SNOW & ICE: 2025 FEATURE: Mountain Passenger Rail ARTICLE: Dozer Day In Colorado COLUMNS: Association News PS: Out & About in Colorado SUMMER 2025: Vol. 21, No. 4 - $4.95
2┃ Colorado Public Works Journal
The Colorado Public Works Journal - jo@coloradopublicworksjournal.com J O U R N A L THE EDITOR REMEMBER that Colorado Public Works Journal can now be read online, on your phone, tablet or other mobile device. Please go there, take a look and let us know what you think at coloradopublicworksjournal.com SUMMER 2024┃3 Jo Taylor, Managing Editor It is already halfway through the year and so much has been going on and yet still there is so much more to look forward to. This issue includes the APWA Western Snow & Ice Program which is one of the highest attended conferences of the year. We at CPWJ get to know who the exhibitors are and what they are showing off way before anyone else. See page 21 so that you can register and plan your visit. I am always excited to be invited to industry events. Look where we have been this spring on our Parting Shots pages, but I get especially excited when they give us the opportunity to introduce new faces to our world of construction. Dozer Day 2025 was exactly that. See pages 18-19 and just look at all those cute little faces. It is wonderful to witness former colleagues and work associates moving on to new challenges in their careers whilst staying in the industry. It proves that here is such growth to be achieved with a career in construction. We like to celebrate our people in new roles, whether it be starting out as an intern, or moving up in the corporate world. It clearly demonstrates the longevity and possibilities for jobs in our industry. In publishing CPWJ, we are always working several issues ahead and our editorial calendar has already started filling up for 2026. That said if you have news, articles, advertising that you would like included in a future issue please do reach out to me and secure your spot. At CPWJ we work with organizations of a high standard in the industry, not only with their customer’s but also their peers. Reputation is key to doing business with someone and a referral is worth a lot from those that do quality work. We do not accept companies that simply want to advertise just to get their name out there or connect with everyone and then see who sticks. So, if you see a company represented in here you will know it’s worth contacting. Check out where you will see us next at our Industry Event Calendar on page 68 and if you are there, come and say Hello!
4┃ Colorado Public Works Journal CONTENTS Cover Image: © Colorado Public Works Journal Snow & Ice: page 21 06 : Works News Equipment 09 : Works News Updates 10 : Works News People 14 : Decompression Effect Colorado Announces Mountain Passenger Rail 21 : Snow & Ice The Western Conference and National Snow Roadeo 58 : Industry Insights Shawn Smith 60 : Association News APWA, NUCA, RTD, CDOT, CAPA, ACPA, CCA, CSSGA 70 : PS! (Parting Shots) Out and About at Events in Colorado 74 : Advertisers Index Our Corporate Partners SNOW & ICE: 2025 FEATURE: Mountain Passenger Rail ARTICLE: Dozer Day In Colorado COLUMNS: Association News PS: Out & About in Colorado SUMMER 2024: Vol. 21, No. 4 - $4.95 SPRING/SUMMER 2025 : Volume 21 No. 4 COLORADO PUBLIC WORKS JOURNAL (ISSN 1555-8258) is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November CPWJ is published by PRIME Media, LLC, 11734 Elk Head Range Road, Littleton CO 80127 coloradopublicworksjournal.com Managing Editor: Jo Taylor, (720) 360-6737 jo@coloradopublicworksjournal.com Volume 21. No.4, July 2025 Production: PRIME Media, LLC Design: Taylored Graphics Printed by: One Stop Printing Subscription, Mailing Services and Accounting info@coloradopublicworksjournal.com Subscription $30.00 per year in the USA Periodicals Postage Paid in Denver, Colorado. Postmaster: Send address changes to: PRIME Media LLC, 11734 Elk Head Range Road, Littleton, CO 80127. Contents copyright © 2025 by PRIME Media, LLC All rights reserved Colorado Public Works Journal is an independent publication designed to be of service and interest to those providing civil services related to infrastructure construction and maintenance and allied fields, including government officials, heavy/civil contractors, engineers and architects, distributors, dealers and manufacturers of equipment and materials, and providers of services to government agencies and the construction and development industry Colorado Public Works Journal accepts no responsibility or liability for the validity of information and articles supplied by contributors, vendors, advertisers or advertising agencies. Opinions expressed are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the publishers of CPWJ. The Colorado Public Works Journal is printed on 30% recycled paper and is FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified. Paper used for this publication comes from sustainable forest management. Ready for Winter? 9.24.25 - 9.26.25 EMBASSY SUITES LOVELAND, CO NEW 2-DAY ROADEO! NEW 2-DAY ROADEO!
SUMMER 2025┃5
6┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Works News E Q U I P M E N T BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HRI) (“Herc” or “the Company”), one of North America’s leading equipment rental suppliers, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. d/b/a H&E Rentals (“H&E”). “The acquisition of H&E accelerates Herc’s proven strategy and strengthens our position as a premier rental company in North America,” said Larry Silber, Herc Rentals’ president and chief executive officer. “The addition of H&E’s network and capabilities provides Herc with a leading presence in 11 of the top 20 rental regions, a larger fleet that provides our customers with a range of specialty and general rental products, and a talented team who shares our focus on excellence in customer service and safety. We are excited to realize the substantial upside ahead for industry leading growth and superior value creation.” Under the terms of the merger agreement, Herc Rentals acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of H&E’s common stock for, on a per share basis, $78.75 in cash and 0.1287 shares of Herc Rentals common stock. With the completion of the transaction, shares of H&E common stock have ceased trading and will no longer be listed on the NASDAQ. About Herc Holdings Inc. Founded in 1965, Herc Holdings Inc., which operates through its Herc Rentals Inc. subsidiary, is a full-line rental supplier. With the recent acquisition of H&E Equipment Services, we have 613 locations across North America and pro forma 2024 total revenues were $5.1 billion. We offer products and services aimed at helping customers work more efficiently, effectively, and safely. Our classic fleet includes aerial, earthmoving, material handling, trucks and trailers, air compressors, compaction, and lighting equipment. Our ProSolutions® offering includes industry-specific, solutions-based services in tandem with power generation, climate control, remediation and restoration, pumps, and trench shoring equipment as well as our ProContractor professional grade tools. We employ approximately 10,500 employees, who equip our customers and communities to build a brighter future. Learn more at www.HercRentals.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. BC Concrete Supplies & Equipment “BC Concrete Supplies & Equipment recently hosted a highly successful Open House at its brand new location in Fort Collins, Colorado, drawing in a strong crowd of customers, vendors, and industry professionals. The event featured exclusive product deals, a popular Blowout Sale, and live vendor demonstrations that showcased the latest in concrete supplies and equipment. Guests enjoyed a complimentary lunch from Big Belly Brothers BBQ while connecting with top manufacturers and exploring the new facility. With raffle prizes, giveaways, and a steady flow of visitors throughout the day, the Open House marked an exciting start for BC Concrete’s presence in the Fort Collins area.” Herc Holdings Completes Acquisition of H&E Equipment Services
SUMMER 2025┃7 Works News Caterpillar Exclusive Three-Dimensional Screed Plate System As previously announced, Caterpillar Inc. has entered into an agreement with construction solutions supplier, Axenox, Inc., to acquire the intellectual properties of two of the company’s asphalt paving screed products. Under the agreement, three-dimensional screed plates and the modular screed plate fastening system will be available options exclusively for Cat® asphalt paving customers. These new innovations are true market disrupters for the asphalt paving industry,” comments Nate Just, marketing manager for Cat Paving Products. “The innovative three-dimensional screed plate design improves mat density and smoothness as well as density at the joint to reduce compaction expense and improve the chances of achieving bonus. The modular fastening system reduces the time required to replace screed plates by more than 80% to lower costs and maximize paver uptime availability.” Brothers Michael and Stuart Frost, long-time paving contractors and owners of Axenox®, invented the innovative screed system to improve paving efficiency and quality for their paving operations. “Basic screed design had never changed in our lifetime or our father’s, so my brother and I developed our own screed. We knew we had something special with this technology,” says Stuart Frost. Michael Frost adds, “We want to see this effect the industry in a positive way, just like it has for our paving operations. That’s why we chose Caterpillar and the second-to-none support offered by the Cat dealer network as the best way to carry out our vision.” Increased density and smoothness The Axenox® screed plate design is a significant departure from industry standard. Whereas traditional plates are flat, these plates utilize a three-dimensional, angular design. This added dimension delivers lateral compaction confinement to asphalt material. The kneading action Caterpillar: Confidential Green helps aggregate to interlock more efficiently than with flat screeds, increasing mat and joint density along with improving mat smoothness. Densities reaching 91% have been measured behind pavers equipped with the three-dimensional screed plates, so there is less of a chance for material shoving and cracking with the roller. These high densities can reduce the number of passes, lowering compaction cost. At the longitudinal joint, higher densities result in improved material containment during compaction to increase final density. Uniform mat temperatures gained by using the angular plates also help to reach specified densities more easily, helping contractors to meet bonus-level work. The stiffer asphalt mat left behind the three-dimensional plates allow the breakdown roller to achieve higher densities before the mat reaches the tender zone. It produces a more stable unconfined edge that resists pushing and shoving by the breakdown roller, so consistent density readings are achieved across the entire mat width. The three-dimensional cast plates are made with high strength chromium carbide, delivering high wear resistance and longer life in the field. Whereas traditional screed plates are run with an elevated front angle of attack, increasing wear, grooves at the front of these plates act as the angle of attack, so they run flat to wear more uniformly and reduce cost. Fast changes A revolutionary new way to secure the plate to the screed, the modular fastening system reduces screed plate change time from days to less than four hours, minimizing replacement costs for the paving contractor. After a one-time installation of the insulated conductor plate, simple screed plate changes are completed using a unique lock-and-go system. This eliminates the time-consuming process of removing asphalt material from the screed to access the nuts and bolts holding the plates in place. Once normal screed set-up and adjustments are completed on the conductor plate, minimal adjustments are required on future screed plate changes. E Q U I P M E N T
8┃ Colorado Public Works Journal “The transportation industry is evolving rapidly with fleet managers facing rising operational costs, complex logistics demands and ongoing driver recruitment challenges,” said Stephen Roy, global president of Mack Trucks. “The all-new Anthem responds to these challenges by delivering practical innovations that move the industry forward. Building on Mack’s legacy of innovation, the Anthem incorporates many of the same cutting-edge technologies and design principles that we’ve developed for our new Pioneer long-haul model, bringing advanced innovations to today’s regional-haul market.” The new Anthem is the second vehicle Mack has launched in 2025, complementing the recently introduced Pioneer model. “The all-new Anthem represents a significant step forward for Mack and for the regional-haul segment,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “It carries the same name as its predecessor because it embodies the same values and attributes with measurable improvements but is substantially better in all aspects. The all-new Anthem delivers improvements in every area that matters to customers’ businesses: fuel efficiency, maneuverability, driver comfort, safety, connectivity and uptime. The Anthem truly is the ‘New Standard of Regional Haul.’” • Enhanced Maneuverability for Regional Applications • Improved Fuel Efficiency Works News E Q U I P M E N T Mack Trucks Introduces the All-New Mack Anthem®: The New Standard in Regional Haul • Industry-Leading Comfort and Design • Advanced Uptime and Connectivity Transmission durability is a critical factor in high-horsepower machinery and industrial applications. Traditional methods of enhancing component longevity often fall short when dealing with extreme loads and prolonged operational stress. Cryogenic treatment offers a game-changing solution, providing superior durability and resilience for transmission systems. Unmatched Durability and Performance Cryogenic treatment involves exposing metal components to ultra-low temperatures, typically below -300°F, before gradually returning them to ambient temperature. The application of cryogenics to transmission components has proven to increase durability by an impressive 20%. This significant enhancement allows parts to absorb up to 25% more load, making them ideal for heavy-duty and highperformance applications. The benefits of cryogenic treatment include: Improved Stability: The refined microstructure of treated components ensures consistent performance under extreme stress and varying temperatures. Higher Wear Resistance: Cryogenic processing increases hardness and reduces material degradation, leading to extended service life. Lifetime Treatment: Unlike coatings or surface treatments that wear off over time, cryogenic enhancement is a permanent modification that lasts the component's lifetime. Powershift’s cryogenics revolutionizes transmission durability by providing a sustainable and permanent solution for wear resistance and load absorption. As industries continue to push the boundaries of efficiency and reliability, cryogenics remains at the forefront of technological advancements in transmission durability. Powershift’s Cryogenic Treatment: Enhancing Transmission Durability
SUMMER 2025┃9 Works News U P D A T E S NAWIC Denver, Epic Campus, and Corporate Partners Unite to Host Groundbreaking Construction Camp for Girls, Amplifying Impact Through Collaboration Demonstrating the profound impact of collective effort and strategic corporate partnerships, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Denver Chapter, in collaboration with Epic Campus, a high school in Littleton, Colorado, is currently hosting the inaugural Garney NAWIC Construction Camp. This week-long immersive experience is designed to introduce high school girls to the vast and varied career opportunities within the construction industry, fostering early exposure and building a vital support network that would be challenging to create alone. The initiative is a testament to the long-term impact of early exposure and dedicated sponsorship, underscoring the power of working together. The partnership began when Marc Finer, Construction Pathways Lead and Travis Amonson founding Principal of this career exploration career center within Littleton Public Schools, sought local community partnerships and connected with Jackie McLain from NAWIC. This initial meeting quickly evolved into a formal collaboration, marked by NAWIC members signing the final beam of the Epic Campus high school during its construction lead by Jacobs and Cunningham – a symbolic embedding of their commitment. A truly hands-on experience led to the highly successful Construction Olympics, where students led NAWIC members in practical tasks, building strong mentor-mentee relationships. The success of these initiatives highlighted the critical need for “sponsorship” – actively creating opportunities rather than just offering advice and recognizing that bigger opportunities often stem from partnership. Throughout the week, girls at the Garney NAWIC Construction Camp are gaining exposure to various facets of the industry, learning practical skills, understanding the importance of professional relationships, and honing their networking abilities. “This camp is a shining example of what can be achieved when organizations and individuals come together with a shared purpose,” says Morgan Trujillo of NAWIC. Amrize Debuts as Independent, Publicly Traded Company ● 100% spin-off from Holcim complete ● Amrize begins trading on NYSE and SIX under ticker symbol “AMRZ” ● Amrize to be the partner of choice for North America’s professional builders NEW YORK and ZURICH, June 23, 2025 – Amrize announces its debut today as an independent, publicly traded company with the completion of its 100% spin-off from Holcim. Amrize shares will begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol “AMRZ.” Amrize is building North America, as the partner of choice for professional builders with advanced branded solutions from foundation to rooftop. With over 1,000 sites and a highly efficient distribution network, Amrize delivers for its customers in every U.S. state and Canadian province. Its 19,000 teammates uniquely serve every construction market from infrastructure, commercial and residential to new build, repair and refurbishment. Jan Jenisch, Amrize Chairman and CEO: “This is an exciting day for all our teammates across North America as we begin our journey together as Amrize. As an independent, publicly traded company, Amrize will capitalize on North America’s attractive construction market driven by long term mega-trends from infrastructure modernization and onshoring of manufacturing to data center expansion and the opportunity to bridge the housing gap. With our track record of profitable growth, market-leading operations and broad range of advanced building solutions, we are ideally positioned to be the partner of choice for the professional builders of North America and to unlock value for all stakeholders. “It has been a privilege to be part of Holcim since 2017 and I thank the entire Holcim team for their outstanding performance and contributions over the years, including the exceptional execution of our spin-off creating two distinct, independent champions. I wish the Holcim team every success as they begin their next chapter.” The spin-off is completed via the distribution of a dividend-in-kind of one Amrize share for every Holcim share owned as of the close of business on June 20, 2025.
10┃ Colorado Public Works Journal We’re excited to share that Andrew Heiber, instructor of heavy civil materials in Colorado State University’s Construction Management Department, has been accepted into the prestigious Asphalt Professor Training Course at the National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University (NCAT). With 14+ years in the heavy civil industry and 4 years teaching at CSU, Andy brings realworld insight into the classroom — leading courses like Introduction to Road Construction and Asphalt Pavement Materials & Construction. He’s also the Training Chair for the Colorado branch of Women of Asphalt. Congrats, Andy! We’re proud to see Colorado leadership represented on the national stage. Works News P E O P L E Andy Heiber leading the asphalt way CRMCA Driver Championships 2025 A beautiful sunny Saturday was the backdrop for 16 skilled drivers from the Ready Mix world to complete an exam and drive a new mixer truck (not their own) through multiple situations. This included narrow pathways with tight turns, to stopping and reversing within just the right amount of distance. Points were awarded for each station and family and friends watched from the sidelines. In reverse order the individual winners were: 3rd Place: Dominic Hilbourn (BURNCO Colorado) 2nd Place: Charlie Chacon (Brannan Companies) 1st Place: Paul DeFord (Brannan Companies) – pictured. Skywalker Award (Closest to center on “Stay-on-Target” Obstacle): Dominic Hilbourn Apollo Award (Finding the most deficiencies at the Safety Station): Joshua Tillman The overall Team Winner was Brannan Companies. Awards and trophies with cash prizes were presented at the end of the event. Steve Martingano is RTD’s new Chief of Police and Emergency Management RTD’s new Chief of Police and Emergency Management, Steve Martingano, officially assumed the chief role on Tuesday, May 13, following a swearing-in ceremony at Denver Union Station. Chief Martingano is leading RTD’s growing Transit Police department that is responsible for the personal safety and security of over 3,000 employees and customers across an eight-county service area. Martingano joined RTD in 2015 as a commander and was promoted to deputy chief in 2017. Martingano has been modernizing RTD’s police deployment and response model by introducing sector policing which gives points of contact for municipalities and businesses to an assigned RTD-PD commander for the area. Martingano also pioneered the first mental health co-responder unit in transit policing, a program that later expanded to include outreach coordinators focusing on connecting unhoused individuals with needed resources.
SUMMER 2025┃11 Works News P E O P L E Brianna Boyd: Summer 2025 Finance & Accounting Internship at Faris Machinery As a finance enthusiast passionate about innovation, Brianna Boyd is stepping into an exciting new “Finance & Accounting” internship role at Faris Machinery—the first of its kind for the company’s finance department. This milestone marks the beginning of a program designed to enhance business solutions and leverage financial strategy within the industry for years to come. Brianna is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Finance and Data Analytics at Colorado State University. When she is not analyzing numbers, she’s carving the slopes or enjoying the great outdoors with her three dogs. Brianna is thrilled to join the Faris Family this summer. Her journey has led her to this immersive opportunity, where she will learn from industry leaders, harness cutting-edge financial strategies, and help elevate the standard of quality and service that defines Faris. Armed with ambition and a sharp analytical mind, Brianna is ready to shape the future of finance at Faris Machinery. New Rental Manager at Faris Machinery Nate Madison is a results-driven professional with a strong commitment to customer service and operational excellence. As Rental Manager at Faris Machinery Company, Nate oversees equipment rentals across Colorado, supporting public works departments, contractors, and municipal partners with reliable solutions and responsive service. Throughout his education and professional career, Nate has consistently demonstrated a passion for delivering results and serving customers to the highest standard. He values teamwork and collaboration as essential drivers of success, and his approach is grounded in tenacious prospecting, thoughtful vetting, and deep relationship building. By fully understanding how each customer operates, Nate ensures alignment with their goals and delivers a customer experience that exceeds expectations. His recent work includes supporting infrastructure and maintenance projects for clients such as Jefferson County Schools, Colorado Designscapes, and Liberty Oilfield Services. Nate is proud to contribute to the success of Colorado’s infrastructure initiatives and to be part of a community that values service, integrity, and progress.
12┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Works News P E O P L E APA Names Mike Skinner New Executive Director GREENBELT, MD—Mike Skinner, PE, CAE, Director of Pavement Engineering for the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association (CAPA), is taking the helm of the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA), effective May 27. “It’s an honor to lead an organization built on such a strong foundation of technical excellence and collaborative industry leadership,” Skinner said. “My focus will be on bringing strategic vision and unified momentum while continuing to support the quality programs and initiatives that have made APA a trusted voice in our field. By building on that legacy, we can elevate APA’s impact and grow the value we deliver to stakeholders nationwide.” Founded more than 20 years ago, the APA is a partnership between the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), Asphalt Institute (AI), and SAPAs. The partners represent the asphalt pavement and binder industries in the United States, working together in the areas of asphalt pavement promotion and pavement type selection to ensure asphalt is the pavement of choice, foster market growth, and safeguard the industry’s longevity. NAPA staff manage APA’s strategy, programs, and operations. As APA Executive Director, Skinner will report to NAPA President & CEO, Audrey Copeland, PhD, PE, and oversee a team comprised of Buzz Powell, PhD, PE, APA Technical Director, along with a tobe-hired APA Deployment Manager. Skinner will continue to reside in Colorado and Powell in Alabama while both travel extensively across the country to promote the benefits of asphalt pavements, partake in industry and agency events, and collaborate with NAPA’s Regional Advisory Councils. Skinner has more than 30 years of experience in the industry. In his 10 years at CAPA, he grew local agency member engagement, local agency roadway funding, and the region’s asphalt trade show. Prior to joining CAPA in 2015, he worked in the consulting engineering industry providing asphalt pavement and materials engineering for heavy highway civil infrastructure design, construction, and asset management in the Western United States. Skinner is a member of the Consortium for Asphalt Pavement Research & Innovation (CAPRI) and the Transportation Research Board’s AKP30 Committee. He has long been involved with the APA, including advancing its parking lot and private market programs. As the new APA Executive Director, Skinner will bring together the collective minds and expertise of those in the pavement industry with a focus on advancing asphalt pavements for quality, sustainability, and long life. This includes identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities for asphalt pavements including bringing research, development, and technology to market (i.e., deployment) faster, along with being a trusted resource to pavement stakeholders and decision makers. “Mike has been an active supporter of the APA for many years, serving as a speaker for educational programs, sharing technical expertise to educate and inspire members and stakeholders, and serving on several APA Task Groups,” said Copeland. “His commitment to the industry, his experiences working with agencies in Colorado and with SAPA colleagues nationwide, and his engineering expertise will drive the APA’s vision and maintain asphalt pavement’s marketleading performance.” tive Director nt g s ng e p epresent the asphalt pavement and in the areas of asphalt pavement lt is the pavement of choice, foster tions. As APA Executive Director, peland, PhD, PE, and oversee a team tor, along with a to-be-hired APA Colorado and Powell in Alabama while e benefits of asphalt pavements, ith NAPA’s Regional Advisory Councils. stry. In his 10 years at CAPA, he grew y funding, and the region’s asphalt trade sulting engineering industry providing ghway civil infrastructure design,
SUMMER 2025┃13 At Kiewit, our neighbors are our partners. As Colorado natives we take pride in building the highways, bridges, rails and runways that connect our communities. With unparalleled quality, we are committed to meeting the infrastructure needs of Colorado as it continues to grow. JOBS DONE WELL. READ ABOUT OUR CAPABILITIES With a national network of trench safety stores, United Rentals Trench Safety is the largest provider of underground protective systems in North America. Our dedicated engineering department and industry-leading safety trainers can help your excavation site stay safe and compliant. Plus access to 24/7 support can help maximize efficiency and uptime. SAFETY POWERED BY PRODUCTIVITY ALBUQUERQUE 4510 Broadway Blvd SE Albuquerque, NM 87105 505.886.6080 COLORADO SPRINGS 955 Valley St Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719.551.5533 DENVER 791 E 64th Ave Denver, CO 80229 303.329-8648
14┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Mountain Rail - Progress Report Page | 74 igure 27: Main Track through Kremmling, CO through in February 1928, the Moffat Tunnel provided Denver with a western link through the Continental Divide, saving the city from being surpassed as the gateway west by either Pueblo to the south or Cheyenne, WY to the north. Financing the 24-foot-high by 18-foot-wide tunnel through the side of a mountain, 9,239 feet above sea level, was no small matter. Since sufficient funding had not been raised before his death in 1911, Moffat never knew his dream was realized. Other forces, however, pushed the plan forward for more than a decade longer until 1923 when legal matters were settled, bonds were sold, and construction finally got underway. When the ink was dry, the state of Colorado owned the Moffat Tunnel, allowing railroad operators access through a 99-year lease that ran from January 1925 to January 2025. Though envisioned as passenger rail, for nearly a century, the Denver, Northwestern, and Pacific railroads and successors primarily hauled freight over the line, chiefly coal. Some 30 train loads of coal a day fed 13 coal-fired plants at generation stations across Colorado for decades. Following a bill passed by the Colorado legislature, in 2018 Xcel Energy announced a clean energy plan to phase out coal-fired plants. In 2022, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved a plan to set the deadline for 2031. With the Decompression Effect Colorado Announces Mountain Passenger Rail By Sean Vincent O’Keefe A A hundred years ago, transportation in Colorado was a little different than the massive, interconnected network of ways to get from one place to another available today. By 1925, thanks to Henry Ford’s assembly line, automobiles had taken over city streets. Driving one across Colorado, however, would have been an adventure of many days and little comfort. Though commercial air travel had begun, Denver’s first airport, Stapleton International Airport, was still four years away from opening in 1929. At the time, the most reliable means of getting people, goods, and resources from place to place over land was by train. In the United States, commercial trains began circulating in the early 1830s. By 1925, steampowered passenger rail had been the unchallenged gold standard in transit for nearly 100 years. Colorado, however, remained challenging terrain, even for the steam-powered juggernauts capable of trudging up Rollins Pass operated by the Denver, Northwestern, and Pacific Railroad. As early as 1902, American financier and industrialist, David Moffat (1939 – 1911) began to conceive a plan to circumvent the slow, winding route west out of Denver. In 1925, the railway’s path climbed Rollins Pass via a route known as Hell’s Hill, which snaked through a dozen switchbacks while climbing grades as steep as 4%. Due to frequent snow and frozen conditions during the winter, the route was difficult to maintain profitably. Moffat’s plan called for a shortcut. His idea was to bore a 6.2-mile tunnel through the shoulder of James Peak to eliminate the need for the challenging segment of track. When the first official railroad traffic passed
SUMMER 2025┃15 4 Moffat Tunnel’s original terms also set to expire, and the world a very different place than it was a hundred years ago, by 2025, the time had come for the state of Colorado to rethink the way west. On May 5, 2025, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Union Pacific Railroad President Beth Whited celebrated signing a historic lease agreement for passage through the Moffat Tunnel for the next 25 years. “Moffat Tunnel represents an important part of Colorado’s history, as well as a bright part of our future,” said Polis. “This agreement begins a new era of partnership between the State of Colorado and Union Pacific that will expand passenger rail into our beautiful Rocky Mountains, assure continued freight movement through the Continental Divide, and unlock access to the Burnham Yard, a very special state property with unparalleled transit-oriented development potential. With this work, we are showing the country a new model for pursuing passenger rail through collaboration with the railroad. I am thrilled with the agreements and look forward to seeing the positive benefits to our state.” Under the new terms, instead of lease payments for the Union Pacific Railroad’s use of the Moffat Tunnel, the state of Colorado is licensed to use Union Pacific’s rail line for three daily roundtrips, or up to 506,000 train miles annually, for Mountain Passenger Rail. “Mountain rail service will soon run year-round from Denver Union Station to Winter Park, to Fraser, to Granby, Steamboat Springs, Craig, and Hayden, a corridor renowned for its scenery and beauty,” continued Polis. The state plans to unfold the new Mountain Passenger Rail in phases. A daily roundtrip between Denver and Granby will begin in late 2026, with more service and the flexibility to expand service to Steamboat Springs, Craig, and Hayden over time. Presently, the demand for rail transportation in Colorado is growing. In partnership with Amtrak and Winter Park Resorts, in 2024, the state invested in increasing the frequency of the Winter Park Ski train while lowering costs to customers. As a result, during the 2024-2025 ski season, more than 44,000 passenger trips were booked compared to 17,500 the previous season, a 153 percent increase. So, the demand forecast is positive. Decem Figure 5: Craig Branch near Volcano Siding Mountain Rail - Progress Report the demand for new trainsets has never been greater, and manufactu experiencing a multi-year backlog in design, production, and commis trainsets, coaches, and locomotives. For the mid-and long-term, the State will be conducting the procurem of-the-art trainsets that will include customer amenities, depending service. A critical part of new trainset procurement includes flexibili particularly ensuring the opportunity to upgrade trainsets. As future technologies evolve and become ready for mainline, extended durati CDOT team intends to be ready to make the upgrade and move to the propulsion options as they become ready. Additionally, the State will procure an entity, or entities, to operate for the Mountain Rail service using a competitive bidding process of q to determine what entity or entities can provide the highest value fo Figure 7: Amtrak Winter Park Express Trainset, near the Flatirons Mountain Rail - Progress Report Figure 5: Craig Branch near Volcano Siding Figure 6: Granby Station
16┃ Colorado Public Works Journal going to improve the track in places, smooth out some curves, install new signal equipment throughout the whole line, and introduce positive train control, which prevents train collisions by allowing the train to be controlled remotely in the event of an emergency.” At present, though offering passenger service to the first segment by next year is achievable, there are still a few details to figure out along the way. “Essentially the route is set by the existing rail line. Right now, we’re engaging the communities along the way, telling them our plan, and asking for suggestions,” continues Hoover. “Likewise, engineers and rail experts are studying the line, identifying needed improvements and locations where sidings will allow trains to pull off and pass one another. You really can’t build railroad work in the mountains during the winter months. Also, we will run new, well-appointed passenger cars, which must be acquired. So, we expect the full build-out to take between five and ten years.” Though a decade seems like a long time, CDOT plans to open the first segment of the route soon, Hoover reminds. “CDOT will essentially extend the Ski Train from Winter Park/Fraser to Gramby next year and then, keep it running all year long,” says Hoover. “However, we don’t envision this as just for leisure travel. People on the other end of the line may commute to Steamboat Springs from Craig, for work or commerce. So, as we know more about ridership, we’ll open segments on the west end as quickly as possible.” When it comes to any public transportation situation and solution, it’s hard to avoid detractors. Adding lanes and capacity doesn’t eliminate congestion. Induced demand means that if more lanes are available on a highway, they will fill up. Managing congestion requires alternatives like toll lanes that only some people choose. This creates slack within the corridor, allowing all to move faster. “Importantly, some people can’t or don’t want to drive, especially over mountains in the winter,” finishes Hoover. “Take the train, have a glass of wine, and spend time with the family. See some of Colorado’s most spectacular scenery hands-free without worrying about the roads, the weather, or the guy behind you with a one-day lift ticket. This is the decompression effect. It’s better for everyone.” December 2024 ects, constructability, and ability to provide the necessary operational As a state-operated transportation service, overseeing the implementation and operation of Colorado’s Mountain Passenger Rail resides with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Deputy Director of Communications for Policy and Programs, Timothy Hoover explains. “CDOT makes critical decisions about the equilibrium between building the state transportation network to capacity and fiscal resources,” begins Hoover. “Primarily, CDOT is focused on people. An example is the highly successful Bustang Program, which CDOT introduced in 2015.” Bustang, Colorado’s interregional express bus service, has seen a steady increase in ridership from about 100,000 passengers the first year to about 290,000 in FY 2024. It connects Colorado’s major cities and towns including Fort Collins, Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, and points in between. “In moving away from coal-fired power in 2018, the number of freight trains using the Moffat Tunnel is down from 30 trains a day to about 6. CDOT saw the increased capacity on the line as an opportunity to improve our public transit services by adding Mountain Passenger Rail,” continues Hoover. “We’re
SUMMER 2025┃17
18┃ Colorado Public Works Journal June 21 & 22 2025 marked the weekend of the very first Dozer Day here in Colorado. A family friendly day inviting kids to sit in the driver’s seat and experience the thrill of what it is like to be an equipment operator. Thanks to NUCA of Colorado and Ritchie Bros for hosting this educational and inspiring event which attracted over 2300 attendees in its first year. Executive Director of NUCA Christine Barnes said “We couldn’t have wished for a better turn out in our first year, the smiles on the children’s faces made the nearly 6 months of preparations worthwhile.” Dozer Day was acquired by the National Utility Contractors Association at the end of 2024 from the Nutter Foundation who started Dozer Days in 2006 in Vancouver, Washington. Dozer Days is now held by several chapters of NUCA across the country. It serves as a workforce development tool to introduce children and their parents to career opportunities in the World of Construction. With a portion of the ticket proceeds going to the charity, Food For Thought, this event covered all aspects to help and support community relations. Over 15 booths were on hand exhibiting examples of their work together with educational and interactive themes to entice kids to get involved. But without doubt the lines formed where the machines were. Operators who had already worked a 40+ hour shift for the week encouraged the littles up in their cabs to experience the joys of riding/driving the equipment. Back and forth they went, some spinning the cab, some picking up and dropping dirt, but all resulting in wide grins from the kids. Our Jo Taylor was there and spoke to several families, here is what they said: “My son has been so excited to come today, he was up before we were” “My favorite part was when the dirt fell out of the bucket” “I didn’t think my 2½ year old would do it, but he watched his brothers and wants to try” “I found the horn, did you hear it?” “Thank you for putting this on, it’s not only an education for our kids, but for us too, I work in the medical field and know nothing about this industry”. The Inaugural Dozer Day in Colorado was a huge success!
SUMMER 2025┃19
20┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Isolation, Remote, Depression Pain, Danger, Anxiety & Stress Stuck, Training Gap, Financial Insecurity Pressure, Performance, Schedule Strain Construction Has the Highest Suicide and Overdose Death Rates of Any Private Industry Workers in construction are four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. I Stigma, Lack of Health Care WHY? Click These Links SAFE No Shame Pledge Take the S.T.A.N.D Collaborate With Industry Partners Recovery Friendly Workplace Foster a Safe Workplace Enhance Support Programs Rethink Pain Management Normalize mental health conversations How Can I Help?
SUMMER 2025┃21 Ready for Winter? 9.24.25 - 9.26.25 EMBASSY SUITES LOVELAND, CO NEW 2-DAY ROADEO!
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Rodeo Dr Stallion Dr St Cloud Dr Crossroads Blvd Clydesdale Pkwy Fairgrounds Ave Centerra Pkwy Exit 259 Holiday Inn Express The Ranch - Larimer County Fairgrounds Snow Roadeo Site 25 Budweiser Events Center Arena Cir Embassy Suites Snow & Ice Conference Site SpringHill Suites by Marriott Map & Conference Committee Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Conference Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Daily Schedules and Session Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Roadeo At-A-Glance / Roadeo Committee Members . . . . . . . . 22 Exhibitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Indoor Exhibit Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Outdoor Exhibit Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Register online at www.westernsnowandice.com | 3
24┃ Colorado Public Works Journal 4 | Ready For Winter? Brrrr-ing it On!
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28┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Session Topics Roadeo Events Major Sponsor Showcases ROOM SNOWBERRY GOLDENGLOW CARTER LAKE A&B THE RANCH/ASPEN DAISY BIG THOMPSON A&B 7:00 a.m. Roadeo Check-In 7:00 AM - 8:45 AM in Aspen Daisy & Elderberry Roadeo Competitors Orientation in Aspen Daisy 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Winter Maintenance Best Practices Inter-Departmental Cooperation - How Does It Work? Won’t You Be My Neighbor? 9:15 AM - Completion Roadeo Written and Diagnostics Test In McKee Hall at The Ranch Competition at The Ranch Loader Skid Steer Tandem Axle Sno-Biz: Brine and Liquid Applications 10:15 a.m. BREAK - Visit Our Exhibitor Hall 10:45 a.m. The Latest Trends in Winter Road Maintenance Service and Family - Finding Balance It’s All About Partnerships - The Importance of Building Relationships in Public Works Dawson Infrastructure Solutions: Robotic Mowing for Modern Municipalities 11:45 p.m. Lunch 12:45 p.m. AI - Uh - What Is It Good For? Absolutely.... Best Practices For Managing Liquids Storage and Pumping Systems Can We Build Infrastructure That Considers Winter Maintenance? Yes We Can! EnviroTech Services, Inc. 1:45 p.m. BREAK - Visit Our Exhibitor Hall 2:00 p.m. Fleet Operations Snow Equipment Preparation Neighbourhood Action Teams - Ready, Resilient, Responsive Combating the Warmer Hazards of Snow Plowing Campbell Scientific 3:00 p.m. BREAK - Visit Our Exhibitor Hall 3:15 p.m. Winter Maintenance Approaches in Sweden vs North America Pikes Peak Plowing Traffic Incident Management During Winter Operations Professional Snowfighters Association: Liquids in Winter - Why They Matter So Much 4:30 p.m. Prize Drawing - Exhibit Hall Join us in the Exhibit Hall for your chance to win valuable prizes. 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. “Blades Up” Social Sponsored by 4Rivers Equipment Enjoy a fun-filled night and network with your peers. TIME DESCRIPTION ROOM 7:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Roadeo Check-In Aspen Daisy / Elderberry 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Conference Administration Hours Main Hall 7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Hours Front Range Ballroom NEVEREST EQUIPMENT COMPANY COFFEE & SNACK BREAKS SPONSORED BY NEW! 8 | Ready For Winter? Brrrr-ing it On!
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32┃ Colorado Public Works Journal
SUMMER 2025┃33 Session Topics Roadeo Events Winter Maintenance Major Sponsor Showcase ROOM SNOWBERRY GOLDENGLOW CARTER LAKE A&B ASPEN DAISY/ ELDERBERRY BIG THOMPSON A&B 7:30 a.m. CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST 8:30 a.m. Color Guard Flag presentation by the Associated Veterans Loveland and National Anthem by Windsor High School Choir. Welcome by Loveland City Manager Jim Thompson, APWA Colorado Chapter President John Burke, APWA Region IX Director Tina Nelson and National APWA Past President Dominick Longobardi. Featured Speaker: Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Gradishar, Presenting “Influence Over Image” 10:00 a.m. BREAK - Visit Our Exhibitor Hall 10:30 a.m. Ten Employment Myths Debunked Leadership and Employee Development: A Roadmap for Success(ion) Wellness and Laughter Therapy 10:30 AM - Completion Roadeo Written and Diagnostics Test In McKee Hall at The Ranch Competition at The Ranch Grader Single Axle Plow Check-In and Orientation for Thursday-Only Roadeo Participants Will Take Place at The Ranch Winter Maintenance Supervisor Certificate Workshop (10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) Kois Brothers Equipment Co. 11:30 a.m. Lunch 1:00 p.m. An Epic Eastern Plains Snowstorm, A Recap of Mountain Snowfall, and a Look Ahead to the 202526 Snow Season Develop Leadership Intuition - Build a Crafted, Well-Oiled Team A True KPI for Winter Maintenance Operations 2:00 p.m. BREAK - Visit Our Exhibitor Hall 2:15 p.m. Snow Fences The Basics of Snowplowing Hands-On Pre- and Post-Trips Bruckner’s Truck & Equipment: The ABC’s of Government Procurement: Making Sense of the Alphabet Soup: ITB, RFQ, RFP, etc. 3:30 p.m. Prize Drawing - Exhibit Hall Join us in the Exhibit Hall for your chance to win valuable prizes. 5:00 p.m. NEVEREST EQUIPMENT COMPANY COFFEE & SNACK BREAKS SPONSORED BY TIME DESCRIPTION ROOM 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Conference Administration Hours Main Hall 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Hours Front Range Ballroom NEW! Register online at www.westernsnowandice.com | 13
14 | Ready For Winter? Brrrr-ing it On!
HARD WORK DESERVES A BREAK ®
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