Bennet, Hickenlooper Announce Initial $181 Million for Colorado Public Transit

Statement

Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper announced that Colorado will receive $181,560,111 this year for public transit across the state. The funding comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which makes the largest-ever investment in public transit.

"Modernizing public transit is absolutely essential to connect Colorado communities," said Bennet. "This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help our state invest in public transit to ensure more Coloradans can rely on safe, accessible transportation to get to work or school."

"No matter where you live, Coloradans rely on public transit. This huge investment will help people get to work or school, see family and friends, and explore Colorado while reducing emissions in our fight against climate change," said Hickenlooper.

The Department of Transportation today announced that $20 billion will be going to communities nationwide for public transit this year.

"Every day, transit connects millions of Americans to jobs, schools, groceries, hospitals, resources, and countless other opportunities -- all while helping to reduce pollution, congestion, and traffic," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Now, thanks to the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are making the largest investment in public transit in our nation's history."

The funding includes specific allocations for Colorado the following transit agencies. The remainder will go to small transit agencies.

$6,450,842 for Transfort in Fort Collins

$11,411,805 for Mountain Metropolitan Transit in Colorado Springs

$113,739,727 for metro Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD)

The funding will enable Colorado transit authorities to modernize and expand services for residents in their communities by buying new buses and railcars, addressing repair backlogs, transitioning to new technologies to address the climate crisis, and improving transit service for communities that have historically had more limited access to transit. These upgrades will create jobs and support the expansion of U.S. manufacturing due to Buy America requirements that apply to steel, iron, and other materials used in public transportation projects that receive federal assistance.

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