Ghost Train podcast

Ghost Train

Ghost Train is a unique podcast miniseries from Colorado Public Radio about the people with a vision for a greener transportation system in Colorado, the challenges that kept much of that plan from becoming successful and the ideas that might help the region move forward. Hosted by CPR News transportation reporter Nathaniel Minor (“Since Columbine,” “The Taxman”), Ghost Train explores an everyday problem that many American cities face and takes a hard look at the possible solutions. In 2004, Denver-area voters supported one of the most ambitious transit projects anywhere in the U.S. The plan called for a sprawling network of new rail lines that would let commuters glide by traffic and help transform Denver into a world-class city. But now, an uncomfortable truth has emerged: The train lines aren’t very useful to most people and have done relatively little to shift how they move around the region. And a key route in that network isn’t projected to open until 2050 and will cost at least $1.5 billion to complete. What’s the best path forward as leaders look to ease traffic gridlock and meet climate goals? And will the problems with this ambitious rail package doom other transit projects?

Ghost Train is a unique podcast miniseries from Colorado Public Radio about the people with a vision for a greener transportation system in Colorado, the challenges that kept much of that plan from becoming successful and the ideas that might help the region move forward. Hosted by CPR News transportation reporter Nathaniel Minor (“Since Columbine,” “The Taxman”), Ghost Train explores an everyday problem that many American cities face and takes a hard look at the possible solutions. In 2004, Denver-area voters supported one of the most ambitious transit projects anywhere in the U.S. The plan called for a sprawling network of new rail lines that would let commuters glide by traffic and help transform Denver into a world-class city. But now, an uncomfortable truth has emerged: The train lines aren’t very useful to most people and have done relatively little to shift how they move around the region. And a key route in that network isn’t projected to open until 2050 and will cost at least $1.5 billion to complete. What’s the best path forward as leaders look to ease traffic gridlock and meet climate goals? And will the problems with this ambitious rail package doom other transit projects?

 

#5

Waiting On A Train

After the lessons of rail, the Denver region might just be ready to move into a bus-centri... more

01 Mar 2022

32 MINS

32:08

01 Mar 2022


#4

An Unexpected Solution

The Denver metro area's rail system mostly neglects the dense, walkable parts of the city.... more

22 Feb 2022

31 MINS

31:53

22 Feb 2022


#3

The Mission

Sam Chesser loved the transit system when he visited New York City. So Sam, like many vote... more

15 Feb 2022

31 MINS

31:05

15 Feb 2022


#2

The Vote

With a brown cloud hovering overhead and a second-place football team, Denver had dreams o... more

08 Feb 2022

34 MINS

34:16

08 Feb 2022


#1

'Ghost Train' Explores How Denver's Vision For A Better Transit System Jumped the Track

In 2004, Denver-area voters backed one of the most ambitious transit projects in the U.S. ... more

18 Jan 2022

03 MINS

03:21

18 Jan 2022