Denver, Jan. 26, 2022 - Colorado Public Radio today announced a new four-part miniseries focused on Colorado’s attempts to build a greener transportation system in the state. “Ghost Train” is hosted by CPR News transportation reporter Nathaniel Minor and launches Feb. 8. A trailer is available now.
“I started covering transportation in Colorado full-time three years ago, just as the applause for the Denver area’s new train lines was fading,” Minor said. “And in reporting this series, I’ve learned that these trains were meant to be more than people-movers. They were supposed to symbolize progress and status. I wanted to know whether they are effective.”
In “Ghost Train,” Minor explores the past, present and future of transit projects in the Denver metro area, starting from the 2004 vote to back an ambitious transit plan that would help commuters glide by traffic and transform Denver into a world-class city.
But as those lines have opened, an uncomfortable truth has emerged: They aren’t very useful to many people and have done relatively little to shift how Coloradans move around the region.
And one key line — from Denver to Boulder and Longmont — is projected to be decades late, a delay that now haunts Denver’s transit agency. Because some now argue that to meet climate goals and ease traffic, Coloradans need more than just fancy trains. They need better buses, even if that means taking space from cars.
“Nate Minor has a deep understanding of how Denver’s transit system came together,” said Brad Turner, executive producer of CPR’s Audio Innovations Studio. “But sometimes news stories about public transportation miss a human element. People hatched a vision for this rail system, and other people who ride light rail or make decisions about the future of RTD deal with the consequences every day. Nate’s done a great job of connecting with those voices and sharing their stories in this series.”
“Ghost Train” debuts Feb. 8 with four parts released weekly. The trailer is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and cpr.org.
Photos and graphics related to this release can be found here. Media inquiries: Clara Shelton, [email protected].
About Nathaniel Minor
Nathaniel Minor is a journalist for CPR News specializing in transportation and growth issues. Nathaniel joined Colorado Public Radio in 2014 and has also published award-winning stories and documentaries on racism and power in a small Colorado town, the birth, victory and gutting of Colorado’s unique taxing law, and the trauma survivors are still feeling decades after the Columbine shooting. Nathaniel came to CPR from Minnesota Public Radio, where he began his career.
About Colorado Public Radio
Colorado Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization delivering meaningful news, music, and cultural experiences to everyone in Colorado using the power of the human voice in all its forms. Roughly 95 percent of CPR’s funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations. For more information, visit www.cpr.org.
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