CDOT Region 5 Awards Funding to Transportation Alternatives Program Projects

December 12, 2016 - Southwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 5 - SW COLORADO-The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is pleased to announce local projects selected to receive Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding for fiscal years 2018-2020.

Region 5 (southwest Colorado) is scheduled to receive more than $2.3 million in federal TAP monies over the course of the three fiscal years, which will allow the funding of three awarded projects:   

  • Pagosa Springs — Town to Pagosa Lakes Commuter Trail, Phases I and II

    • TAP funds $815,588; local match $203,897

    • This project will be funded in fiscal year 2018

  • Durango — Needham Connect III Project

    • TAP funds $552,192; local match $138,048

    • This project will be funded in fiscal years 2018 and 2019

  • Durango — Roosa Avenue ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Sidewalk Project

    • TAP funds $948,644; local match $237,161

    • This project will be funded in fiscal years 2019 and 2020

The local government, agency or entity seeking funding must demonstrate a local match and contribution of at least 20% of the budget for the submitted project.  

The TAP program in Region 5 received five competitive applications. Submissions that qualified, were scored independently and ranked by a six member panel. Projects were ranked using statewide criteria with final awards approved by the Southwest Transportation Planning Region (SWTPR). The SWTPR is made up of transportation stakeholders representing Dolores, San Juan, Montezuma, La Plata and Archuleta Counties.

Federal funds are allocated under TAP to transportation improvement projects that expand travel choice, strengthen the local economy, improve quality of life and protect the environment. Many TAP projects enhance non-motorized forms of transportation like biking and walking. TAP was authorized in 2012 by federal transportation legislation, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), and is now continued under the current federal transportation legislation, Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST).

What types of projects are eligible for TAP funding?

TAP provides funding for programs and projects defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation; recreational trail program projects; and projects for planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways.

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Local governments;

  • Regional transportation authorities;

  • Transit agencies;

  • Natural resource or public land agencies;

  • School districts, local education agencies, or schools;

  • Tribal governments; and

  • Any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for oversight of transportation or recreational trails (other than a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) or State DOT) that the State determines to be eligible

CDOT PHOTO:

In the fall of 2016, CDOT, the City of Durango and Durango School District 9-R celebrated the completed first phase of a project which built new sidewalks, painted crosswalks, and added ramps to intersections to enhance safety in the surrounding neighborhood of Needham Elementary. The recently awarded federal TAP funding by CDOT Region 5 (for fiscal years 2018-20) will assist with the planned continuation and completion of the Needham Connect Project. Two other southwest Colorado projects also received funding.

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