Speaker: James Flattum, director of outreach, Coloradans for CoCo

A new intercity passenger rail service is on the ballot this year in Colorado’s Front Range.

Learn more about the Colorado Connector (CoCo) and Measure 7A, which would create permanent funding for train service between Fort Collins and Pueblo. Colorado’s approach is unique, following an incremental strategy that invests in existing freight-owned tracks to expand service over time to 10 daily round trips, borrowing from the Capitol Corridor and Amtrak Cascades models.

Listen to our conversation with James Flattum to hear how CoCo proponents are planning ahead, building support, and creating a framework that could inspire other states to follow.

James Flattum is supporting the “Coloradans for CoCo” campaign as the director of outreach. He is on a 60-day leave from his official role at the Front Range Passenger Rail District to campaign for CoCo and will be returning after the election. Professionally, Flattum has a background in finance and corporate management and has been highly active in the transportation advocacy space.

Originally recorded October 16, 2026

The High Speed Rail Alliance is proud to welcome Thom de Boo (Trains Are Awesome), Keith Davis (Car Free Keith), and Alan Fisher for a discussion about trains, content, and more.

Moderated by Outreach Manager Jordan Pokorney, this conversation dives into the latest news in American passenger rail, from the future of Amtrak to the upcoming federal surface transportation program. We also explore the role of content creation in transportation advocacy. Is media the key to getting everyone behind a less car-dependent future?

Originally recorded April 24, 2026

Speakers: Karim Ahmed, Scott Bernstein, Dr. Robert Paaswell, Samuel Turvey

ReThinkNYC and other allies joined us to discuss the potential to convert commuter rail operations at New York Penn Station to a through-running model, which is favored in the Federal Railroad Administration guidelines and acknowledged as the international gold standard for commuter rail.

On this continent, Philadelphia and Toronto already have through-running, with Los Angeles soon to follow. The FRA recently published a Phase 1 report calling for at least some through-running to take place at Penn Station, with a second phase of the study soon to follow.

The panel examined the current status of through-running efforts at New York Penn Station in the context of the FRA activities and more. ReThinkNYC has been advocating for a through-running conversion since as early as 2014 and invite you to learn more about their outlook on and experiences with this project of national importance.

Karim Ahmed: senior transportation advisor, ReThinkNYC; principal, Reform Architecture PLLC

Scott Bernstein: founder and emeritus, President of Center of Neighborhood Technology; co-founder and chair, Surface Transportation Project; known expert and sponsor of Housing and Transportation Affordability Index

Dr. Robert Paaswell: distinguished professor of civil engineering emeritus, City College of New York; director emeritus, University Transportation Research Center, City College of New York; former CEO, Chicago Transit Authority

Samuel Turvey: chairperson, ReThinkNYC; coordinator, Empire Station Coalition; lead, Penn Community Defense Fund; 2025 City & State Transportation Trailblazer

Follow along by reading the presentation slides.

Originally recorded October 9, 2026