Congressman John T. Salazar, Third District of Colorado

Congressman Salazar's Funding Priorities for Transportation and Housing and Urban Development

As a new member of the Appropriations Committee, I have new oversight responsibilities for the spending of federal dollars, as well as an increased role in the prioritization of federal spending.

For too long, the process of Congressional funding requests lacked transparency and accountability, leading some members of Congress to abuse it and the public trust. Since assuming the majority in 2007, Congressional Democrats have significantly reformed the process, including ensuring that every American can easily determine which member of Congress has submitted a requests.

Below you will find a list of my funding requests for the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill.

US 50: St. Charles Bridge Replacement
$1,600,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: The US 50: St. Charles Bridge project will replace a bridge structure that has a structural sufficiency rating of 32.4. This structure was built in 1942 and is in the steel through truss category. The trusses on this structure have been repaired with new members being placed on the trusses. The guardrail has a low rating, the deck is not in good shape, the structure is painted with lead paint and the load rating is low.

La Plata County Homes Fund: Mortgage Assistance
$650,000
Regional Housing Alliance of La Plata County
701 Camino del Rio #312
Durango, CO 81301
Explanation: The homebuyer assistance services program includes homebuyer counseling and education to prepare families for homeownership. By creating new homeowners the program helps to stabilize the local housing market, leverages private first mortgages 4 to 1 and absorbs local housing product.

US 40 Northwest Chipseal
$1,400,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This chip seal project will be on US 40 and other highways in Moffat, Routt, and Grand counties. Funding will complete the construction for this surface treatment project. The Colorado Department can and will meet all required federal matching amounts, and this project will create good, high paying jobs in Colorado.

Roaring Fork Valley Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
$10,850,000
Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA)
2307 Wulfsohn Road
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Explanation: The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) proposes to implement Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) improvements (the BRT project) along a 40-mile corridor in the Roaring Fork Valley, connecting Glenwood Springs to Aspen, Colorado. This project will create 231 jobs over a two-year period associated with construction and other capital investments. Moreover, the project will create and maintain an average of 72 jobs per year associated with ongoing operations.

US 550: Mineral Creek Bridge
$1,200,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This funding request will accommodate replacement of a structurally-deficient bridge on US 550 at Milepost 70.2 in San Juan County in southwest Colorado. The Colorado Department can and will meet all required federal matching amounts, and this project will create good, high paying jobs in Colorado.

US 40: Steamboat Springs
$8,700,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This project on US 40 in Steamboat will do a full depth resurfacing with 10” of concrete through downtown Steamboat Springs, from 13th Street to 3rd Street. This project will include ADA approved ramps and curb and gutter work. Funding will complete the construction for this surface treatment project. Funding of this project will create good high paying jobs in Colorado.

Ute New Single Family Housing
$7,500,000
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
125 W. Mike Walsh Road
Towaoc, CO 81443
Explanation: The Reservation is falling further and further behind its housing needs each year. Up to 40% of the tribal members are living with family or friends while waiting for housing. This project would build thirty (30) new stick built houses on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. These homes would be 3 and 4 bedroom houses, designed to accommodate many of the larger younger families now on the waiting list.

Interstate 25: Resurfacing Trinidad-North
$4,400,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: Roadway resurfacing and minor safety improvements on a 4.5 mile section of Interstate 25 located north of Trinidad. The planned surface treatment is rotomilling followed with a 2.5 inch hot mix asphalt overlay. CDOT has committed $50,000 for planning and design for this project.

Facility for Underground Rail Station and Tunnel (FURST)
$8,000,000
Transportation Technology Center (TTC)
55500 DOT Road
Pueblo, CO 81001
Explanation: The FURST would be a complex of 1.5 miles of above-ground tunnels constructed over tracks adjacent and connected to TTC’s existing 48-mile network of test tracks. The project was fully authorized under H.R 2095, which became Public Law No: 110-432 in Oct 16, 2008 'Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 directing the DOT secretary to build the tunnel facility in Pueblo: "There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $18,000,000 for the period encompassing fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to design, develop, and construct the Facility for Underground Rail Station and Tunnel at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. The facility shall be used to test and evaluate the vulnerabilities of above-ground and underground rail tunnels to prevent accidents and incidents in such tunnels, to mitigate and remediate the consequences of any such accidents or incidents, and to provide a realistic scenario for training emergency responders."

Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership Project
$265,800
Southwest Land Alliance
450 Lewis Street, Suite 3A
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
Explanation: The Project consists of three to five greenhouses powered and heated by renewable energy sources located in the center of the Town of Pagosa Springs. It will showcase to the nation how an economically devastated, rural mountain community can come together and creatively diversify and utilize its alternative energy resources to stimulate its economy. This Project supports local agriculture and local small businesses while creating more jobs in the community, which are additional priorities of the current Administration.

US 50: Overlay from SH96 to Heurfano River
$4,000,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This project is located on US 50B from milepost 329.6 to milepost 335.5 and US 50C from milepost 7.3 to milepost 10.0. The work consists of a 4 inch Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) overlay (2 inch bottom mat and 2 inch top mat) on US 50B and a 2.5 inch Rotomill followed with a 2.5 HMA overlay on US 50C. The Colorado Department can and will meet all required federal matching amounts, and this project will create good, high paying jobs in Colorado.

Runway 8/26 Safety Area, Garfield County
$17,000,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This request will help fund the improvement of the runway 8/26 safety area through the re-alignment of the runway. This project is consistent with the airports master plan and FAA safety area requirements. The project is also key in facilitating safety improvements by reducing the runway gradient. Matching funds will be made available by Garfield County.

Pueblo Memorial Airport Runway
$8,000,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This funding request will help fund the replacement of the parallel training runway at the Pueblo Memorial Airport. This project is consistent with the airport layout plan. The project is also key in addressing airfield safety issues and has been recommended by the FAA’s Runway Safety Action Team (RSAT). Matching funds will be made available by the City of Pueblo.

Grand Junction Regional Airport Commercial Apron Rehabilitation
$4,000,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This funding request will help fund rehabilitation of a portion of the existing commercial apron. This project is consistent with the planned repair of the commercial aircraft apron. The project is also key in facilitating aircraft movement, maintaining aircraft parking and airfield flow. Matching funds will be made available by the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority.

Runway 15/33 Extension, Pitkin County
$10,000,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This funding request will help fund an extension of runway 15/33 at the Aspen Pitkin County Airport. This project is consistent with the long range airport master plan by providing commercial aircraft more efficient use of existing capacity. The project is also key in improving safety by providing additional runway length for aircraft operating into and out of the facility. Matching funds will be made available through the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport.

Montrose Airport Fence
$5,000,000
Montrose County Government
161 S. Townsend Avenue
Montrose, CO 81401
Explanation: Funding will be used for construction of a security fence that meets TSA standards. The security fencing project will increase the overall operational safety and security of Montrose Regional Airport. The fence will encompass the entire airport property boundary, preventing wildlife crossings onto runways and taxiways, thereby ensuring the greater safety of the flying public.

US 550 resurfacing, Molas Pass to Silverton
$3,100,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This funding request will accommodate the resurfacing of US 550 on Molas Pass from Milepost 63, north to Milepost 70.2 in San Juan County, Colorado. The Colorado Department can and will meet all required federal matching amounts, and this project will create good, high paying jobs in Colorado.

Interstate 70 surface treatment, Glenwood East and West
$6,600,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This project will fill in two “two mile” gaps in CDOT’s surface treatment program on Interstate 70 near Glenwood Springs. Interstate 70 in Glenwood currently has an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of approximately 25,000 and surface treatment is required to maintain the system quality. The Colorado Department can and will meet all required federal matching amounts, and this project will create good, high paying jobs in Colorado.

SH 69: Bridge over Turkey Creek
$1,400,000
Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
Explanation: This funding request will pay for roadway approach realignment and replacement of Structure N-16-L located on SH 69, between Walsenburg and Gardner. CDOT currently has committed $200,000 for planning, design, and right-of-way for this project. The total construction cost estimate to replace this bridge is $2.4 Million.

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Home About John Contact Helping You Issues Appropriations Kids' Page News Room Photo Gallery Third District Visit Washington, DC E-News Sign-up Name: E-mail: Subscribe Unsubscribe Search this site: Privacy Policy		Congressman Salazar's Funding Priorities for Transportation and Housing and Urban Development As a new member of the Appropriations Committee, I have new oversight responsibilities for the spending of federal dollars, as well as an increased role in the prioritization of federal spending. For too long, the process of Congressional funding requests lacked transparency and accountability, leading some members of Congress to abuse it and the public trust. Since assuming the majority in 2007, Congressional Democrats have significantly reformed the process, including ensuring that every American can easily determine which member of Congress has submitted a requests. Below you will find a list of my funding requests for the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. US 50: St. Charles Bridge Replacement $1,600,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: The US 50: St. Charles Bridge project will replace a bridge structure that has a structural sufficiency rating of 32.4. This structure was built in 1942 and is in the steel through truss category. The trusses on this structure have been repaired with new members being placed on the trusses. The guardrail has a low rating, the deck is not in good shape, the structure is painted with lead paint and the load rating is low. La Plata County Homes Fund: Mortgage Assistance $650,000 Regional Housing Alliance of La Plata County 701 Camino del Rio #312 Durango, CO 81301 Explanation: The homebuyer assistance services program includes homebuyer counseling and education to prepare families for homeownership. By creating new homeowners the program helps to stabilize the local housing market, leverages private first mortgages 4 to 1 and absorbs local housing product. US 40 Northwest Chipseal $1,400,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This chip seal project will be on US 40 and other highways in Moffat, Routt, and Grand counties. Funding will complete the construction for this surface treatment project. The Colorado Department can and will meet all required federal matching amounts, and this project will create good, high paying jobs in Colorado. Roaring Fork Valley Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) $10,850,000 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) 2307 Wulfsohn Road Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Explanation: The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) proposes to implement Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) improvements (the BRT project) along a 40-mile corridor in the Roaring Fork Valley, connecting Glenwood Springs to Aspen, Colorado. This project will create 231 jobs over a two-year period associated with construction and other capital investments. Moreover, the project will create and maintain an average of 72 jobs per year associated with ongoing operations. US 550: Mineral Creek Bridge $1,200,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This funding request will accommodate replacement of a structurally-deficient bridge on US 550 at Milepost 70.2 in San Juan County in southwest Colorado. The Colorado Department can and will meet all required federal matching amounts, and this project will create good, high paying jobs in Colorado. US 40: Steamboat Springs $8,700,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This project on US 40 in Steamboat will do a full depth resurfacing with 10” of concrete through downtown Steamboat Springs, from 13th Street to 3rd Street. This project will include ADA approved ramps and curb and gutter work. Funding will complete the construction for this surface treatment project. Funding of this project will create good high paying jobs in Colorado. Ute New Single Family Housing $7,500,000 Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 125 W. Mike Walsh Road Towaoc, CO 81443 Explanation: The Reservation is falling further and further behind its housing needs each year. Up to 40% of the tribal members are living with family or friends while waiting for housing. This project would build thirty (30) new stick built houses on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. These homes would be 3 and 4 bedroom houses, designed to accommodate many of the larger younger families now on the waiting list. Interstate 25: Resurfacing Trinidad-North $4,400,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: Roadway resurfacing and minor safety improvements on a 4.5 mile section of Interstate 25 located north of Trinidad. The planned surface treatment is rotomilling followed with a 2.5 inch hot mix asphalt overlay. CDOT has committed $50,000 for planning and design for this project. Facility for Underground Rail Station and Tunnel (FURST) $8,000,000 Transportation Technology Center (TTC) 55500 DOT Road Pueblo, CO 81001 Explanation: The FURST would be a complex of 1.5 miles of above-ground tunnels constructed over tracks adjacent and connected to TTC’s existing 48-mile network of test tracks. The project was fully authorized under H.R 2095, which became Public Law No: 110-432 in Oct 16, 2008 'Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 directing the DOT secretary to build the tunnel facility in Pueblo: "There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $18,000,000 for the period encompassing fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to design, develop, and construct the Facility for Underground Rail Station and Tunnel at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. The facility shall be used to test and evaluate the vulnerabilities of above-ground and underground rail tunnels to prevent accidents and incidents in such tunnels, to mitigate and remediate the consequences of any such accidents or incidents, and to provide a realistic scenario for training emergency responders." Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership Project $265,800 Southwest Land Alliance 450 Lewis Street, Suite 3A Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 Explanation: The Project consists of three to five greenhouses powered and heated by renewable energy sources located in the center of the Town of Pagosa Springs. It will showcase to the nation how an economically devastated, rural mountain community can come together and creatively diversify and utilize its alternative energy resources to stimulate its economy. This Project supports local agriculture and local small businesses while creating more jobs in the community, which are additional priorities of the current Administration. US 50: Overlay from SH96 to Heurfano River $4,000,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This project is located on US 50B from milepost 329.6 to milepost 335.5 and US 50C from milepost 7.3 to milepost 10.0. The work consists of a 4 inch Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) overlay (2 inch bottom mat and 2 inch top mat) on US 50B and a 2.5 inch Rotomill followed with a 2.5 HMA overlay on US 50C. The Colorado Department can and will meet all required federal matching amounts, and this project will create good, high paying jobs in Colorado. Runway 8/26 Safety Area, Garfield County $17,000,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This request will help fund the improvement of the runway 8/26 safety area through the re-alignment of the runway. This project is consistent with the airports master plan and FAA safety area requirements. The project is also key in facilitating safety improvements by reducing the runway gradient. Matching funds will be made available by Garfield County. Pueblo Memorial Airport Runway $8,000,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This funding request will help fund the replacement of the parallel training runway at the Pueblo Memorial Airport. This project is consistent with the airport layout plan. The project is also key in addressing airfield safety issues and has been recommended by the FAA’s Runway Safety Action Team (RSAT). Matching funds will be made available by the City of Pueblo. Grand Junction Regional Airport Commercial Apron Rehabilitation $4,000,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This funding request will help fund rehabilitation of a portion of the existing commercial apron. This project is consistent with the planned repair of the commercial aircraft apron. The project is also key in facilitating aircraft movement, maintaining aircraft parking and airfield flow. Matching funds will be made available by the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority. Runway 15/33 Extension, Pitkin County $10,000,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This funding request will help fund an extension of runway 15/33 at the Aspen Pitkin County Airport. This project is consistent with the long range airport master plan by providing commercial aircraft more efficient use of existing capacity. The project is also key in improving safety by providing additional runway length for aircraft operating into and out of the facility. Matching funds will be made available through the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport. Montrose Airport Fence $5,000,000 Montrose County Government 161 S. Townsend Avenue Montrose, CO 81401 Explanation: Funding will be used for construction of a security fence that meets TSA standards. The security fencing project will increase the overall operational safety and security of Montrose Regional Airport. The fence will encompass the entire airport property boundary, preventing wildlife crossings onto runways and taxiways, thereby ensuring the greater safety of the flying public. US 550 resurfacing, Molas Pass to Silverton $3,100,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This funding request will accommodate the resurfacing of US 550 on Molas Pass from Milepost 63, north to Milepost 70.2 in San Juan County, Colorado. The Colorado Department can and will meet all required federal matching amounts, and this project will create good, high paying jobs in Colorado. Interstate 70 surface treatment, Glenwood East and West $6,600,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This project will fill in two “two mile” gaps in CDOT’s surface treatment program on Interstate 70 near Glenwood Springs. Interstate 70 in Glenwood currently has an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of approximately 25,000 and surface treatment is required to maintain the system quality. The Colorado Department can and will meet all required federal matching amounts, and this project will create good, high paying jobs in Colorado. SH 69: Bridge over Turkey Creek $1,400,000 Colorado Department of Transportation 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 Explanation: This funding request will pay for roadway approach realignment and replacement of Structure N-16-L located on SH 69, between Walsenburg and Gardner. CDOT currently has committed $200,000 for planning, design, and right-of-way for this project. The total construction cost estimate to replace this bridge is $2.4 Million. Back to Appropriations
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