CENTRAL CITY - Gilpin County Commissioners heard a second update on the Rollinsville Infrastructure Study and Area Plan during a September 16 work session, presented by JVA Consulting Engineers. 

The discussion built on earlier conversations about project priorities and regional corridors, turning the focus squarely to Rollinsville’s future and the infrastructure needed to support it.

“We were hired to look at this project from an overall standpoint to expand on the comprehensive plan, but also to understand some of the trigger points with the new rail station potential and to see where the infrastructure in Rollinsville is now and where it could go,” said Kevin Tone with JVA.

Rail station as a driver

The possibility of a rail stop in Rollinsville remains central to the plan. JVA described the stop as a likely trigger for new investment, but also a point of pressure on existing infrastructure. 

Commissioners noted that any station would require parking, firefighting water storage, and safer pedestrian access across Highway 119 before it could serve the public.

The station would have the potential to be a part of the Mountain Rail, connecting Rollinsville to Winter Park and Steamboat Springs. 

“So if this could ever happen, it would be fantastic, and I think there would be a lot of ridership,” said Tone.

Two-phase approach

JVA’s update outlined a phased strategy:

1. Phase One would focus on the commercial core and the immediate needs of the rail station, including water, wastewater, firefighting cisterns, drainage, and road improvements.

2. Phase Two, stretching over 20 years, considered platted but undeveloped lots and residential areas that might eventually tie into the system.

Commissioners expressed concern that including such a large future zone could confuse the public and drive opposition. Several suggested that the near-term scope remain on the commercial corridor, with longer-term projections kept in an appendix for reference.

Water, sewer, and costs

Consultants compared alternatives, including tying into Nederland’s system at a projected $42 million, or constructing wells and treatment facilities locally for about $2.5 million. 

Wastewater posed similar challenges. JVA recommended a modular treatment system that could expand over time, but warned that breweries and distilleries would add a significant load to any facility.

Water rights, climate change, and downstream control by Denver Water emerged as recurring concerns. Commissioners pressed for clarity on whether South Boulder Creek could sustain future demand.

Fire protection and safety

The Timberline Fire Protection District has said no new commercial occupancy permits will be approved until firefighting storage is in place. The plan calls for two 30,000-gallon cisterns, one on each side of Highway 119.

Public works staff also raised the need for drainage improvements, erosion control, and safer pedestrian crossings on the highway. Options included flashing beacons, a high-intensity crosswalk signal, or eventually an underpass, though the latter could cost from $5 million to $12 million.

Community identity at stake

Throughout the session, commissioners reminded the consultants that Rollinsville is unincorporated and not a town, and that its residents value independence. Some worried that overlaying large-scale costs on the community could cause a pushback.

“Community engagement is what we see as the next step,” said Tone. 

The Mountain-Ear will continue to report on any new developments concerning Rollinsville, its infrastructure, and the potential rail stop.