Cheyenne City Council Members Call for End to 15th Street Rail Experience Waste
CHEYENNE, WY — City Councilwoman Michelle Aldrich, Councilman Mark Moody, andCouncilman Pete Laybourn are calling for an immediate end to the 15th Street Rail Experience project, citing a lack of transparency, misplaced priorities, and a growing list of unresolved concerns.
“Simply put, this project has become a boondoggle. It was a well-intentioned but deeply flawed plan that’s costing taxpayers without delivering real results for our community,” said Aldrich.
Conceived as a downtown attraction showcasing historic railcars and infrastructure, the 15th Street Rail Experience has already consumed significant public resources. Yet, the project remains far from functional, with little evidence that it will generate the tourism or economic activity originally promised.
Key Issues Raised by the Council Members:
No Voter Mandate: “We’ve yet to see when, or if, this project was ever specifically approved by voters,” said Councilman Moody. “Before spending more public dollars, we owe it to the people of Cheyenne to hit pause and reevaluate.”
Disruption Without Return: The current plan displaces existing uses, including the Gunslingers, and proposes the removal of the historic livery stable. All of this would be done to install static train cars that aren’t even accessible to the public.
Financial Uncertainty: “There is no business plan, no maintenance budget, and no projected return on investment,” said Councilman Laybourn. “This is not how we should be managing public funds.”
Parking Impacts: Local businesses are investing their own money in downtown revitalization. Yet the project removes parking. There is a continued promise of 55 additional parking spaces in a future phase. This relies on the ability to negotiate a lease with the union Pacific Railroad at the end of 15th street.
Despite millions already spent, the project’s vision, which includes pop-up shops and restaurants, has no sustainable funding path forward. Making the train cars ADA-compliant would destroy their historic integrity, and the only confirmed outcome right now is a costly, inaccessible display.
The Council Members Propose the Following Next Steps:
Cease all funding beyond the existing federal EDA grant
Remove the project from the City Council’s 2025 goals
Seek buyers for the train cars “as is” or pursue scrapping
Remediate environmental concerns, including soil contamination on-site
Engage business owners and property investors to prioritize practical improvements, especially maximizing downtown parking and ensuring transparency around parking revenues.
“We are not opposed to honoring Cheyenne’s rich railroad heritage,” said Aldrich. “But thisproject, in its current form, is not the answer. We can and must find a more interactive, moreinclusive, and more fiscally responsible way to celebrate our past while protecting our future.”
Contact the Cheyenne City Council at allcitycouncilmembers@cheyennecity.org