South Downtown Rail Underpass

The Colorado Springs South Downtown Railroad Underpass Reconstruction project (SDRUR) includes multiple integrated improvements surrounding four downtown bridges and associated infrastructure. This major capital project would ultimately modernize railroad track alignment geometry, constrained vertical and horizontal underpass clearances, and would expand multimodalIncluding more than one mode of transportation. For example, a facility that accommodates lanes for motorized vehicles, bike lanes, sidewalks, and transit stops. transportation options within the neighborhood and community.

The SDRUR initially began as a PPRTA-funded engineering effort to replace the Nevada and Tejon rail bridges. Through the alternative analysis process and extensive public engagement, the preferred alternative resulted in an expanded scope of work (see “Preferred Alternative” tab). The project now includes the replacement of three rail bridges, one roadway bridge, and additional adjacent street improvements. More information in the “Background” tab.

The City has undergone extensive coordination with the Union Pacific (UP) and BNSF (BNSF) Railways in pursuit of this project. Both railroads currently serve numerous freight trains each day.

The project spans multiple neighborhoods and includes four aging bridges and infrastructure at Nevada Ave., Tejon Street, Shooks Run, and Las Vegas Street.

The SDRUR targets well-known safety and condition problems and develops complete corridors to support rail operations and safely connect all modes of transportation to downtown COS.

Future engineering and construction work activities are anticipated to consist of the following components:

• Removal of existing railroad bridges at Tejon Street and Nevada Avenue
• New mainline railroad bridge at Tejon Street with an assumed 82 ft span
• New mainline railroad bridge at Nevada Street with an assumed 108 ft span
• Replace mainline railroad bridge at Shooks Run
• Tejon Street improvements from Fountain Blvd to Mill Street
• Nevada Avenue Street improvements from Fountain Blvd to Mill Street
• Corridor Quiet Zone and Pedestrian Improvements, specifically at Sierra Madre Street and Las Animas Street, just west of the Tejon Street bridge
• Las Vegas Street Bridge replacement and interim street improvements
• Legacy Loop Trail connection

In June 2022, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded the City of Colorado Springs a $3.8 million grant ($2.5 million federal funding) for the South Downtown Rail Underpass project. The grant is part of the $368 million in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program funding 46 projects in 32 states and the District of Columbia for capital projects that will improve passenger and freight rail transportation systems in terms of safety, efficiency, or reliability.

The CRISI grant will advance preliminary engineering and environmental review for replacement of three railroad bridges at Nevada Avenue, Tejon Street, and Shooks Run, and realign a 1.5-mile segment of mainline track in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This effort will also consider replacement of the Las Vegas St bridge over Shooks Run.

The project would significantly reduce the need for ongoing and increasingly significant repairs on aging bridges; prevent future unplanned outages, improve travel times, track safety, and reliability; and reduce trespassing incidents. The track segment is on a shared corridor with BNSF and UP railroads, and the existing bridges constrain planned roadway and multimodal capabilities of the surrounding streets. 

The CRISI Grant will fund the engineering portion of the project before construction begins.

The City of Colorado Springs previously initiated a study to determine the best approach for the redesign and optimal placement of two railroad bridges at the south end of downtown. The bridge over Nevada Avenue is 75 years old, and the bridge over Tejon Street sits at 120 years old. Both are in poor condition and require replacement.

The bridges and these segments of Nevada Avenue and Tejon Street are in the Mill Street Neighborhood, one of the oldest neighborhoods of Colorado Springs. The freight rail corridor no longer serves many of the properties in this area. However, the rail corridor is heavily used by both the UP and BNSF railroads as a key north south through route, making it crucial that both the rail corridor and public roadways continue to provide their current functions.

Replacing these bridges and the associated transportation infrastructure is a 100-year decision and significant investment. This project must responsibly consider the long-term implications of rail and city infrastructure investments and carefully weigh options. Funding limitations, potential funding partners, and alignment options must be understood along with the future city-building and quality of life benefits to ensure this project responds to the community’s needs. The City previously contracted with the engineering firm Felsburg, Holt, and Ullevig and their team of specialists to develop an alternatives analysis for replacement of the two railroad bridge underpasses.

The current Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) “A” list identifies funding for the design of both underpasses. The purpose of the project initially included recommendation of the location, size, and type of replacement structures. The effort also resulted in a Preferred Alternative and included additional improvements to the rail and road bridge over Shooks run and other quiet zone and pedestrian improvements.

The apparent Preferred Alternative is M1 (involves the fewest property impacts and lowest cost estimate of the numerous alternatives considered and meets all project goals including the Shooks Run connection to the Legacy Loop and neighborhood Quiet Zones). The estimated cost of this alternative is approximate $100 million. The cost estimate will be further refined during the preliminary engineering and environmental review.

Specifics of the Preferred Alternative: The railroad mainline double track realignment in the preferred alternative is located between Sahwatch Street and El Paso Street. The alternative would shift the rail alignment slightly to the south and eliminate the curves in the existing rail alignment between Sierra Madre Street and Weber Street. The Nevada Avenue and Tejon Street railroad bridges would be located adjacent to the new alignment. Reconstruction of the railroad would also include a new rail bridge over the Shooks Run waterway.

Improved at grade-crossings: The existing at-grade railroad crossings at Sierra Madre Street, Las Animas Street, and Conejos Street would be upgraded to meet Quiet Zone Crossing requirements and would address safety and noise concerns in this part of the rail corridor. Minor improvements would be made to address sidewalk and other deficiencies on Sierra Madre between Mill and Las Animas Streets and on Las Animas between Conejos and Sierra Madre.

With the Preferred Alternative, the existing vertical clearance inadequacies between Nevada Avenue and Tejon Street railroad bridges would be addressed by raising the bridges and slightly lowering the streets. The roadway lowering and construction would extend approximately one block between Mill Street and Fountain Boulevard and would represent relatively minor changes to the existing roadway grades. The length of new rail bridges could accommodate wider roadway sections at Tejon Street (96 feet) and Nevada Avenue (108 feet) in the future. Incidental reconstruction of short portions of the cross streets north and south of the existing railroad underpasses may be required, and sidewalk improvements would be included along Nevada Avenue and Tejon Street between Mill Street and Fountain Boulevard.

Drainage Improvements: The major drainage improvement included in the Preferred Alternative includes replacing the existing rail bridge over the Shooks Run waterway. Widening and transition for the existing channel accommodates the Shooks Run Trail for critical connection to the Legacy Loop as defined in the Envision Shooks Run Facilities Master PlanA plan for the development of a portion of the city that contains proposed land uses, a generalized transportation system, and the relationship of the area included in the plan to surrounding property.. Additional water quality and floodplain improvements in the Shooks Run and Fountain Creek floodplain would be included as required by the project. Replacement of the Las Vegas St. bridge over Shooks Run is also needed for the trail connection and hydraulic sufficiency of the bridge.

• Alternative Evaluation Report
• Progress Report (Dec. 2020)
• Powerpoint Presentation on Alternatives
• Preferred Alternative Map:

The City is working closely with stakeholders and the community to collect input towards the project design. Public meetings will be scheduled during the preliminary design/alternatives analysis phase of the project.  In addition, final design will be presented during a public open house.

If you have an interest in receiving project updates and meeting dates by email, send an email requesting to be added to the project database to: lisa@bachmanpr.com

• May 2020 Newsletter
• October 2020 Newsletter
• November 2020 Newsletter
• December 2020 Newsletter
• February 2021 Newsletter

Presentation Documents

• Nov. 19 Meeting Presentation
• Neighborhood Meeting Presentation

Frequently Asked Questions

• December 1, 2020

Public Meetings