Colorado transportation commission approves $90 million for 10-Year Plan
The commission also approved funding for wildlife-collision prevention and electric-vehicle charging, while the Bridge and Tunnel Enterprise advanced three bridge projects and authorized funding for two right-of-way acquisitions.
The Colorado Transportation Commission approved a fiscal year 2026-27 budget amendment Thursday shifting $90 million in federal redistribution funds to the state’s 10-Year Plan. The commission also approved funding for wildlife-collision prevention and the next phase of electric-vehicle charging stations for Colorado Department of Transportation vehicles, according to the commission’s Sept. 17 meeting recording.
The commission approved the amendment without opposition. Staff said the federal money would help offset reduced transfers to the 10-Year Plan and maintain schedules for projects already included in it. The amendment did not assign the $90 million to individual projects.
The commission also approved a $600,000 loan to the Bridge and Tunnel Enterprise for outreach and education tied to the state’s wildlife-collision prevention program. Fee collections are scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2027. The enterprise separately approved a budget amendment projecting $1,475,681 in fee revenue for the six months ending June 30, 2027. Staff expects the startup loan to be repaid by the end of fiscal year 2027-28.
The commission approved $1.3 million for the next phase of electric-vehicle charging stations for Colorado Department of Transportation vehicles.
Bridge projects advance
The Bridge and Tunnel Enterprise approved $11,267,834.32 for the I-25 Happy Canyon Road interchange project in Castle Pines. The contribution may be used for design, construction and future maintenance of a replacement for the existing bridge over I-25. Payment depends on a funding agreement among the enterprise, Castle Pines, Douglas County and the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The enterprise also approved $1,431,279 to advance design of the Red Cliff bridge rehabilitation project to 60%. Staff said targeted repairs, cleaning and painting could address most of the bridge’s defects and extend its service life by about 30 years. The project previously received about $3.6 million for inspection, preliminary analysis, design and testing.
For the I-270 project, Colorado Department of Transportation officials said the final environmental impact statement and record of decision had been published. The project includes rebuilding two general-purpose lanes in each direction, adding an express lane in each direction, accommodating transit, replacing 12 bridges, rebuilding the Vasquez interchange and adding a pedestrian overpass. The department’s executive director said critical bridge work was expected to begin “within the next month or so.”
Right-of-way acquisitions
The commission unanimously authorized the Colorado Department of Transportation to proceed with condemnation for two right-of-way needs: a Montrose signal replacement project involving a fee acquisition and temporary construction easement at an AutoZone property, and the U.S. 24 widening project between Garrett Road and Woodmen Road, involving the property identified as James M. Kyle.