Colorado’s North I-25 Project gets $15 million TIGER Grant

Colorado welcome signThe U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) $15 million from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant Program for improvements on the North Interstate 25 Project between Fort Collins and Loveland.

The total project cost is $237 million and involves construction of a Tolled Express Lane in each direction covering 14 miles, in addition to improvements for transit, pedestrian and cycle traffic connecting northern Colorado to metro Denver.

“The communities of northern Colorado came together in an unprecedented way to make this a reality,” says CDOT Executive Director Shailen Bhatt. “With this TIGER money, CDOT can complete the funding for improvements to this segment of the North I-25 corridor, a vital part of our state’s economic development.”

CDOT says population growth near the North I-25 corridor has created significant congestion and travel delays and estimates the number of vehicles traveling there will increase by 60 percent by 2040. It also estimates the congestion costs $56 million in lost revenue for business in the area.

TIGER grants are focused on surface transportation capital projects that “generate economic development and improve access to reliable, safe and affordable transportation for communities, both urban and rural.”

Since 2009, the program has provided roughly $4.6 billion to 381 projects, encompassing transportation enhancements in each state as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. This also includes 134 projects that support rural and tribal communities.

USDOT reported 585 applications have been submitted for the $500 million in funding available this year. Most, 337, were applications from urban areas, with the remaining 248 from rural areas.