GREELEY, Colo. — City staff and the project design team gave the Greeley City Council an informational update on the Merge project on June 2025, outlining grant milestones, preliminary schedule targets and public engagement plans for the center-loading mobility hub and two interchanges along U.S. 34.

Public Works staff said the city has begun steps to finalize federal grant agreements and to pursue debt financing through the Build America Bureau’s TIFIA process. “We had a meeting with the FHWA, and we were informed that the U.S. DOT would like us to start the process of completing the RAISE grant agreement…so the $50,000,000 that we have is kind of secured,” a project staff member said. The staff member later clarified that the funding is “more than kind of secure” after council members pressed for specificity.

The city has selected RS&H as the design prime and will negotiate scope and fee while preparing a separate RFQ to procure a construction manager/general contractor (CMGC). Staff said accelerating the schedule could bring the first construction package as early as late 2026, provided the project avoids critical-path delays such as NEPA clearance and right-of-way acquisition.

The consultants outlined anticipated permitting and funding steps: completing the RAISE and rural grant agreements, coordinating an IGA with CDOT for pass-through funding from the North Front Range MPO, and submitting letters of intent to the Build America Bureau to initiate TIFIA. Staff estimated the TIFIA process takes about 12 months after the Build America Bureau receives a signed letter of intent.

On environmental review, the team said it expects a three‑month scoping period followed by about a 12‑month environmental assessment (EA) under NEPA. The biggest schedule risk identified was right‑of‑way acquisition, which staff said must follow state and federal requirements and will begin in earnest once NEPA clearance is obtained.

Consultants and staff described a multi‑channel public engagement plan to begin development in the coming months and to include in‑person open houses, virtual/ADA‑compliant online materials in English and Spanish, coffee‑shop “office hours,” social media and targeted press outreach. “We want no surprises and we want to make sure our public and community and our stakeholders are educated and aware of this project,” a consultant said.

Councilmember Olson pressed the team for earlier cost estimates broken out by funding source and by project area to better understand impacts to the city capital plan and local streets during construction. Staff said the design team will provide cost estimates at progressive design stages and that the city will continue working with FHWA and CDOT on grant obligations and pre‑award authorization that will allow local match dollars to be counted appropriately.

No formal council actions were taken; this was an informational presentation. Staff said they will return with procurement documents, draft agreements and a public engagement plan in coming months.