A new Northwest Rail commuter rail line from Longmont to Denver and passenger rail throughout Colorado were top priorities for local and state leaders at a transportation breakfast event at the University of Colorado Tuesday.

The event, hosted by Commuting Solutions and the Northwest Mayors and Commissioners Coalition, brought speakers together in Boulder to discuss transportation and sustainability goals for the new year.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis said expanding low-cost transportation options, such as trains and buses, is key.

“We are deeply committed to getting unfinished FasTracks projects done,” Polis said. “It begins with Northwest Rail.”

Once built, the Northwest Rail Line will run from Longmont to Denver. Last year, the Regional Transportation District completed a feasibility study to determine the best service times for the line. Voters approved the ballot initiative for the rail service in 2004.

Polis told attendees that, while he can’t point to a specific year, he is committed to finishing the Northwest Rail project this decade.

“Like many of you, I was upset that it wasn’t delivered in 2017, which is what we voted for,” Polis said. “But rather than just complain, or accept dates like 2040, we said, ‘Let’s just get it done.’”

Separately, Polis praised the success of the state’s electric vehicle rebate program. Colorado is one of the top states in the country for electric vehicle sales, he said.

State representative Meg Froelich said one of the legislature’s goals for 2025 is to enhance statewide transit options. One way to do this, she said, is to improve access to transportation hubs such as train stations.

“We’re excited by passenger rail, but let’s make sure that there’s a way to get to passenger rail safely,” Froelich said.

Boulder County commissioner Claire Levy shared information about funding secured over the past year for local transportation projects.

Workers are building transit improvements in the Diagonal Highway corridor for the CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway project, for example. County officials helped secure $162 million.“On the map, it looks like that primarily benefits Longmont and Boulder,” Levy said of the Diagonal Highway improvements. “But we know that it’s a regional project.”

Last year, government officials also secured $152 million in funding for infrastructure upgrades along the Colo. 7 corridor between Boulder and Brighton. These include intersection improvements in Boulder and Lafayette.

Levy said priorities for 2025 include continuing to pursue funding for mobility projects and supporting legislation that reduces emissions.

Other speakers on Tuesday represented the Colorado Department of Transportation, RTD and the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project.

CU Boulder chancellor Justin Schwartz shared some of the university’s recent efforts to become more sustainable. The campus acquired four fully-electric buses, added a solar array on a building on the East Campus and is pursuing energy efficiency projects in 18 buildings.

Schwartz said he often has conversations about transportation, housing and sustainability with members of the CU Boulder community.

“It is evident that our CU Boulder faculty, staff and students are concerned about these topics, how they interact and how they touch every part of our lives,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz said one of the first events where he made remarks as a new chancellor was the “Ride for Magnus” in August. The event commemorated the life of Magnus White, a local teen who died after being hit by a car while biking along the Diagonal Highway.

“It was inspiring to me to see so many people across the Front Range caring deeply about how we travel from place to place, and ensuring the safety of all of our people,” Schwartz said.