Politics
Issue 7A puts Front Range rail funding and ballot problems before voters
Issue 7A would finance the proposed Colorado Connector passenger rail network with a 0.333% sales tax in a district spanning 31 cities and towns. The vote comes amid uncertainty about the project’s final costs and reports of ballot errors in four counties.
Voters in a proposed Front Range transportation district are being asked to approve a new sales tax to fund the Colorado Connector, a passenger rail plan known as CoCo. Issue 7A would add a 0.333% tax to many purchases, with collections scheduled to begin in July 2027.
The district stretches from Pueblo to Fort Collins and includes 31 cities and towns, among them Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Loveland and Manitou Springs. Only voters living within its boundaries are eligible to decide on the measure, but residents and visitors who shop there would pay the tax if it passes.
The increase would add about 33 cents to a $100 purchase, in addition to existing sales taxes. Groceries, gasoline, residential electricity and gas, prescription drugs and medical supplies would be exempt. The tax is projected to raise $295 million in 2028, its first full year. The measure also authorizes $580 million in borrowing, with repayment capped at $785 million.
Supporters say passenger rail could give people who do not drive another way to reach jobs, colleges and entertainment, while reducing traffic and emissions. They say the plan would use existing rail corridors rather than require an entirely new route.
Opponents argue that voters are being asked to approve a permanent tax before key details—including final costs, fares and ridership—are known. They also question whether the service would significantly reduce congestion and warn of delays and cost overruns, citing earlier rail projects.
The vote has also been affected by ballot problems. Some voters outside the district in Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Weld counties received ballots that included Issue 7A, while some Arapahoe County voters eligible to weigh in did not see the question on their ballots. The counties are working to address the errors, and eligible ballots will need to be counted by hand.