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?
After the lessons of rail, the Denver region might just be ready to move into a bus-centric transit future that better addresses climate change, air quality, and inequity. But there's one unfulfilled promise standing in the way: the Boulder train. Is it time for locals to let that go, or is there hope on the horizon? Part 4 of 4.
Hosted and reported by Nathaniel Minor
Editors: Erin Jones, Joe Wertz
Production and mixing: Rebekah Romberg
Additional production: Luis Antonio Perez
Theme song by Daniel Mescher. Additional music via Universal Production Music.
Artwork: Mia Rincón
Executive producers: Kevin Dale, Brad Turner
Additional editorial support: Jo Erickson, Alison Borden, Rachel Estabrook, Ana Campbell, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Andrew Villegas, Dave Burdick
Archival tape thanks: Heather Dalton and Dominic Dezzutti at CPT-12; Tim Wieland and Steve Vriesman at CBS4 Denver; Kevin Krug at KMGH Denver7.
Thanks also to Kim Nguyen, Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Hart Van Denburg.
Ghost Train is a production of CPR News and Colorado Public Radio's Audio Innovations Studio.
www.cpr.org/podcast/ghost-train (http://www.cpr.org/podcast/ghost-train)
On Twitter:
@COPublicRadio
@nbminor
22 Feb 2022
An Unexpected Solution
The Denver metro area's rail system mostly neglects the dense, walkable parts of the city. Why is that? And now, after we've spent decades prioritizing freedom in how we get around, is it time to change the way we live? Part 3 of 4.
Hosted and reported by Nathaniel Minor
Editors: Erin Jones, Joe Wertz
Production and mixing: Rebekah Romberg
Additional production: Luis Antonio Perez
Theme song by Daniel Mescher. Additional music via Universal Production Music.
Artwork: Mia Rincón
Executive producers: Kevin Dale, Brad Turner
Additional editorial support: Jo Erickson, Alison Borden, Rachel Estabrook, Ana Campbell, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Andrew Villegas, Dave Burdick
Archival tape thanks: Heather Dalton and Dominic Dezzutti at CPT-12; Tim Wieland and Steve Vriesman at CBS4 Denver; Kevin Krug at KMGH Denver7.
Thanks also to Kim Nguyen, Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Hart Van Denburg.
Ghost Train is a production of CPR News and Colorado Public Radio's Audio Innovations Studio.
www.cpr.org/podcast/ghost-train (http://www.cpr.org/podcast/ghost-train)
On Twitter:
@COPublicRadio
@nbminor
15 Feb 2022
The Mission
Sam Chesser loved the transit system when he visited New York City. So Sam, like many voters, supported a vision he thought would make his beloved hometown, Denver, just as accessible. That allowed transit planners to spend billions of dollars laying rail track. But almost two decades later, who actually uses it? Part 2 of 4.
Hosted and reported by Nathaniel Minor
Editors: Erin Jones, Joe Wertz
Production and mixing: Rebekah Romberg
Additional production: Luis Antonio Perez
Theme song by Daniel Mescher. Additional music via Universal Production Music.
Artwork: Mia Rincón
Executive producers: Kevin Dale, Brad Turner
Additional editorial support: Jo Erickson, Alison Borden, Rachel Estabrook, Ana Campbell, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Andrew Villegas, Dave Burdick
Archival tape thanks: Heather Dalton and Dominic Dezzutti at CPT-12; Tim Wieland and Steve Vriesman at CBS4 Denver; Kevin Krug at KMGH Denver7.
Thanks also to Kim Nguyen, Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Hart Van Denburg.
Ghost Train is a production of CPR News and Colorado Public Radio's Audio Innovations Studio.
www.cpr.org/podcast/ghost-train (http://www.cpr.org/podcast/ghost-train)
On Twitter:
@COPublicRadio
@nbminor
8 Feb 2022
The Vote
With a brown cloud hovering overhead and a second-place football team, Denver had dreams of becoming a world-class city. But it wasn't until the turn of the millennium that it found a way to get there: trains. Part 1 of 4.
Hosted and reported by Nathaniel Minor
Editors: Erin Jones, Joe Wertz
Production and mixing: Rebekah Romberg
Additional production: Luis Antonio Perez
Theme song by Daniel Mescher. Additional music via Universal Production Music.
Artwork: Mia Rincón
Executive producers: Kevin Dale, Brad Turner
Additional editorial support: Jo Erickson, Alison Borden, Rachel Estabrook, Ana Campbell, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Andrew Villegas, Dave Burdick
Archival tape thanks: Heather Dalton and Dominic Dezzutti at CPT-12; Tim Wieland and Steve Vriesman at CBS4 Denver; Kevin Krug at KMGH Denver7.
Thanks also to Kim Nguyen, Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Hart Van Denburg.
Ghost Train is a production of CPR News and Colorado Public Radio's Audio Innovations Studio.
www.cpr.org/podcast/ghost-train (http://www.cpr.org/podcast/ghost-train)
On Twitter:
@COPublicRadio
@nbminor
Correction: An earlier version of this episode incorrectly said Seattle had built a light rail system in the 1990s. The reference has been removed.
18 Jan 2022
'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. This plan called for a sprawling network of new rail lines that would help commuters glide by clogged roadways and transform Denver into a world-class city. But as train lines opened, some uncomfortable truths emerged: The trains aren’t very useful to most people. The trains have done relatively little to shift how people move around the region. And they cost a lot of money.
Denver’s love affair with trains is one of shared dreams and unstoppable personalities. It’s the story of billions of dollars and gleaming new infrastructure for a city on the rise. And for one particular corner of the metro area, it’s a story of disappointment and betrayal.
Ghost Train is the story of how one polluted, traffic-choked city went all in on trains, and what happened when that plan jumped the track.
Nathaniel Minor, the transportation reporter for Colorado Public Radio, has spent years trying to understand this anger, what these trains were meant to accomplish and whether they’re succeeding. But this story is about so much more than one train system in Colorado. Because Denver’s not the only place opening new rail lines. Cities all across America are turning to rail to face down big issues like climate change, traffic and inequity.
Ghost Train from CPR News starts Feb. 8. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
391 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
297 ratings
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