HomeMy WebLinkAbout20232439.tiffOFFICE OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PHONE: 970-400-4200
FAX: 970-336-7233
1150 O STREET
P.O. BOX 758
GREELEY, CO 80632
August 14, 2023
The Honorable Pete Buttigieg
Secretary of Transportation
US Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Support for I-76 Phase IV Regional Improvements for Safety and Efficiency (RISE)
Dear Secretary Buttigieg:
I am writing to request your full and fair support for Morgan County's Rural Surface
Transportation / INFRA grant for the I-76 Phase IV Regional Improvements for Safety and
Efficiency (RISE) project. The FY2023 MPDG grant proposal would allow for the reconstruction
of 1.45 miles of concrete pavement, replace four bridges and two concrete box culverts, convert a
partial clover interchange into a tight diamond, as well as install a park -n -ride facility and potential
transit facility from which users could access Fort Morgan, Greeley, Fort Collins, and Denver to
the west and Sterling and other communities to the East which will ultimately improve efficiency,
safety, and mobility along one of Colorado's major freight corridors.
Interstate 76 is part of both the National Freight Highway Network and National Highway System,
making it a critical freight route and key economic driver in Colorado. Based on historic and
projected population and employment levels, both passenger and freight traffic volumes will
continue to increase and impact I-76. This project will address many of the physical constraints on
this road, which will significantly improve safety for the traveling public and enhance connectivity
to the rest of the freight network in the United States.
Morgan County values safety, system preservation, and connections to other areas. Interstate 1-76
is the backbone of rural Colorado, and we depend on this corridor for freight transport, to facilitate
tourism, recreation, and access to natural resources for our economic livelihood.
The Weld County Board of County Commissioners supports this rural MPDG grant application
for I-76 and hopes the US DOT sees the benefit of partnering with Morgan County and CDOT on
this very important regional project.
Sincerely,
Mike Freeman
Chair, Weld County Board of Commissioners
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121 /23
2023-2439
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