The commute from Denver north on the U.S. 36 corridor won’t be getting any easier now that the U.S. Department of Transportation has turned down a bid for funding to improve the congested road.
Colorado has been notified that the $234.5 million proposal is not among five from different states selected to receive federal investments of up to $1.1 billion to reduce traffic tie-ups in America’s most congested cities.
A coalition of local governments along the corridor had bid for funding to add one high-occupancy toll, or HOT, lane in each direction to U.S. 36 between Interstate 25 and Boulder by 2009.
“We are extremely disappointed that Colorado was not selected to participate in this innovative program,” Gov. Bill Ritter said in a release. “Still, I believe strongly that the creative approach to addressing congestion and positive partnership that has developed along the U.S. 36 corridor is solid and will ensure that we are well-positioned to take advantage of future funding opportunities that may become available.”
The U.S. 36 Mayors and Commissioners Coalition, made up of members from Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville, Superior,Boulder, and Denver submitted the application in April to address congestion.
Local officials said they aren’t giving up.
“It is significant that the U.S. 36 corridor proposal was a finalist for the Urban Partnership Program,” Louisville Mayor Charles Sisk said in a release. “Increasing congestion in our corridor only strengthens the resolve of our local government coalition to continue to explore and seek funding opportunities to update outdated highway facilities to provide much needed congestion relief.”
