HomeMy WebLinkAbout20173768RESOLUTION
RE: APPROVE LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR NORTH FRONT RANGE METROPOLITAN
PLANNING ORGANIZATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE FOR REBUILDING AMERICA
(INFRA) GRANT APPLICATION
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the Board believes Northern Colorado is one of the economic engines of
Colorado, providing energy and agricultural products to the nation. It is one of the fastest growing
areas in the nation and the fastest in Colorado. To maintain the economic vitality of the region,
accommodate the movement of freight commodities associated with the energy and agriculture
sectors, in addition to the everyday travel of workers, residents, and visitors, something must be
done for North 1-25, and
WHEREAS, Weld County has been working with the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT), the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO),
the North 1-25 Coalition of Elected Officials, the Fix North 1-25 Business Alliance, the North 1-25
Funding Subcommittee (a combination of elected and business officials) and the North Area
Transportation Alliance (NATA) to improve North 1-25 from State Highway 14 in Fort Collins to
State Highway 7 in Broomfield, and
WHEREAS, all of the agencies, coalitions, and communities working toward improving
North 1-25 have done so with declining funding. The congestion on this corridor increases
crashes and emissions, and significantly slows the movement of people and goods within and
through the region. To retain the economic vitality of this fast-growing region, transportation
improvements are imperative, and
WHEREAS, North 1-25 is a major Freight Corridor on the National Freight System. Federal
funding is needed to help Northern Colorado implement the National Freight Policy by improving
the condition and performance of the National Freight Network.
WHEREAS, the Board of Weld County Commissioners fully supports the NFRMPO's
INFRA application for improvements to North 1-25 Segment 6 to extend the much -needed
congestion relief to a rapidly growing region that serves as an economic engine to Colorado and
the nation by providing critical freight congestion relief.
WHEREAS, the Board of Weld County Commissioners are willing to commit $1,000,000
in matching local funding, if the grant is approved, and
WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said Letter of Support,
a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County, Colorado, that the Letter of Support for the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning
Organization's Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Application be, and hereby
is, approved.
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2017-3768
BC0050
LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR NORTH FRONT RANGE METROPOLITAN PLANNING
ORGANIZATION'S INFRA GRANT APPLICATION
PAGE 2
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 1st day of November, A.D., 2017.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COI.INTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: ddejam), vi
Weld County Clerk to the Board
BY:
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putt' Clerk to the Board
APP e :'i AS T
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Date of signature: I t l a>"1
Steve Moreno, Pro -Tern
Freeman
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rbara Kirkmeyer
2017-3768
BC0050
November 1, 2017
OFFICE OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PHONE: 970-336-7204
FAX: 970-336-7233
1150 O STREET
P.O. BOX 758
GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
INFRA Selection Committee
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Re: North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization's INFRA Grant Application
Dear Selection Committee:
Northern Colorado is one of the economic engines of Colorado, providing energy and agricultural products to the nation.
It is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation and the fastest in Colorado. To maintain the economic vitality of the
region, accommodate the movement of freight commodities associated with the energy and agriculture sectors, in addition
to the everyday travel of workers, residents, and visitors, something must be done for North I-25. This grant is requesting
funding assistance to widen North I-25 between SH402 and SH56/Little Thompson Bridge to add an express lane.
Weld County has been working with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the North Front Range
Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO), the North I-25 Coalition of Elected Officials, the Fix North I-25
Business Alliance, the North I-25 Funding Subcommittee (a combination of elected and business officials) and the North
Area Transportation Alliance (NATA) to improve North I-25 from SH14 in Fort Collins to SH7 in Broomfield. In July
2013, CDOT hosted the first meeting on the future of North I-25 to discuss a variety of methods to address the corridor's
congestion in light of the State Demographer's projections estimating a doubling of the region's population by 2040. The
groups mentioned above were formed to address this need and have been working diligently to identify funding
mechanisms for the improvements identified in the North 1-25 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which received a
Record of Decision (ROD) in December 2011.
All of the agencies, coalitions, and communities working toward improving North I-25 have done so with declining
funding. The congestion on this corridor increases crashes and emissions, and significantly slows the movement of
people and goods within and through the region. To retain the economic vitality of this fast growing region,
transportation improvements are imperative.
Improvements along the North I-25 Corridor to date include the addition of Bustang, a regional bus service launched by
CDOT in July 2015, which carried 17,293 riders during the second quarter of 2017, with a 39 percent farebox recovery
ratio. An additional 1,383 riders rode specialized service for the Colorado State University (CSU) students RamsRoute.
In spring 2016, a two mile truck climbing lane was added to provide relief for southbound traffic on North I-25 near the
Town of Berthoud using only State and locally -allocated Federal funds. In summer 2016, CDOT initiated the
replacement and widening of the North I-25 Crossroads Bridge, a current corridor bottleneck, to accommodate the
addition of a third express/toll lane in each direction. This bridge widening is anticipated to be completed in late 2017.
Although not awarded FASTLANE funding in 2016, North I-25 will be widened to accommodate a new express/toll lane
in each direction for 14 miles, from SH 14 in Fort Collins to SH402 in Johnstown. To allow this expansion, two bridges
will be reconstructed allowing for four lanes in the future, while two other bridges will be widened. Segments 7 and 8 of
the North I-25 corridor also include the provision of an underpass for the 53 -mile Poudre River Trail, which extends from
Carter Lake/Horsetooth Foothills Corridor trail northwest of Fort Collins through Greeley in Weld County. As part of
the North I-25 project, partially funded with TIGER VIII funds, a new expanded park -and -ride lot and transit only pull
offs will also be constructed at Kendall Parkway.
North I-25 is a major Freight Corridor on the National Freight System. Help Northern Colorado implement the National
Freight Policy by improving the condition and performance of the National Freight Network. The Weld County fully
supports the NFRMPO's INFRA application for improvements to North I-25 Segment 6 to extend the much needed
congestion relief to a rapidly growing region that serves as an economic engine to Colorado and the nation by providing
critical freight congestion relief. The Board of Weld County Commissioners are willing to commit $1,000,000 in
matching local funding, if the grant is approved.
Sincerely,
Steve Moreno, Pro Tem
`'O/,-C)2e-
Mike Freeman
c: Don Warden
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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Sean P. Conway
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