The Colorado Department of Transportation continues to award Revitalizing Main Streets grants to help communities improve their roadways and community infrastructure, supporting strong economic activity and public safety. The Revitalizing Main Streets grant program began last summer in an effort to mitigate the negative economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis. The continuation and expansion of this program was made possible through a $30 million allocation from the state legislature in March 2021 and those funds are currently available for local government competition, with significant anticipated demand. Importantly, the passage of SB-260 would further extend this highly successful program beyond the current grant cycle.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to support our community and attract even more business to our fun downtown areas through creative and practical transportation-related safety projects,” said Governor Jared Polis. “As we recover from the pandemic and work to build back Colorado even stronger, this investment will create meaningful and lasting improvements along our beloved main streets.”
Since the program’s inception, 84 projects have been awarded from the program’s original set of funding and an additional six projects have now been awarded from the $30 million in stimulus funding announced on March 19 — bringing the total Revitalizing Main Streets grant awards to 90 projects statewide and growing. Awarded projects span the entire state, from Denver and Boulder to Hugo and Limon to Frisco and Rifle.
“Expanding this program helps communities of all sizes across the state of Colorado implement projects catered toward all modes of transportation to enhance safety, improve the local environment, and support economic vitality,” said said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “These partnerships between CDOT and local governments are vital as we work together to help downtown areas stay dynamic and vibrant.”
Recipients agree:
“The City of Aspen values the regional partnerships and funding for the project. The Paepcke Transit Hub project will improve the safety for all user groups while promoting pedestrian, cyclist, and transit movements throughout the existing corridor,” said Paepcke Transit Hub Project Manager, Mike Horvath, P.E. “Multimodal improvements will increase pedestrian connectivity, cycling infrastructure, and access to the regional transit service. The project will also upgrade access to bike and car share services as well as the electrification of these services. The project will address the needs of today’s users while increasing the use of multimodal transit options well into the future.”
The six new projects awarded from the $30 million in stimulus funding are:
City of Aspen – Award | $149,999.00
Project: Support the Paepcke Transit Hub with EV charging stations, public bike parking, and improved pedestrian crossings.
Town of Poncha Springs – Award | $135,000.00
Project: Construction and integration of the first pedestrian highway crossing across US 50 with a pedestrian refuge island so individuals can more easily cross the highway. The project would provide increased pedestrian mobility by creating a safe multi-modal connection between existing residential neighborhoods and newly established commercial developments.
City of Gunnison – Award | $149,999.00
Project: Support a project to realign and reconstruct an intersection next to the elementary school and new public library. Sidewalks, crossings, and ramps will be improved and the intersection will also include a new stop for the Gunnison RTA bus system.
Town of Windsor – Award | $145,000
Project: Install comprehensive wayfinding signage for bicycles and pedestrians in downtown Windsor, including permitting, fabrication, and sign construction and installation.
Gunnison County – Award | $149,999.00
Project: Improve the facilities and access to the Shady Island River Park, a park connected to downtown Gunnison via the multimodal Gunnison Recreation Trail and highly trafficked in the summer by river tourists. Improvements include trail and walkway improvements, bathroom facilities, picnic pavilions, and picnic tables.
City of Pueblo – Award | $56,416.72
Project: Install seven 5-globe pedestrian lights and replace three street lights along Santa Fe Avenue in downtown Pueblo. This is a critical part of downtown walking that is currently underlighted, despite connecting multimodal trails and sidewalks to businesses, restaurants, hotels, and the convention center in a highly trafficked corridor.
A full list of recipients is available here. Highlights include numerous projects facilitating safe pedestrian access to outdoor dining, improved lighting, sidewalk repair, incorporating “parklets” into streetscapes, and much more.
Communities can apply for small grants up to $150,000 for multimodal and economic resiliency projects available on a rolling basis; large grant applications of up to $2 million closed on May 14.
For more information, visit the Revitalizing Main Streets page.