Polis Secures Funding to Alleviate Traffic on I-70 Westbound

Press Release

Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., is pleased to announce new federal funding to alleviate traffic on westbound I-70. The I-70 Westbound Peak Period Shoulder Lane project will receive $25 million from the Infrastructure and Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant. Project construction will begin in the summer of 2019.

Polis led the way to secure funding, advocating alongside other members of the Colorado delegation. Read Polis's case for funding: here.

"This grant will go a long way in alleviating traffic on I-70 west, making it easier to get up to the mountains we all love and rely on for our economic vitality. I'm proud to have helped secure this funding for the highway in my district," said Polis. "When the Colorado delegation works together to advocate for Colorado, as we did here, we can move mountains (and traffic)!"

Polis has advocated for funding to alleviate traffic on I-70 for years. In 2015, he passed an amendment that would designate I-70 West, from Denver to Salt Lake City, as a high priority corridor in the Long-Term Highway Transportation bill. Further, he helped secure a TIGER grant of $10 million for a fire suppression system in the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels, which had its grand opening in May 2016.

Polis has continuously acted on behalf of Colorado and its infrastructure needs.

In 2010, Polis helped secure a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant for $10 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Managed Lanes/Bus Rapid Transit Project on a portion of U.S. 36 from Boulder to Denver.
Polis helped secure a $15 million TIGER grant for I-25 North between Fort Collins and Loveland.
In October 2016, Rep. Polis led a letter urging the Appropriations Committees in the Senate and House of Representatives to appropriate funds for Colorado roadways impacted by the 2013 floods. In December 2016, Congress allocated over $1 billion in funding for the Emergency Relief Program, meaning that U.S. 34 received $78 million for repairs. This funding was in addition to securing $450 million in federal aid for critical emergency repairs following the 2013 floods.
Polis has also consistently urged the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) to allow the public to weigh in on the train horn rule.

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