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Home My WebLink About20221146.tiffApril 13, 2022 OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PHONE: 970-400-4200 FAX: 970-336-7233 1150 O STREET P.O. BOX 758 GREELEY, CO 80632 Office of Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Office of the Secretary of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC, 20590 RE: Support of US 85/120th Avenue Interchange - RAISE Grant Application Dear Secretary Buttigieg, Weld County fully supports the US 85/120th Avenue Interchange project to provide much -needed improvements specifically focused on enhancing highway operations to improve safety, congestion, mobility, and accessibility. To that end, we are pleased to provide this letter of support for Adams County's RAISE Grant application for the US 85/120th Avenue Interchange. The project will construct an overpass over US 85 to eliminate the at -grade crossing that currently leads to cars experiencing significant delay when the railroad crossing is blocked. In addition, the overpass will make safer pedestrian and bicycle connections to Riverside Regional Park west of US 85 to residents east of US 85 and the railroad. This project will improve the everyday travel experience of workers, residents, and visitors by significantly increasing safety for all transportation modes served at this interchange. The US 85 corridor is a transportation backbone for the region and the East 120th Avenue corridor is a major connector to Denver International Airport. Overall corridor usage on US 85 has doubled since the 1990s causing a host of operational and safety issues that interfere with the movement of goods and people. Traffic is projected to double again by 2040. These increases will continue to exacerbate the challenging issues faced today at the US 85/120th Avenue interchange. These conditions also have a negative impact on air quality in the region due to increased emissions. This interchange will improve the movement of freight commodities associated with agriculture, energy markets (renewable and fossil fuels), and other sectors. It will also reduce barriers separating farm -to -market workforces from employment centers and support new commercial and industrial development. Additionally, this project will improve the everyday travel experience of workers, residents, and visitors by reducing delays and improving safety. Adams County's US 85/120th Avenue Interchange RAISE Grant application is the right project to make significant long-term consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements to America's transportation network. We look forward to partnering with you to implement this essential safety, rail, freight, and highway project for the benefit of our communities and the entire region. Sine,' ly, Sco ' . James Chair, Weld County Board of Commissioners CoRMvn; c©.+-;anS 2022-1146 Hello