Colorado will receive over $100 million from the federal government to support transportation and water infrastructure projects around the state.
U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, both Colorado Democrats, announced last week that funding from various U.S. Department of Transportation grant programs will support 11 infrastructure projects around the state. Nearly $112 million will come to the state from grants supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
“Through investments like these, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act continue to support Colorado as we work to meet our state’s changing needs – from improving our roadways to strengthening local economies,” Bennet said in a statement. “I’m grateful that the Department of Transportation heard our calls to support many of these projects.”
Otero County received $40.5 million, the largest contribution, to install 12 passing lanes across five segments of the U.S. 50 High Plains Freight Corridor between Pueblo and the Kansas state line, a project that’s meant to significantly reduce fatalities and serious injuries to drivers.
Greeley received about $29 million to convert two intersections with U.S. 34 into “grade-separated” interchanges. It will also help fund a shared-use underpass of the highway to support trail connectivity and provide access to a regional transit station. Greeley Mayor John Gates said the funding will improve regional connectivity along the highway.
“These funds will be used – alongside local, State, and voter approved (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) funding – to construct new interchanges on US Highway 34 at 35th and 47th Avenues to reduce crashes, eliminate congestion and deliver improvements to regional air quality and equity goals,” Gates said in a statement.
U.S. House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse, a Lafayette Democrat, also announced $2.4 million in Infrastructure Law funding for water resiliency and restoration projects in the 2nd Congressional District on Friday.
“Local communities are instrumental in protecting and restoring Colorado’s rivers and streams,” Neguse said in a statement. “This important funding will support locally driven projects that enhance watershed health and resiliency, restore ecological conditions, and embody the spirit of ecological stewardship.”
Other projects that received funding include:
Mesa County received about $21 million to build ADA sidewalks, bike lanes, pedestrian bridge replacements, lighting, curb and gutter and intersection safety measures along a 1.75-mile stretch on Orchard Avenue. Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis said the funding is an “unprecedented investment” in his community. “This funding reflects the strength of collaboration between local and federal partners, and we’re excited to see the positive impact this project will have on our community,” Davis said in a statement.Pueblo received about $12 million to install electric vehicle charging stations near low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.Pitkin County received $2 million to support improvement plans for the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, looking at ways to reduce emissions, improve walking, biking and transit ridership, alleviate traffic congestion and incorporate new transportation technologies.Commerce City received $1.6 million to conduct a study on East 60th Avenue connectivity needs between Brighton Boulevard and Vasquez Boulevard. The goal of the study is to find a way to reconnect the Adams Heights Neighborhood, which is “severed from the community,” and necessary amenities like grocery stores and recreation centers because of its close proximity to rail lines, highways, and an absence of sidewalks or bike lanes.The Upper Colorado River Ecosystem Enhancement Project, which is managed by the Grand County Learning By Doing Cooperative Effort, received about $1.43 million to restore two stream reaches on the Fraser River and Willow Creek near Granby.Park County received $1.2 million to support its “Rebuilding Bailey” project, which intends to implement safety improvements along Main Street in Bailey for when emergencies and road closures occur, create pedestrian pathways and update public infrastructure.Denver received $1.2 million for its project evaluating six railroad crossings on BNSF Railway infrastructure in the city.Larimer County received about $1.2 million to plan and design multimodal safety improvements along Larimer County Road 50E.The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority received about $1 million to fund the development of a Locally Preferred Alternative for extending a VelociRFTA Bus Rapid Transit lane on State Highway 82 on a new alignment through Glenwood Springs to the Interstate 70 corridor.The Boulder Creek Headwaters Resiliency Project, led by the Boulder Watershed Collective, received $954,204 to restore the ecological condition of 181 acres of degraded aquatic and riparian habitat, as well as 2.8 miles of wet meadow streams through the Boulder Creek Watershed.Fort Collins received $765,616 that will fund a grade separated crossing at Vine and Timberline roads to reduce congestion, improve safety and system efficiency and add multimodal options.
