructure to the metro area, the state has lagged in transit investments beyond the immediate Wasatch Front. He expressed frustration that state lawmakers frequently prioritize fossil fuel extraction and speculative tech over regional rail connectivity…