Colorado’s transportation sector is showing positive signs, helped by federal economic stimulus money that already is boosting the state’s employment.
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced that Colorado is one of 14 states that will receive a share of $6.8 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s stimulus program for job training in transportation-related fields.
Aims Community College, with campuses in Greeley, Fort Lupton and Loveland, will get $250,000.
The On-the Job Training Supportive Services grants will go toward apprenticeships and training centers for underrepresented or disadvantaged people seeking careers in transportation, engineering or construction.
*Hiring speeds up 89 percent*
The summer season already has seen a spike in hiring by the Colorado Department of Transportation. As of May 31, 66 workers had been hired for road projects covered by the stimulus program. By the end of June, that number had jumped to 576. From May 1 to June 30, hiring picked up by nearly 89 percent, said Stacey Stegman, CDOT spokeswoman.
Many of the “cone zones” seen by Colorado drivers are examples of the 23 projects currently under way or set to begin soon, worth $124.6 million. Colorado eventually will get more than $400 million for ARRA road projects and $103 million for transit projects. Another 42 projects are being advertised now with another 29 under contract.
One example of a stimulus project is the replacement of four bridges on I-76 over Colorado Route 224. The bridges, constructed in 1967, are in poor condition and in need of replacement.
CDOT’s employees are responsible for planning, design, construction, maintenance and related functions of the state’s 9,142-mile highway system, including 3,703 bridges. Each year, Colorado’s state highway system handles more than 26.1 billion vehicle miles of travel. Although the interstate system accounts for only about 10 percent (914 miles) of the total mileage on the state system, 40 percent of all travel takes place on Colorado interstate highways.
*Rail, bus, car services head west*
The highway construction program, managed by CDOT, utilizes hundreds of private contractors and consultants.Rail, bus, car services head west
In addition to road construction, other areas of the transportation sector are expected to see future job growth, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. These areas include transit and ground passenger transportation, and support activities for transportation.
RTD’s FasTracks Light Rail expansion, projected to create more than 10,000 jobs during the height of construction, is ramping up with the West Corridor segment now moving into full construction.
The West Corridor line will operate between Denver’s Union Station in LoDo and the Jefferson County Government Center in Golden, serving Denver, Lakewood, the Denver Federal Center, Golden and Jefferson County. The corridor is scheduled to open to the public in 2013, one year ahead of schedule.
RTD’s 12-mile West Corridor project is just the beginning of the ambitious FasTracks expansion. By 2017, RTD and its private contracting partners will build 122 miles of rail transit, including six new commuter rail and light rail lines, and extensions of three existing lines; build 18 miles of bus rapid transit service; add 21,000 new parking spaces; redevelop Denver Union Station; and redirect bus service to better connect the eight-county district.
“As our construction crews go to work all along the West Corridor, people will now see that what they voted for in 2004 is coming to life,” said Cal Marsella, RTD general manager. “We have made great progress on FasTracks over the past four years through the environmental and design processes, and now construction is the clear, visible sign that FasTracks is coming to a community near you.”
As Denver Transit Construction Group revs up, major operations will begin along West Sixth Avenue. Crews will be placing concrete traffic barriers along the south side of Sixth Avenue, west of Union Boulevard, to prepare for construction of more than 3,000 feet of retaining walls.
Other work will include construction of the bridges over Sixth Avenue east of Simms Street/Union Boulevard; the massive flyover bridge spanning Sixth Avenue and Indiana Street and the bridge over Colfax Avenue east of Sixth Avenue.
_Tim Walmer is a writer in the Denver Newspaper Agency’s Creative Services Department._