Colorado Department of Transportation Awards $17.3 Million in Grants to Improve Air Quality and Multimodal Access

Strategic Insights -

Twenty grant applications were submitted through CDOT's Nonattainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Enterprise's Community Clean Transportation Assistance Program, and after a rigorous review process, 11 projects received funding. The grants aim to improve air quality by addressing the impacts of auto emissions in the nine-county Denver and North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment Area, where ozone levels exceed federal standards. The selected projects will enhance multimodal access, promote active transportation options, and increase safety and connectivity through infrastructure upgrades and strategic mobility hubs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Colorado Department of Transportation's Nonattainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Enterprise (NAAPME) awarded $17.3 million in grants to 11 projects through its Community Clean Transportation Assistance Program (CCTAP).
  • The grants will improve air quality by addressing the impacts of auto emissions in the nine-county Denver and North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment Area, where ozone levels exceed federal standards.
  • The selected projects aim to enhance multimodal access, promote active transportation options like biking and walking, and increase safety and connectivity through infrastructure upgrades and strategic mobility hubs.
  • The grants will benefit disproportionately impacted communities, ensuring the benefits of clean transportation reach those most affected by air pollution.
  • The awarded projects include the establishment of mobility hubs, intersection improvements, and the creation of multimodal trails, among others.
  • Victoria Leonhardt, senior urban transportation planner for the City of Greeley, stated that the Greeley Connected: Mobility Hubs Project will improve access, reduce emissions, and support a stronger local economy by connecting people to more options, whether they walk, bike, ride transit, or drive electric.
  • Darius Pakbaz, NAAPME Program Administrator, stated that the program is vital in the commitment to improving air quality and mitigating the impact of motor vehicle emissions, and that the selected projects represent a significant step forward in creating a cleaner, healthier Colorado.

Statistics:

  • $17.3 million: Total funding awarded to 11 projects through the NAAPME's CCTAP grant program.
  • 20: Number of grant applications submitted through the program.
  • 11: Number of projects selected to receive funding through the program.
  • 9: Number of counties in the Denver and North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment Area.
  • 2028: Year in which the City of Loveland aims to deliver transportation improvements that will reduce congestion, expand access to active modes of travel, and contribute to better air quality for the entire Front Range community.

Sources:

  • "Community Clean Transportation Assistance Grant Funding Program" - Colorado Department of Transportation, codot.gov/programs/naapme/naapme-community-clean-transportation-assistance-grant-funding-program
  • Quote from Victoria Leonhardt, senior urban transportation planner for the City of Greeley
  • Quote from Darius Pakbaz, NAAPME Program Administrator