The idea of a rail line connecting the series of cities on Colorado’s Front Range has been around for years, but lately it has finally gotten traction. It’s about time: Colorado only continues to grow, and there are now close to 5 million people at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in a relatively narrow corridor less than 180 miles long. Everything from traditional locomotives (like those used in Utah and New Mexico) to high-speed rail and even Hyperloop has been considered, although conventional rail at speeds of up to 125 mph now seems to be the preferred direction. Note that an alignment hasn’t yet been selected, let alone station locations; nor is there even partial funding yet, although Amtrak has shown strong interest in the corridor. (There’s also a proposal to connect Amtrak to the corridor’s south end.)

NOTES ON DESIGN

This strip map is based on the Front Range Passenger Rail brand, which frankly, isn’t great. What relationship a modified infinity symbol has with Colorado isn’t clear; trains, maybe, but “going around in circles” probably isn’t the message you want to send. This map adds symbols with a more obvious connection to Colorado and the Front Range, namely diamonds and mountains on the western horizon (including the three most prominent peaks visible from the Front Range, Pikes Peak, Mount Evans, and Longs Peak). The typeface is Montserrat.

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