Every six years, Congress passes legislation funding our federal highway system and federal transit system. This legislation is an opportunity to direct federal taxes paid by Coloradans back to our communities. For this reason, I work with the Colorado Department of Transportation, Denver Regional Council of Governments, the Regional Transportation District, cities, and counties in my district to identify eligible projects for Congress to consider for federal funding. These projects range in size and scope with the overall goal of these projects to reduce congestion, provide safer roads, and promote convenient transit. One of my top priorities is to continue fighting for funds for FasTracks. In 2004, the voters of the Denver Metro Area approved FasTracks as a long-term project to build a premier transit system to our communities. For every dollar we raise in federal assistance for FasTracks, that is one less dollar Coloradans must provide, and one less dollar RTD must cut from FasTracks service. My goal on FasTracks is to raise the amount necessary to complete FasTracks as quickly as possible and in the same concept the voters approved in 2004. In all, these projects come from across my congressional district, and if funded, will provide Coloradans a transportation system they can be proud of and use effectively.

HIGHWAY AND ROAD PROJECTS (in alphabetical order by recipient)

Project Name:  Improvements to 104th Avenue
Recipient: Adams County
Location:  104th Avenue between McKay Road and Brighton Road
Requested amount:  $10,000,000
Description:  Currently, 104th Avenue in Adams County is one lane in each direction.  As a major artery connecting the residents of northern Adams County to Denver International Airport, the existing roadway cannot safely accommodate this level of traffic.  This project would add additional lanes in each direction and provide general improvements to make this busy road safer and less congested. 

Project Name: Improvements to intersection of Indiana Street and 72nd Avenue
Recipient:  City of Arvada
Location: Intersection of Indiana Street and 72nd Avenue
Requested amount: $2,000,000
Description: The intersection of Indiana Street and 72nd Avenue in Arvada has 25,000 vehicles per day.  As these roads approach, they narrow from two to one lane in each direction.  This poses a significant safety risk.  In addition, this area of Arvada is a growing community.  Improving this intersection will provide safety and mobility benefits to thousands of Coloradans daily.

Project Name: 72nd Avenue at Union Pacific railway grade separation
Recipient: City of Arvada
Location:  72nd Avenue at Union Pacific railroad (quarter mile west of Kipling)
Requested amount: $7,200,000
Description:  72nd is a major east-west thoroughfare in Arvada.  Between 20 and 25 times daily, a Union Pacific train crosses 72nd Avenue.  For the 10,000 drivers who pass this section of road, it is a safety risk and limits commercial activity.  This project would build a bridge under which cars can safely travel and congestion would be significantly reduced.    

Project Name: 74th Avenue canal crossings
Recipient:  City of Arvada
Location: 74th Avenue and Carr Street
Requested amount:  $2,000,000
Description: Currently, the roadway and the canal bridges were built to a county standard.  Therefore the roadway and bridges lack shoulders, proper drainage, any sidewalks or bike lanes.  All users must share two 11’ travel lanes.  By constructing the two canal bridges (across Farmer’s and Croke Canals), the City will then be able to make additional improvements to the entire stretch of road and make that stretch of road less dangerous. 

Project Name: Interstate 225 widening and improvements      
Recipient: City of Aurora
Location:  Interstate 225 between Mississippi Avenue and Parker Road
Requested amount:  $90,000,000
Description:  The I-225 Corridor is an essential regional highway for people in the metro area to travel to their place of employment as well as retail and commercial services.  Major employment centers along this corridor include the Fitzsimons Campus, Aurora Mall, and Aurora municipal facilities.  Widening this section of the highway to three lanes in each direction will accommodate future growth and ease congestion in this important part of the metropolitan area.

Project Name:  Reconfiguration of Interstate 225 at Fitzsimons Campus (Phase 3)
Recipient:  City of Aurora
Location:  Interchange of Interstate 225 at Colfax Avenue and 17th Place
Requested amount:  $13,075,000
Description:  The current interchange of Interstate 225 at Colfax Avenue has a severe congestion problem which is inhibiting the Fitzsimons Campus from achieving full development in a timely manner.  The new interchange will include an off-ramp to provide drivers on I-225 a bypass at 17th Place to more conveniently arrive at Fitzsimons.  This project will stimulate growth, provide safer access for emergency medical services to the campus, and create jobs.  This phase will construct a bridge from southbound I-225 onto Fitzsimons Parkway.

Project Name:  Reconfiguration of Interstate 225 at Fitzsimons Campus (Phase 4)
Recipient:  City of Aurora
Location:  Interchange of Interstate 225 at Colfax Avenue and 17th Place
Requested amount:  $16,500,000
Description:  The current interchange of Interstate 225 at Colfax Avenue has a severe congestion problem which is inhibiting the Fitzsimons Campus from achieving full development in a timely manner.  The new interchange will include an off-ramp to provide drivers on I-225 a bypass at 17th Place to more conveniently arrive at Fitzsimons.  This project will stimulate growth, provide safer access for emergency medical services to the campus, and create jobs.  This phase will construct on-ramps to northbound 225 from 17th Place.

 

Project Name:  Improvements to 26th Avenue and Hudson Street       
Recipient:  City of Aurora
Location:  26th Avenue and Hudson Street in Aurora
Requested amount:  $5,000,000
Description:  The City of Aurora is currently developing the Aurora Center for Renewable Energy (ACRE) which is poised to become one the nation’s leading commercial centers for the research and deployment of green technologies.  However, the roads to ACRE are in some cases not even paved.  This request will fund the improvements of these streets to handle the large volume of traffic which will occur with ACRE’s growth so employees and partners can easily drive to their location.

Project Name:  Bennett park and ride facility
Recipient: City of Bennett
Location: Intersection of Interstate 70 and SH 79
Requested amount: $175,000
Description:  The Town of Bennett is seeking funds to build a park and ride facility at the interchange of Interstate 70 and SH 79.  Many residents of Bennett commute into Denver everyday.  A new facility at which those residents can commute via RTD buses will reduce the number of cars on the road, providing a safer vision and reducing emissions. 

Project Name:  Interstate 76 at SH7 and Bromley Road improvements
Recipient:  City of Brighton
Location:  Intersection of I-76 and SH7
Cost:  $15,000,000
Description:  The City of Brighton is a growing commercial community, particularly on the south and east side of town.  The existing interchange of Interstate 76 at SH 7 is poorly designed and creates tremendous traffic as a result.  The new configuration would provide better access to the Bromley Road commercial buildings and ease traffic congestion for the 20,000 drivers a day who use this interchange.

Project Name:  Tower Road improvements
Recipient:  Commerce City
Location:  Tower Road from Pena Boulevard to 104th Avenue
Requested amount:  $39,520,000
Description:  Tower Road is a major thoroughfare for Adams County residents to travel to Denver International Airport.  The existing roadway is one lane in each direction for much of the segment.  This project would fund construct additional driving lanes, improve lighting, and reconstruct the drainage system.  Such improvements will make the drive to DIA much quicker and safer for many Adams County residents.

Project Name:  Second Creek Greenway Trail construction
Recipient:  Commerce City
Location:  Second Creek Gateway Trail from Interstate 76 to Tower Road
Requested amount:  $7,085,299
Description:  The Second Creek Greenway Trail is a 40 mile loop around the northern Metro Area.  Construction of the Second Creek Trail will allow students to have an easy, off-street connection to their school across a dangerous highway from their neighborhoods and will provide recreational trails to thousands of Adams County residents.

Project Name:  Wadsworth and 6th Avenue interchange improvements
Recipient:  Colorado Department of Transportation and City of Lakewood
Location:  Interchange of 6th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard
Requested amount:  $10,000,000
Description:  The current interchange of Wadsworth Blvd. and 6th Avenue is outdated and dangerous.  The cloverleaf design does not include acceleration and deceleration lanes, which poses a significant safety risk and results in congestion. CDOT proposes to replace the existing interchange and widen Wadsworth between 4th and 14th Avenues. CDOT would also improve drainage flows of McIntyre, Lakewood, and Dry Gulches, and realign and widen these gulches, and other sound barriers.

Project Name:  Colorado School of Mines pedestrian bridge
Recipient:  Colorado School of Mines
Location:  Intersection of US 6 and 19th Street
Requested amount:  $5,000,000
Description:  US Highway 6 is a high-speed, high-volume road through Golden which separates many Colorado School of Mines students from their university.  They must cross the dangerous road at a stop light, then cross 19th Street.  Given average speed over 50 MPH, drivers frequently have trouble stopping at this light.  This project would build a pedestrian bridge over US6 and a pedestrian tunnel under 19th Street which together will safely and quickly provide students walking or biking access to class.

Project Name:  Improvements to 20th Avenue in Edgewater
Recipient:  City of Edgewater
Location:  20th Avenue from Sheridan Boulevard to Pierce Street
Requested amount:  $356,049
Description:  West 20th Avenue connects Lakewood and Edgewater residents to Sloan’s Lake Park and central Denver. The street surface currently is in poor condition.  The W. 20th avenue overlay project will roto-mill (remove) asphalt 2” in depth and overlay new asphalt. The project cost includes mobilization, traffic, erosion control and testing.

Project Name:  Improvements to 26th Avenue in Edgewater
Recipient:  City of Edgewater
Location:  20th Avenue from Sheridan Boulevard to Pierce Street
Requested amount:  $334,373
Description:  West 26th Avenue connects Lakewood and Edgewater residents to Sloan’s Lake Park and central Denver. The street surface currently is in poor condition.  The W. 20th avenue overlay project will roto-mill (remove) asphalt 2” in depth and overlay new asphalt. The project cost includes mobilization, traffic, erosion control and testing.

 

Project Name:  Improvements to 32nd Avenue
Recipient:  Jefferson County
Location:  32nd Avenue between Ford Street and McIntyre Street
Requested amount:  $4,000,000
Description: This project will improve the current road width between McIntyre Street and the Molson Coors tunnel near Ford Street by adding paved shoulders, improved striping, and realigning some roadway curves.  This is a significant improvement to the community use as it will improve traffic safety, boost multi-modal mobility and reduce car / bicyclist confrontations.  Funds will be directed specifically toward right-of-way acquisition from adjacent property owners, design, and contracted construction with Jefferson County construction management.
 

Project Name:  Reconstruction of Interstate 70 and 32nd Avenue interchange
Recipient:  City of Wheat Ridge
Location:  Intersection of Interstate 70 and 32nd Avenue
Requested amount:  $17,600,000
Description: The existing interchange of Interstate 70 and 32nd Avenue is outdated and congested.  The City of Wheat Ridge would like to reconstruct the entire interchange to provide for safer, more efficient commercial transportation.  In addition, 32nd Avenue and Youngfield Street will be widened with substantial improvement to the 32nd Avenue and Youngfield Street intersection.

 

Project Name: Improvements to Wadsworth Boulevard
Recipient:  City of Wheat Ridge
Location:  Wadsworth Boulevard from 36th Avenue to 46th Avenue
Requested amount:  $20,800,000
Description:  Wadsworth is a major north-south artery through Jefferson County.  This project will widen this highway to 6 travel lanes, provide additional turn lanes at key congested intersections, and install medians to better manage access. Also included will be improved bicycle and pedestrian connections to serve these modes of transportation, new street lighting, and improved aesthetics with the addition of streetscape improvements.

Project Name:  Reconstruction of interchange at Interstate 70 at Kipling Street
Recipient:  City of Wheat Ridge
Location:  Intersection of Interstate 70 at Kipling Street
Requested amount:  $21,600,000
Description:  This existing interchange is a hazard, particularly during icy conditions.  This project will reconstruct a high capacity interchange at I-70 and Kipling Street, provide additional turn lanes on Kipling Street to accommodate high turning traffic volumes, and reconfigure adjacent frontage roads to improve access around the new interchange.

 

TRANSIT PROJECT (in alphabetical order by recipient)

Project Name:  Colorado Association of Transit Agencies activities
Recipient: Colorado Association of Transit Agencies
Location: Statewide
Requested amount: $40,201,280
Description: CASTA is an organization consisting of most transit agencies in Colorado.  This project is a single, statewide request to benefit these agencies.  The primary purpose is the purchase of new vehicles and facilities, to be purchased or constructed by the individual agency with funding provided by this federal authorization and matched by local funds. 

Project Name:  FasTracks East Line
Recipient:  Denver Regional Transportation District
Location:  Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport
Requested amount:  $788,700,000
Description: This project is to engineer, design, acquire right-of-way and construct the East Transit Corridor, a 22.7-mile commuter rail corridor extending from Denver Union Station on the western end and providing service east to Denver International Airport.  The East Corridor is projected to carry an average of 37,900 daily passengers by 2030.  This project will help residents of my district get to and from DIA quickly and convieniently, and federal assistance will reduce the costs to Colorado taxpayers.

 

Project Name:  FasTracks Gold Line
Recipient: Denver Regional Transportation District
Location: Denver Union Station to Wheat Ridge
Requested amount: $241,800,000
Description: The project is to engineer, acquire right of way, design and construct the Gold Line Transit Corridor, a 10.8-mile commuter rail corridor extending from Denver Union Station on the southern end, extending north and west through Denver, Adams County, Arvada, and to an end-of-line in Wheat Ridge. The Gold Line is projected to carry an average of 16,800 daily riders by 2030. The Gold Corridor is also part of the FTA’s Public Private Partnership Pilot Program, and is perhaps its most successful example of effectively and responsibly leveraging private equity.  

 

Project Name:  FasTracks West Line
Recipient: Denver Regional Transportation District
Location:  Denver Union Station to the Denver Federal Center, Lakewood
Requested amount: $308,700,000
Description: This project is to complete construction of the West Corridor, a 12.1 mile light rail line with 11 stations, extending from Denver Union Station on the eastern end, providing service west through Denver, Lakewood, Jefferson County and Golden, with a major Intermodal facility at the Denver Federal Center.  The West Corridor provides enhanced connections between Downtown Denver and key activity centers such as Invesco Field at Mile High, the Federal Center, and the Lakewood City Commons/Lakewood Civic Center, Jefferson County administrative offices, Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

 

Project Name:  FasTracks North Line
Recipient: Denver Regional Transportation District
Location: Denver Union Station to Northglenn
Requested amount: $739,500,000
Description: This project is to engineer, design, and construct the North Metro Corridor, an 18.7 mile rail rapid transit corridor extending north from Denver Union Station on the southern end, through Denver, Commerce City, Thornton and Northglenn, providing service to the northern metropolitan area, including Adams County. Average daily ridership is projected to be 11,700 riders by 2030.  Federal assistance for this project will reduce completion delays and will maintain service as the voters approved in 2004.

 

Project Name:  FasTracks Northwest Line
Recipient: Denver Regional Transportation District
Location: Denver Union Station to Longmont
Requested amount: $565,500,000
Description: This project is to design, engineer, and construct the Northwest Rail Corridor, a 41-mile commuter rail corridor running from Denver Union Station (DUS) through the suburbs of the northwest Denver metropolitan area.  The corridor is projected to carry 6,900 passengers by 2035. FasTracks includes 122 miles of rail and 18 miles of Bus Rapid Transit region-wide, including the Northwest Rail, park-n-Ride expansions, improved bus service, and bicycle and pedestrian access improvements to stations.  This line will be used frequently by residents in the northern part of my congressional district. 

 

Project Name:  FasTracks US 36 Bus Rapid Transit
Recipient: Denver Regional Transportation District
Location: North I-25 HOV/HOT/BRT facility to the City of Boulder
Requested amount: $166,880,000
Description: The US 36 Corridor will bring 18 miles of Bus Rapid Transit service between Downtown Denver and Boulder along US 36.  The US 36 managed lanes project which goes through Adams and Jefferson Counties will include HOV/HOT/BRT lanes for eased congestion and the promotion of multimodal transportation.  The FasTracks transit plan includes funding for centerline BRT stations, platforms, and the transit proportional share of constructing HOV lanes. 

 

Project Name:  RTD Union Station
Recipient: Denver Regional Transportation District
Location: Denver Union Station, Downtown Denver, Colorado
Requested amount:  $256,000,000
Description:  This project is to design and construct commuter rail, light rail, and bus facility improvements at RTD’s Denver Union Station. RTD, with financial assistance from many regional partners.  The station will become the Denver region's main intermodal transportation hub and is projected to serve up to 205,800 daily transit trips. DUS will accommodate all surface modes of transit, including inter-city rail. As a transfer station for many of the FasTracks corridors, improvements must be made to Denver Union Station to accommodate this growth.

 

Project Name:  RTD Bus Replacement
Recipient: Denver Regional Transportation District
Location: Greater Metropolitan Denver Region, Colorado
Requested amount: $18,800,000
Description: This project is for replacement of buses at the end of their useful life. As identified in the Regional Transportation District’s Transit Development Plan (TDP), ongoing annual replacement of 100 of the region’s bus fleet is necessary to maintain optimal service frequencies. Replacement of buses as they reach the end of their operating life allows the RTD to continue to provide the region with reliable, efficient public transit services. 

Project Name:  RTD I-225 Corridor Light Rail
Recipient: Denver Regional Transportation District
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Requested amount: $555,900,000

Description:  This project is to design, engineer, and construct the I-225 Corridor, a key regional rail linkage between the East and Southeast Corridors that will also provide a rapid transit opportunity for suburb-to-suburb travel in the eastern metro area. The I-225 Corridor is a 10.5-mile light rail corridor extending north from the Southeast Corridor light rail terminus at I-225/Parker Road through Aurora and the Fitzsimons redevelopment area to a connection with the East Corridor at Peoria and Smith Roads.  This Light Rail line will provide access to other FasTracks lines to Aurorans as well as patients and workers at the Fitzsimons campus.