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At CSU Pueblo SCITT Conference, A Vision of Rural Colorado's Transportation Future Emerges

Release Date: October 29, 2024

Soni Brinsko

Staff Writer

CSU Pueblo

SCITT table sign

A new vision of sustainable transportation is taking place in a region once defined by steel mills and freight rail. At October’s Southern Colorado Transportation Conference, hosted by Colorado State University Pueblo's Institute of Transportation Technology (SCITT), industry leaders and academics gathered to discuss what might seem an unlikely pairing: rural America and cutting-edge rail technology.

The timing is significant. CSU Pueblo recently secured an $11.7 million federal grant to research hydrogen and natural gas-powered rail technologies, just as Western Colorado communities are pushing for expanded passenger rail service to connect rural resort areas like Leadville, Vail, and Glenwood Springs. The confluence of these initiatives suggests a shifting perspective on rural transportation needs.

“We're seeing a convergence of necessity and innovation,” said Md Rashad Islam, SCITT's director and the conference organizer. “Rural communities are recognizing that sustainable transportation isn't just an urban luxury – it's critical for their economic future.”

The conference, which focused on climate resiliency for railroad infrastructure, featured Dr. Maryam Allahyar, director of research and development at the Federal Railroad Administration, who emphasized the Biden administration's commitment to sustainable rail technologies. Her keynote address highlighted how rural communities could benefit from federal infrastructure investments, particularly in developing hydrogen and natural gas transportation solutions.

CDOT Region 2 Director Shane Ferguson outlined how Southern Colorado fits into the state's broader transportation strategy, noting that Pueblo's position as the future southern terminus of the Front Range Passenger Rail system makes it a crucial hub for transportation innovation. “What's happening in Pueblo isn't just about local transit," Ferguson said. "It's about reimagining connectivity across the American West.”

Perhaps the most striking developments are happening at the local level. Pueblo Transit revealed ambitious plans for a hydrogen fueling station that would support both bus and rail operations, positioning this city of 110,000 as an unlikely hub for next-generation transportation technology. The facility, planned for completion within the next decade, would be one of the first of its kind in a rural American community.

“People tend to think innovation only happens in big cities,” said Macario Torres, a transit planner with Pueblo Transit. “But we're proving that rural America can lead the way in sustainable transportation.” The planned facility would serve not only local transit needs but could become a crucial refueling point for future hydrogen-powered passenger trains.

These initiatives align with growing regional momentum for expanded rail service. The Western Rail Coalition, representing more than a dozen mountain communities, is urging Governor Jared Polis to expand the scope of Colorado's mountain rail project beyond its current Denver-to-Craig proposal. Their vision of a comprehensive rail network connecting rural communities across the Western Slope could revolutionize how people move through Colorado's mountainous regions.

For CSU Pueblo, a Hispanic-serving institution where many students are the first in their families to attend college, the transportation revolution is more than just technological advancement. “We're training the next generation of engineers to think differently about rural transportation,” said Dr. Gail Mackin, the university's provost. “It's about creating opportunities in communities that have often been overlooked.”

Student presentations at the conference showcased this forward-thinking approach. Research posters detailed everything from wildlife migration patterns along transportation corridors to innovative materials for climate-resilient rail infrastructure. This blend of environmental consciousness and technical innovation suggests a new direction for transportation engineering education.

As conference attendees filed out of the university's Occhiato Student Center, the conversation continued about how this former steel town might help forge a new path for rural transportation. With ambitious plans for hydrogen-powered vehicles, expanded passenger rail, and cutting-edge research, Pueblo is challenging assumptions about where innovation can happen.

“Sometimes the best view of the future,” Dr. Islam noted, “comes from somewhere unexpected.” In Pueblo's case, that view includes a sustainable transportation network that could serve as a model for rural communities across America.

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