76-643: The Transportation Technology Center ( TTC ) is a railroad equipment testing and training facility located northeast of Pueblo, Colorado , owned by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). It was built in 1971 as the High Speed Ground Test Center ( HSGTC ) for the Department of Transportation (DOT) and its original purpose was to test several hovertrain concepts. When those projects were completed in
152-409: A Semi-arid climate ( Köppen BSk ), with four distinct seasons. Winter days are usually mild, but the high does not surpass freezing on an average 14.4 days per year, and lows fall to 0 °F (−18 °C) or below on 6.2 nights. Snowfall usually falls in light amounts, and rarely remains on the ground for long (typically, for one or two days). January is the snowiest month, and the seasonal average
228-831: A Prototype Tracked Air Cushion Vehicle (PTACV), and construction of an inverted-T guideway began in May 1973. However, the high-speed aspect of rail transportation began to be de-emphasized and the HSGTC was renamed to the Transportation Test Center (TTC) in December 1974 to reflect its new mission. A contract was let in 1972 to begin grading the route for the Railroad Test Track (RTT), a planned 14 mi (23 km) high-speed loop operating conventional rail vehicles up to 160 mph (260 km/h); within
304-468: A capacity of 156 megawatts of power—enough to supply 31,000 homes. The project will be run by SunEdison , with a power purchase agreement signed by Xcel Energy . A number of scientific studies now list Pueblo as the state's primary locale for solar energy development and the premier setting for solar companies to locate, placing it ahead of regional rivals such as Boulder, Colorado and Taos, New Mexico. In February 2017, Pueblo City Council voted to commit
380-529: A century the CF&;I was the largest employer in the state of Colorado. The steel-market crash of 1982 led to the decline of the company. After several bankruptcies, the company was acquired by Oregon Steel Mills and changed its name to Rocky Mountain Steel Mills. The buyout, as well as the end of the union contract in 1997 led to a union strike over pension liabilities, as well as working conditions, wherein
456-678: A ceremony and ridealong by Secretary Volpe in the LIMRV. Although the FRA retained overall management of the facility, other government agencies were encouraged to participate, and the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) constructed the Rapid Transit Test Track (TTT) onsite to test transit cars; the initial 2.4 mi (3.9 km) segment of a planned 9.1 mi (14.6 km) oval
532-486: A contiguous site, and under the terms of the lease, the cost was $ 10 and had two renewal options. Grading, soil stabilization, and storm drain construction began that August. Access was initially provided by a county-owned gravel road, extended by 6 mi (9.7 km); later, a 19 mi long (31 km) paved road was built from the Pueblo Memorial Airport . The first extension has been exercised and
608-665: A day; one early conclusion was that steel railroad ties were impractical, as they began to crack after bearing 26 million gross tons of freight. In June 1985, a cut-off track was completed, shortening the FAST loop from 4.78 to 2.72 mi (7.69 to 4.38 km), its present length; the shortened loop was renamed the High Tonnage Loop (HTL). Typically, TTC operated 100-ton cars over the HTL, so named for their loading capacity; with an empty car weight of 31.5 short tons (28.6 t),
684-406: A major transportation message to the U.S. Congress . It called for the establishment of a program of federal capital assistance for mass transportation. President Kennedy stated, "To conserve and enhance values in existing urban areas is essential. But at least as important are steps to promote economic efficiency and livability in areas of future development. Our national welfare therefore requires
760-541: A world record for rail vehicle speed at HSGTC on August 14, 1974, 255.4 mph (411.0 km/h). The site had cost $ 55 million to construct to-date, and plans were advancing to continue research on hovertrains . Meanwhile, the first 1.5 mi (2.4 km) segment of TACRV guideway was completed in March 1973, and a second segment of equal length was completed in November 1973. The UTACV program selected Rohr to build
836-523: Is 28.3 inches (72 cm); however, snow is uncommon in October, and in May or September, snow is exceedingly rare, with an average first and last date of measurable (≥0.1 in or 0.25 cm) snowfall being November 4 and April 9, respectively. Summers are hot and dry, with 90 °F (32 °C) or greater highs are on average seen 71.6 days per year, with 100 °F (38 °C) or greater on 12.0 days. Diurnal temperature ranges are large throughout
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#1732780536180912-801: Is Colorado State Hospital. The hospital is the preeminent mental health facility in the Rocky Mountain region. Established in 1879 as the Colorado State Insane Asylum, it was renamed as the Colorado State Hospital in 1917. In 1991, the name was changed to the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo (CMHIP). The Robert L. Hawkins High Security Forensic Institute opened in June 2009 and is a 200-bed, high-security facility. Pueblo
988-595: Is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Pueblo County , Colorado , United States. The city population was 111,876 at the 2020 United States Census , making Pueblo the ninth most populous city in Colorado. Pueblo is the principal city of the Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and a major city of the Front Range Urban Corridor . Pueblo
1064-641: Is home to Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo), a regional comprehensive university. It is part of the Colorado State University System (CSU System), with about 4,500 students. On May 8, 2007, CSU Pueblo received approval from the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System to bring back football as a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference . The first game was played in
1140-636: Is included in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is currently represented by Republican Lauren Boebert . Pueblo is also included in the 3rd District of the Colorado State Senate, currently represented by Democrat Nick Hinrichsen , and districts 46 and 62 of the Colorado State House, currently represented by Democrats Tisha Mauro and Matthew Martinez . The Pueblo Police Department
1216-610: Is led by Chief Chris Noeller Per capita, the crime rate in Pueblo is higher than the national average for a city of the same size and does not take into account the surrounding unincorporated cumulative population of 176,529. In 2016, the FBI's Uniform Crime Report listed Pueblo's major reported crimes stats as: 1,081 violent crime, murders 9, rape 171, robbery 224, aggravated assault 677, property crimes (all) 7,473, burglary 1,797, larceny 4,505, motor vehicle theft (all) 1,171, arson 49. Pueblo
1292-886: Is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT . Headed by an Administrator who is appointed by the President of the United States , the FTA functions through Washington, D.C. headquarters office and ten regional offices which assist transit agencies in all states, the District of Columbia , and the territories. Until 1991, it was known as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration ( UMTA ). Public transportation includes buses , subways , light rail , commuter rail , monorail , passenger ferry boats, trolleys , inclined railways , and people movers . The federal government, through
1368-642: Is situated at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek , 112 miles (180 km) south of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver . The area is considered semi-arid desert land, with approximately 12 inches (304.80 mm) of precipitation annually. With its location in the " Banana Belt ", Pueblo tends to get less snow than the other major cities in Colorado. Pueblo is one of
1444-576: Is the hometown of four Medal of Honor recipients (tied only with Holland, Michigan , also with four, each having more than any other municipality in the United States): William J. Crawford , Carl L. Sitter , Raymond G. Murphy , and Drew D. Dix . President Dwight D. Eisenhower , upon presenting Raymond G. "Jerry" Murphy with his medal in 1953, commented, "What is it... something in the water out there in Pueblo? All you guys turn out to be heroes!" In 1993, Pueblo City Council adopted
1520-938: The Central Wildcats and the Centennial Bulldogs in what is touted as the oldest football rivalry west of the Mississippi River. In 2008, Professional Bull Riders (PBR) moved its corporate headquarters to Pueblo. This became the site of their world headquarters based at the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk located bordering the Union Avenue Historic Commercial District . In 2014, the Colorado State University Pueblo ThunderWolves won
1596-755: The Mexican–American War . Pueblo is 100 miles (160 km) south of Denver and is on the front range of the Rocky Mountains . Pueblo sits on the western edge of the Great Plains in a high desert area of terrain in southern Colorado and is near the western edge of the Southwestern Tablelands ecology region. According to the 2020 United States Census , the city had a total area of 35,893 acres (145.254 km ), including 448 acres (1.815 km ) of water. Pueblo has
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#17327805361801672-749: The NCAA Division II Football Championship , a first national title for the football program. In 2019, the Pueblo Bulls junior ice hockey team in the United States Premier Hockey League , began play out of the Pueblo Ice Arena. Pueblo is a state-chartered municipal corporation, previously governed by its city council without the office of mayor and administered by a city manager. In 2017 voters passed Question 2A changing
1748-793: The Northeast Corridor Transportation Project (1964) and the High Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965 , which created the Office of High Speed Ground Transportation (OHSGT). OHSGT was absorbed by the FRA, part of the DOT, following that agency's creation in 1967. At the time, OHSGT, whose charter was to research and develop high speed rail transit, was investigating the use of magnetic or air cushion levitation of rail vehicles, but there were no suitable test sites. The 1968 amendment to
1824-654: The Tracked Air Cushion Research Vehicle (TACRV). In addition, preliminary design work continued for the Suspended Vehicle System (SVS) and the Tube Vehicle System (TVS); SVS was designed to take advantage of existing rights-of-way and be capable of greater roll angles (and higher speeds), and TVS was expected to operate in all weather conditions at speeds up to 500 mph (800 km/h). The TACRV program
1900-500: The 1970s, the site was handed to the FRA. Since October 2022, operations at the TTC have been managed by ENSCO under a " indefinite duration, indefinite quantity " (IDIQ) contract establishing responsibility for research and development, testing, engineering, and training services at the TTC. Two United States Department of Commerce initiatives are credited with the genesis of the HSGTC:
1976-670: The Center Services Building (CSB) began in 1973, and design of an Operations building also started that year to relieve overcrowding in the PMB. The RDL was completed and occupied by April 1974, but the simulator had not yet been installed; multiple issues with development led to the simulator being redesigned to a double-ended vertical shaker and separate rolling unit without vibration. The CSB and Ops building were completed in January and August 1975, respectively. The LIMRV set
2052-678: The City of Pueblo between March 9 and April 6, 1886. Bessemer joined Pueblo in 1894. The consolidated city became a major economic and social center of Colorado, and was home to important early Colorado families such as the Thatchers, the Ormans , and the Adams. By the early 1870s the city was being hailed as a beacon of development, with newspapers like the Chicago Tribune boasting of how
2128-505: The FTA, provides financial assistance to develop new transit systems and improve, maintain, and operate existing systems. The FTA oversees grants to state and local transit providers, primarily through its ten regional offices. These providers are responsible for managing their programs in accordance with federal requirements, and the FTA is responsible for ensuring that grantees follow federal mandates along with statutory and administrative requirements. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy sent
2204-748: The HSGTC period: In addition to the test tracks, there are several buildings at the site. In addition to its test tracks and laboratories, TTC also operates several locomotives, including: Similar to DOT 004, DOT 005 and 006 also were ex-UP EMD GP9s (No. 147 and 162, respectively) that were sold to Precision National in 1979 and rebuilt for the Department of Transportation. [REDACTED] Media related to Transportation Technology Center at Wikimedia Commons 38°26′04″N 104°17′06″W / 38.43444°N 104.28500°W / 38.43444; -104.28500 Pueblo, Colorado Pueblo ( / ˈ p w ɛ b l oʊ / PWEB -loh )
2280-635: The High Speed Ground Transportation Act authorized the Secretary of Transportation to acquire a test site. A proposed test site was investigated at the former Lowry Air Force Base near Denver, Colorado , but abandoned as the terrain was too rough; further site evaluation led the United States Secretary of Transportation to select the site for HSGTC near Pueblo in December 1969. The Pueblo site offered
2356-522: The Mississippi River. Until a series of major floods culminated in the Great Flood of 1921, Pueblo was considered the 'Saddle-Making capital of the World'. Roughly one-third of Pueblo's downtown businesses were lost in this flood, along with a substantial number of buildings. Pueblo struggled with this significant loss, but has had a resurgence in growth. Historically, many people were influenced by
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2432-767: The Program Management Building (PMB) was the first permanent structure to be completed, housing administrative personnel, designed by Bertrum Bruton Associates (of Denver); the PMB was completed and occupied in February 1972. The East Auto Overpass was completed in July 1972, spanning the LIMRV test track. The Rail Dynamics Laboratory (RDL), the first laboratory building onsite, was designed by Wyle Laboratories in 1970 and construction began in July 1972, by Houston Construction/Wilkins Construction. A well and water storage tank were completed in January 1973. Work on
2508-651: The Pueblo Railway Museum. The R42 cars were designated Test Car T-2 and T-3. The TTT was dedicated on October 12, 1972, during a ceremony that also included the unveiling of the State-of-the-Art Car (SOAC); the principal speaker was Secretary Volpe. By 1972, plans to complete the LIMRV test track oval had been dropped, although a similarly sized oval would be built for the TACRV guideway, and plans for an 11 mi (18 km) oval guideway for
2584-704: The TTC received its most recent name change to the Transportation Technology Center, reflecting "a major consolidation of activities and broadening of functions conducted at TTC". Operations and maintenance (O&M) of the site typically has been supported by a contractor since the first permanent buildings were completed; a request for proposals was issued in Fiscal Year 1971, soliciting bids for an operations contractor, which would support test contractors, provide test track maintenance, and housekeeping services. The first O&M contractor
2660-622: The UTACV had been added. In addition to SOAC testing, other early tests conducted at HSGTC included the evaluation of the US Standard Light Rail Vehicle (US SLRV). TTT initially offered testing with an electrified third rail; overhead catenary wire was added to TTT in summer 1975 to test the US ;SLRV. Temporary site headquarters and personnel offices initially were set up in five trailers to support early testing;
2736-422: The advantage of varied weather conditions, with average mean temperatures ranging from 14 to 92 °F (−10 to 33 °C) and annual precipitation of 11.84 in (301 mm), including 31.7 in (810 mm) of snow. Minimum site dimensions were dictated by the distance and geometry required for the high-speed trains under development to reach their top speeds of 250 to 300 mph (400 to 480 km/h);
2812-405: The age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city, 25.1% of the population was under
2888-458: The age of 18, 10.3% was from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 29,650, and the median income for a family was $ 35,620. Males had a median income of $ 29,702 versus $ 22,197 for females. The per capita income for
2964-612: The area at the turn of the century and remain to the present time. The convergence of cultures led to a cosmopolitan character to the city that resulted in a number of ethnically rooted neighborhoods that are typically not seen west of the Mississippi. Respective cultural groups maintain cultural festivals to the present, with the city being home to locations of the Order Sons of Italy , American Slovenian Catholic Union , and I.O.O.F. , among others. Another major employer in Pueblo
3040-406: The city charter to a strong-mayor form of city government known as "Mayor-Council Government". Only two other cities in the state of Colorado use the strong-mayor form of government, Denver and Colorado Springs. In 2018 an election was held for mayor for the first time in over sixty years, due to none of the sixteen candidates getting more than fifty percent of the vote, a runoff was required to decide
3116-465: The city to 100% renewable energy ("Ready for 100%") by 2035, with the city's electric franchisee, Black Hills Energy , expected to ramp up its renewable energy portfolio from 29% to 65%. Pueblo County commissioners joined the renewable commitment in April 2018. For several years, Pueblo's Energy Future has been pushing the city to become a municipal electric provider . Among the claimed advantages for
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3192-752: The city was $ 16,026. About 13.9% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over. Pueblo is the home of the Federal Citizen Information Center , operated by the General Services Administration , and its Consumer Information Catalog. For over 30 years, public service announcements invited Americans to write for information at "Pueblo, Colorado, 81009". In recent times GSA has incorporated Pueblo into FCIC's toll-free telephone number . Vestas Wind Systems constructed
3268-490: The company paid them the back pay owed for the seven years they were on strike. In 2007, shortly after Oregon Steel made amends with the union and its workers, Evraz Group , one of Russia's biggest steel producers, agreed to buy the company for $ 2.3 billion. Of the many production and fabrication mills that once existed on the site, only the steel production (electric furnaces, used for scrap recycling), rail, rod, bar, and seamless tube mills are still in operation. The wire mill
3344-402: The contract on January 1, 1998 and the contract has been renewed periodically as a single-source award since then. In March 2021, the FRA awarded the "care, custody, and control" contract to ENSCO , who assumed responsibility for operations and maintenance of TTC in October 2022. In addition, ENSCO will expand the use of TTC to support more general ground transportation research. The former TTCI
3420-539: The employment that it offered, Pueblo in the early twentieth century attracted a large number of immigrant laborers. The groups represented led to Pueblo becoming the most ethnically and culturally diverse city in Colorado and the West. At one point, more than 40 languages were spoken in the steel mill and more than two-dozen foreign language newspapers were published in the city. Irish , Italian , German , Slovenian , Greek , Jewish , Lithuanian , Russian , Hungarian , Japanese , and African-American groups arrived in
3496-438: The fall of 2008 at the ThunderBowl, a stadium at CSU Pueblo for over 12,000 spectators. In 2014, the football team won the NCAA Division II Football Championship . Urban Mass Transportation Administration The Federal Transit Administration ( FTA ) is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transportation systems. The FTA
3572-408: The high-speed loop, a Dynamics Track sub-loop 9.9 mi (15.9 km) long would investigate passenger and freight train dynamics at slower speeds. The first portions of RTT completed were the Impact Track, 0.76 mi (1.22 km) long, and a segment of the Dynamics Track, which totaled 5.7 mi (9.2 km) long at full build. Work on the high-speed loop was started in 1975. A static facility
3648-537: The largest (nearly 700,000 square feet) wind turbine tower manufacturing plant in the world at Pueblo's industrial park. It sold the facility to CS Wind in 2021. Renewable Energy Systems Americas broke ground on the Comanche Solar Project seven miles south of Pueblo in 2015. When complete, it will be the largest solar energy farm east of the Rocky Mountains, and its backers say the project will produce electricity more cheaply than natural gas . The project will cover 1,000 acres with 500,000 solar panels, providing
3724-427: The largest steel-producing cities in the United States, for which reason Pueblo is referred to as the " Steel City ". The Historic Arkansas River Project (HARP) is a riverwalk in the Union Avenue Historic Commercial District , and shows the history of the devastating Pueblo Flood of 1921. James Beckwourth , George Simpson, and other trappers such as Mathew Kinkead and John Brown , claimed to have helped construct
3800-507: The late summer, and the largest parade, the state fair parade, as well as an annual Chile & Frijoles Festival. Pueblo is the hometown of Dutch Clark , the first man from Colorado inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame . The primary football stadium belonging to Pueblo School District 60 is named for him. Two long-standing high school rivalries are played annually at this stadium. The Bell Game has been played annually since 1892 between
3876-412: The lease has been extended through August 22, 2070. The first track to be started onsite was an initial 6 mi (9.7 km) segment of the planned Linear Induction Motor Research Vehicle (LIMRV) test track, built by Morrison-Knudsen ; it was anticipated that the initial segment would later be extended to a full 21.8 mi long (35.1 km) oval and a parallel oval guideway would be completed for
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#17327805361803952-414: The minimum specified radius of curvature was 2.5 mi (4.0 km), making the planned test track/guideway oval approximately 5 mi × 8 mi (8.0 km × 12.9 km). Secretary John A. Volpe officially designated the site in January 1970; a 50-year lease was signed by the DOT and the State of Colorado on August 22, 1970. The state land board acquired several small parcels to assemble
4028-423: The move toward independence: lower cost to the consumer, increased reliability and the opportunity to move more aggressively toward renewable energy development. At one time, an August 2020 "divorce" seemed possible. According to Pueblo's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Pueblo is the home to Colorado's largest single event, the Colorado State Fair , held annually in
4104-428: The orphanages in Pueblo are no longer in service, the buildings still exist and have transformed with the times. According to the Rocky Mountain News , in 1988 the Sacred Heart Orphanage was bought by the Pueblo Housing Authority and turned into 40 small-family housing units. The main industry in Pueblo for most of its history was the Colorado Fuel and Iron (CF&I) Steel Mill on the south side of town. For nearly
4180-455: The orphanages of Pueblo, and the homes are now all historical sites. The three orphanages in Pueblo were known as Sacred Heart, Lincoln, and McClelland. Lincoln was the first historically black orphanage in Colorado, and one of only seven in the country. Sacred Heart was run by the Catholic Welfare Bureau, while McClelland was run by the Lutheran Church. Several children from Cuba were placed at Sacred Heart as part of " Operation Pedro Pan ". Though
4256-410: The plant's west boundary. Several of the administration buildings, including the main office building, dispensary, and tunnel gatehouse were purchased in 2003 by the Bessemer Historical Society . In 2006, they underwent renovation. In addition to housing the historic CF&I Archives, they also house the Steelworks Museum of Industry and Culture . Due to the growth of the CF&I steel mill and
4332-454: The plaza that became known as El Pueblo around 1842. According to accounts of residents who traded at the plaza (including that of George Simpson), the Fort Pueblo Massacre happened sometime between December 23 and 25, 1854, by a war party of Utes and Jicarilla Apaches under the leadership of Tierra Blanca, a Ute chief. They allegedly killed between fifteen and nineteen men, as well as captured two children and one woman. The trading post
4408-584: The population. As of the census of 2000, there were 102,121 people, 40,307 households, and 26,118 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,265.5 inhabitants per square mile (874.7/km ). There were 43,121 housing units at an average density of 956.6 units per square mile (369.3 units/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 56.21% White , 2.41% African American , 1.73% Native American , 0.67% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 15.20% from other races , and 3.71% from two or more races. Residents of Hispanic or Latino ancestry made up 44.13% of
4484-435: The population. 10.1% were of German , 8.1% Italian , 6.0% American, 5.5% English and 5.4% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000 . According to the 2005 Census estimates, the city had grown to an estimated population of 104,951 and had become the ninth most populous city in the state of Colorado and the 245th most populous city in the United States. There were 40,307 households, out of which 29.8% had children under
4560-406: The provision of good urban transportation, with the properly balanced use of private vehicles and modern mass transport to help shape as well as serve urban growth." President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 into law, which passed the House by a vote of 212-129 and cleared the Senate 52–41, creating the Urban Mass Transportation Administration . The agency
4636-424: The region's lawless reputation was giving way to orderly agriculture with triumphalist rhetoric. One author crowed of Pueblo that "the necessity exists no longer for Sharp's rifles and revolvers. These have been [supplanted] by the plow and the mowing-machine." Pueblo's development stretched beyond agriculture. Steel emerged as a key industry very early, and in 1909 the city was considered the only steel town west of
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#17327805361804712-475: The runoff, Graham defeated Gradisar and was sworn in as mayor on February 1, 2024. The deputy mayor is selected by the mayor and must be confirmed by a vote of the city council, the deputy mayor serves a term of one year. According to the city charter, the deputy mayor must be a city department head. The city council is elected by the residents of the city. There are seven council seats, four of which are elected by district, and three elected at-large. Pueblo
4788-417: The tagline "Home of Heroes" for the city due to the fact that Pueblo can claim more recipients of the Medal per capita than any other city in the United States. On July 1, 1993, the Congressional Record recognized Pueblo as the "Home of Heroes." A memorial to the recipients of the medal is at the Pueblo Convention Center. From 1846 to 1847 three detachments of the Mormon Battalion wintered in Pueblo during
4864-424: The total weight of 131.5 short tons (119.3 t) translates to a per-axle load of 33 short tons (30 t). In 1988, 125-ton cars were added to consists, better reflecting actual loads and capacities in the United States. The 125-ton car has a tare weight of 33 short tons (30 t) and an axle load of 39 short tons (35 t). This change was implemented as the Heavy Axle Load (HAL) program. In Fiscal Year 1995,
4940-424: The union argued the new owners still needed to pay the pension liabilities provided by the previous owners. With the conclusion of the strike on December 30, 1997, CF&I had replaced several hundred union workers with local employees. In September 2004, both United Steelworkers locals 2102 and 3267 won the strike and the unfair labor practice charges. All of the striking steel workers returned to their jobs, and
5016-407: The winner. In January 2019 attorney Nicholas Gradisar faced former Pueblo City Council President Steve Nawrocki, Gradisar prevailed and was sworn in as mayor on the first of February for a term of five years, with all subsequent mayoral terms being four years and a maximum of two consecutive terms. Gradisar ran for re-election in 2023 and faced a runoff against Heather Graham in January 2024. In
5092-422: The year, averaging 32.5 °F (18.1 °C). Precipitation is generally low, with the winter months receiving very little. Sunshine is abundant throughout the year, with an annual total of nearly 3,470 hours, or 78% of the possible total. Pueblo is considered a high desert climate, and sits on the desert lands in southern Colorado between Pueblo and the Royal Gorge . The hottest temperature recorded in Pueblo
5168-448: Was 109 °F (42.8 °C) on July 13, 2003, while the coldest temperature recorded was −31 °F (−35.0 °C) on February 1, 1951. See or edit raw graph data . As of the 2010 census , the population of Pueblo was 106,544 ( 259th most populous U.S. city ), the population of the Pueblo Metropolitan Statistical Area was 159,063 ( 190th most populous MSA ), the population of the Pueblo–Cañon City, CO Combined Statistical Area
5244-486: Was 205,887, the population of the South Central Colorado Urban Area was 851,500, and the population of the Front Range Urban Corridor in Colorado was an estimated 4,166,855. In 2010, the racial makeup of the city was: 75.2% White, 2.5% Black or African American, 2.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 4.1% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) were 49.8% and Non-Hispanic Whites were 45.2% of
5320-433: Was Kentron-Hawaii, Ltd., starting from July 1972. Dynelectron won a competitive re-bid for the O&M contract in 1976. Due to reduced funding that threatened to close the facility, the FRA entered a public-private partnership with AAR in October 1982, who would take over "care, custody, and control" of TTC. AAR consolidated its Research & Test Department at TTC from 1995 to 1997 and formed its TTCI subsidiary to administer
5396-399: Was abandoned after the raid, but it became important again between 1858 and 1859 during the Colorado Gold Rush of 1859 . The current city of Pueblo represents the consolidation of four towns: Pueblo (incorporated 1870), South Pueblo (incorporated 1873), Central Pueblo (incorporated 1882), and Bessemer (incorporated 1886). Pueblo, South Pueblo, and Central Pueblo legally consolidated as
5472-684: Was added to test tank car thermal insulation, named the Tank Car Torch Test Facility. The Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST) is a dedicated facility to study wear and fatigue of railroad track; it first was recommended in September 1975. Tracks were laid for FAST within the RTT loop at TTC starting in spring 1976 and the first train began operating over the FAST loop on September 22, 1976. Trains operated at relatively low speeds up to 35 mph (56 km/h) for 16 hours
5548-484: Was planned to be further developed into an Urban Tracked Air Cushion Vehicle (UTACV), with two separate designs by Vought (using a U-Channel guideway) and Rohr, Inc. (using an inverted-T guideway) operating at speeds up to 150 mph (240 km/h). The initial segment of the LIMRV Test Track and a temporary Maintenance Shed were completed in April 1971; the HSGTC was dedicated on May 19, 1971, marked by
5624-444: Was sold in the late 1990s to Davis Wire, which still produces products such as fence and nails under the CF&I brand name. The facility operated blast furnaces until 1982, when the steel market collapsed. The main blast furnace structures were torn down in 1989, but due to asbestos content, many of the adjacent stoves still remain. The stoves and foundations for some of the furnaces can be seen from Interstate 25, which runs parallel to
5700-513: Was started in March 1971 and completed in August by Morrison-Knudsen. The remaining 6.7 miles (10.8 km) were completed in September 1972 and checked on September 8 using locomotive DOTX 001 and two NYCTA R42 subway cars . DOTX 001 was a 3,000 hp (2,200 kW) GE U30C locomotive, the first rolling stock purchased for the HSGTC in FY1971. It is now retired and in the collection of
5776-691: Was subsequently renamed as MxV Rail in March 2022. The Transportation Technology Center occupies a 30,000-acre (12,000 ha) site northeast of Pueblo, Colorado and just north of the US Army 's Pueblo Chemical Depot . The site has laboratories and approximately 48 miles (77 km) of railroad track used to test locomotives, vehicles, track components, and signaling devices. The tracks are designed to replicate conditions seen on service environments, varying from precisely engineered high-speed tracks to track intentionally designed with irregularities. In addition, there are two leftover guideways constructed during
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