AASHTO Journal - Colorado DOT Funds Clean Transportation Projects

The Colorado Department of Transportation recently issued $17.3 million in grants to 11 local projects aimed at improving air quality along parts of the Front Range region of the state.

[Above photo by Stephen Martinez for Colorado DOT]

Colorado DOT said its Nonattainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Enterprise or NAAPME grant program is providing funding to the Community Clean Transportation Assistance Program or CCTAP funds to projects that address the impacts of automotive emissions in the nine-county Denver and North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment Area, where ozone levels exceed federal standards.

The agency said that those projects seek to reduce automotive emissions by improving multimodal access and promoting active transportation options such as biking and walking. Those projects also aim to increase safety and connectivity through infrastructure upgrades and strategic mobility hubs.

“This program is vital in our commitment to improving air quality and mitigating the impact of motor vehicle emissions in the Denver and North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment Area,” said Darius Pakbaz, Colorado DOT’s NAAPME program administrator, in a statement. “These projects represent a significant step forward in our efforts to create a cleaner, healthier Colorado, especially for our disproportionately impacted communities.”

Several of the grant recipients will be using the funds to expand on already successful projects, while other recipients will be using funds to begin new projects. In Loveland, CO, for example, grant funding will help create a mobility hub and improve traffic flow at the intersection of US Highway 34 and US Highway 287.

“The City of Loveland is proud to partner with the Colorado DOT and NAAPME on a project that will enhance two vital regional corridors,” said Loveland City Engineer Nicole Hahn. “By 2028, we aim 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.”

Meanwhile, in Greeley, CO, that NAAMPE funding will be used to build four mobility hubs – helping integrate multiple transit options for the area.

“These hubs will help 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,” noted Victoria Leonhardt, senior urban transportation planner for the City of Greeley. “This project moves us closer to achieving the ‘Greeley on the Go 2045’ vision of a safe and connected city.”