Have you ever wondered what it would take to get a passenger train running from Fort Collins to Denver? On this episode of Dear Fort Collins, Nick Armstrong is joined by James Flattum, Associate Director of Communications and Strategic Directives for the Front Range Passenger Rail District, and Tricia Canonico, FRPRD board member and former Fort Collins City Councilmember, to talk about Coco — the Colorado Connector — a 190-mile intercity passenger rail system running from Fort Collins through Boulder and Denver down to Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

We get into how the first phase came in at $332 million instead of the billion-dollar estimate by partnering directly with BNSF, why the station is going at College and Drake instead of Old Town, what $82.5 million in "local return" dollars over 25 years could mean for that corridor, how the train stacks up against Bustang on comfort and ADA accessibility, and what three trains a day in 2029 grows into. Since we recorded, the district's board voted to send a 0.333% sales tax question to voters this November — so this conversation is a good primer before you fill out your ballot.

FYI: this episode was recorded before the ballot measure was referred to voters. It has since been referred!

Learn more and read the delivery plan at ColoradoConnector.com/plan.

If you're curious about how something in Fort Collins works, ask! Send an email to: Nick@DearFortCollins.com and we may feature your show idea in an upcoming episode!

Have you ever wondered how a City Park gets made? On this episode of Dear Fort Collins, Nick Armstrong is joined by Jen Torrey and Jill Wuertz from the City of Fort Collins Parks Planning Department as we explore the creation of Tailwinds and Dovetail parks.If you're curious about how something in Fort Collins works, ask! Send an email to: Nick@DearFortCollins.com and we may feature your show idea in an upcoming episode!

Karla Baise is a 26-year Fort Collins resident, parent of two Poudre School District (PSD) students, and a community outreach professional at Odell Brewing Company. She is running for the PSD Board in District C. Baise has collaborated with many local nonprofits and civic partners and has volunteered with community efforts such as Fort Collins Comic Con.

Host Nick Armstrong speaks with Karla Baise about why she’s running and what she would prioritize if elected to the PSD Board. Baise emphasizes improving literacy, reducing disparities among schools, supporting educators and classified staff with dignified wages, and strengthening transparency and communication with families. She argues PSD should upgrade existing facilities (e.g., HVAC, modulars) before building new ones and wants robust collaboration with community partners to bolster student belonging and mental health.

Armstrong notes PSD’s 2025 monitoring report shows an average student performance around the 63rd percentile statewide; Baise focuses on addressing underperforming cohorts and systemwide disparities. She supports public comment at board meetings and rotating listening sessions across the district. The conversation also touches on student walkouts over school safety this month across Colorado; Baise calls for more listening to students and greater mental-health resources, while acknowledging she does not have a single “fix.”

• Baise (District C) prioritizes literacy, citing concern about post-pandemic declines and support for early dyslexia screening.
• She argues PSD should reduce disparities by strengthening neighborhood schools so families are less likely to “choice out.”
• Funding and wages: supports dignified pay for teachers and classified staff; views investment in people as essential to retention.
• Facilities first: favors upgrading existing buildings (e.g., air conditioning) before constructing new schools.
• Governance and process: supports public comment, districtwide listening sessions, and clearer explanations for decisions (e.g., calendar/heat-day changes).
• Partnerships: calls for deeper collaboration with local organizations (mental health, inclusion, mentoring) to build belonging and student supports.
• School safety and student well-being: supports expanded mental-health services and cross-agency collaboration; wants to center student voices.

• Candidate site: https://karlaforpsd.com
• Show Notes: https://dearfortcollins.com/2025/10/a-closer-look-at-poudre-school-board-candidate-karla-baise-in-district-c/
• Dear Fort Collins website: https://dearfortcollins.com/
• Dear Fort Collins YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearfortcollins