Dozens of transportation projects across Colorado are set to receive more than $42 million in grants, Gov. Jared Polis announced Thursday.
The federal funds will support projects in 37 communities across the state, starting next year through 2026. The projects that received the grants range from replacing aging road infrastructure to building bike lanes to adding lighting and trees around sidewalks.
“Investing in roads and transport saves people time and money, helps communities, our economy and reduces pollution,” Polis said. “I look forward to the future of these 37 important projects that will create jobs and benefit communities in Colorado.”
The money comes from the federal bipartisan Infrastructure Act, a $1 trillion policy package passed in 2021 to rebuild transportation infrastructure, among other goals.
The Colorado Department of Transportation allocated the funds through the state’s Transportation Alternatives program, supporting projects that improve travel options, safety, the local economy and the environment.
“These grants will help make dozens of Colorado communities more vibrant by making it easier to get around,” said Shoshana Lew, executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation. “By providing more choices and options, and ensuring that those options are of high quality, we’re bringing significant improvements to these spaces.”
Northeast Colorado receives the lion’s share of funds, with $11.8 million of the $42 million earmarked for projects in the region. The Denver metro area is next with $10.7 million, followed by West/Northwest with $8.9 million, Southeast with $7 million, and Southwest with $3.7 million.
The most expensive projects are the Sanderson Gulch Trail in Denver and the LaPorte Corridor in Fort Collins, receiving $2.5 million each. The Sanderson Gulch Trail project will construct a new underpass at Florida Avenue and widen the existing trail. The LaPorte Corridor project will add bicycle and pedestrian improvements between Fishback Avenue and Sunset Street.
Other costly items include improving multimodal connections along West 120th Avenue in Broomfield ($2.34 million); improving transit and bike lanes along US Highway 6 in Grand Junction ($2.3 million); construction of the last Fall River Trail at Estes Park ($2.3 million); and construction of the last Eagle Valley Trail in Eagle County ($2 million).
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The other projects are as follows, broken down by region:
Denver Metro Area
- I-70 Trail Geologic Point of Interest, Jefferson County – $1,804,000
- Ford Street Corridor, Golden – $1,200,000
- Northeast Trails to Transit Connectivity Project, Denver – $1,150,000
- Peaks to Plains Trail Upgrades, Wheat Ridge – $951,709
- US 285 Mary Carter Greenway Underpass, Sheridan – $752,000
Southeast Colorado
- South Lamar Sidewalk Improvements, Lamar – $1,948,752
- Purcell Trail Phases One and Two, Pueblo West – $1,354,486
- US 50 Cañon City Pedestrian Improvements – $748,234
- Colorado Avenue Improvement Project, Colorado Springs – $720,000
- Westcliffe improvements phase two, Westcliffe — $544,000
- 3rd Street Connector, Cañon City – $540,000
- Creek Walk Trail Serpentine at Rainbow Falls, Manitou Springs – $427,500
- Oak Street Bike Path, La Veta – $360,720
- Multimodal wayfinding signage along CO 12, South Central Council of Governments — $356,930
Western/Northwestern Colorado
- 38 County Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements, Mesa County – $1,882,355
- Brown Ranch Pedestrian and Bicycle Connection, Steamboat Springs – $1,300,000
- I-70 Interchange Pedestrian and Bicycle Overpass, Silt – $904,000
- Miners Trail, Delta County – $550,000
Northeastern Colorado
- CO 119 Commuter Bike Path, Boulder County – $1,679,217
- Keenesburg Market Street Improvements, Keenesburg – $1,013,140
- Extension of buses and bike path on Coffman Street, Longmont — $1,000,000
- US 36 multi-purpose lane phase one, Boulder – $936,000
- Milliken curb and ADA compliance, Milliken – $802,165
- Sidewalks Main Street and US 24 North, Limon – $594,205
- CO 86 Drainage and Sidewalk Project, Kiowa — $500,000
- Cheyenne Wells Phase One and Two Pedestrian Improvements, Cheyenne Wells – $500,000
Southwestern Colorado
- CO 291 Northwest Gate, Salida — $924,506
- San Miguel Connector Trail, San Miguel County – $739,605
- ADA Improvements on US Trade Route 160, Mancos – $739,605
- Grand Avenue Revitalization Project, Del Norte — $739,605
- Blair Street Revitalization Project, Silverton — $554,704
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