1-minute voter guide: Issue 7A would greenlight CoCo passenger rail
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Front Range voters, from Pueblo to Fort Collins, will decide whether to pay more at checkout to bring passenger trains to the Front Range, whether they ride them or not.
Why it matters: Issue 7A would fund the Colorado Connector, or CoCo, a decision that would reshape the region's transportation options while imposing a new 0.333% sales tax within the proposed rail district.
How it works: Only voters within the proposed taxing district can vote on the measure. The district spans 31 cities and towns, and various metropolitan districts, such as Fort Collins, Loveland, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs and Pueblo.
- Residents and visitors to the district would pay the additional tax.
By the numbers: The tax would add about 33 cents on a $100 purchase, on top of existing sales taxes, starting in July 2027.
- The measure also authorizes $580 million in borrowing, with a maximum repayment cost of $785 million.
- The tax is projected to generate $295 million in 2028, the first full year.
- Exemptions include groceries, gasoline, residential electricity and gas, prescription drugs and medical supplies.
What they're saying: Supporters say rail would provide another way to reach jobs, colleges and entertainment, expand transportation access for people who don't drive, and reduce traffic and emissions. They point to using existing rail corridors rather than building an entirely new route.
- Opponents argue the permanent tax asks too much before final costs, fares and ridership are known. They question whether trains would meaningfully ease congestion and warn of delays and cost overruns like those affecting previous rail promises.
Between the lines: Some voters outside the district in Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Weld counties mistakenly received ballots containing 7A. Others in Arapahoe County had the question missing from their ballots.
- The counties are remedying the problem and will need to hand-count eligible ballots.