Rail & Transit
Rail & Transit Safety
The Rail and Transit Section focuses on railroad and rail fixed guideway (i.e., light rail) safety in Colorado. While many areas of state regulation of railroads have been preempted by federal statute and regulation, the Commission retains jurisdiction over safety matters. Staff in the Rail Section have a variety of roles, ranging from participating in interagency discussions, conducting field investigations and safety audits, counting traffic data and performing other diagnostics, reviewing transportation safety plans and advising the Commission as to their sufficiency, and advising the Commission on potential rules changes for rail and transit providers.
Report Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Issues
Call the railroad directly at the phone number shown on the blue Emergency Notification Sign posted at the crossing. Notification Signs look like this:
Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Signalization Fund
The Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Signalization Fund (Fund) was established in 1965 to help fund improvements in Colorado at public highway-rail grade crossings to change from passive warning devices (static signs) to active warning devices (flashing lights, gates, bells).
This Fund receives approximately $240,000 per year to help more rural communities in Colorado afford safety appliance upgrades at their at-grade crossings and requires that railroads pay a minimum of 10% of the cost of the project to install signals at a public at-grade crossing with the remaining costs being split between the local government and the Fund.
If a road authority is interested in using the Fund to help pay for at-grade crossing signals, please contact David Oldham at david.oldham@state.co.us for an initial discussion and scheduling a crossing safety diagnostic at your crossing.
Freight & Heavy Rail Safety
The Public Utilities Commission has primary jurisdiction over all public highway-rail crossings, including opening, closing, upgrading, signalizing, construction of overpasses or underpasses, and the allocation of costs.
Light Rail Transit Safety
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission is responsible for the oversight of the safety of rail fixed guideway (RFG) systems within the state.