Colorado Transit Agencies Receive State of Good Repair Funding

October 25, 2011 - Statewide Transportation Plan - DENVER – Seven Colorado transit providers will receive nearly $10.8 million in federal funding for transit projects around the state in 2012, agencies that provided over 100 million passenger trips last year.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the grants, which are a portion of the $928.5 million in federal funds for more than 300 public transportation projects in urban, suburban, and rural areas around the country.  The money will put people to work renovating and building much needed transit facilities, manufacturing new clean-fuel buses, and helping communities plan responsibly for their future transit needs.

“A safe, reliable transit system is key to ensuring Coloradans can get to work and go about their business,” said U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet. “These resources will help Colorado’s transit providers make much-needed upgrades and improvements to maintain service around the state and put more Coloradans back to work.”

In addition to the federal funds, a 20% funding match is required by the local agency, providing a total transit investment of $13,438,804 in Colorado.

The agencies that received funding include:

  • Steamboat Springs - $1,765,910 to replace two buses and rehabilitate six buses.  The new buses will create or sustain one full time employee every calendar quarter for every 2 buses purchased.
  • Fort Collins - $332,000 to replace one diesel bus that is outdated.
  • Eagle County Regional Transportation Authority - $1,132,037 to replace outdated buses.
  • Black Hawk - $164,000 to rehabilitate or replace outdated buses.
  • Durango - $132,355 to make access improvements to the 24th Street Bridge to provide connectivity to the Brookside Transit Stop. It will create 38 jobs.
  • Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (Aspen – Glenwood Springs) - $360,000 to develop an asset management system to more effectively track the condition of the agencies’ fleets, facilities, and equipment.
  • Denver RTD - $6,864,741 for structural and other repairs to its Civic Center Intermodal Center, and $360,000 to develop an asset management system to more effectively track the condition of the agencies’ fleets, facilities, and equipment.

“In these difficult economic times, these are the grant dollars we need to protect.  America should be making more investments in infrastructure to create jobs now and avoid sliding further backward in the operations and maintenance of our transit systems,” said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette.  “I’m proud that the Department of Transportation recognized the commitment of our stakeholders at all levels, particularly the RTD, and with these grants, has decided to continue their support of the Denver-area transportation system as a model for the nation.”

The state had applied for over $111 million in funding for 30 projects around the state, including $83 million for projects in the Denver area.

“Transit providers around the state are struggling financially to provide the needed service in their communities,” said the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Transit and Rail Director Mark Imhoff.  “The State of Good Repair grants help with capital needs, allowing other sources of funding to be put into operations.  Every little bit helps.”