Routt County officials press CDOT, RTA and Mountain Rail partners on Highway 40 safety, RAISE grant and station planning

Routt County officials said this week they are seeking clearer decisions from the Colorado Department of Transportation and regional partners about several transportation priorities, including a Brandon Circle traffic-study review, a RAISE grant application tied to Hayden, and short-term safety steps for Highway 40.

The county reported that the person conducting CDOT’s final review of the Brandon Circle traffic study is out of the office but expected to report back soon; county staff said they want the review completed before a RAISE grant application is finalized. Milena (county staff) said a CDOT adviser recommended Hayden be the primary applicant for the RAISE construction and safety project and that Routt County serve as a co-applicant for a related safe-crossing request, a structure the adviser said would strengthen the overall application.

Why it matters: the RAISE program is a federal discretionary grant that county leaders said could fund safety and crossing improvements; aligning the applicants and the projects will affect which elements are prioritized and which agency leads construction and grant administration.

County commissioners and staff discussed near- and long-term options to reduce serious crashes on Highway 40. Commissioners noted that many proposed engineering solutions are multi-step and long-term; they asked about enforcement and short-term actions to reduce reckless passing and speed. One commissioner said increased law-enforcement patrols were a possible short-term tool but noted state-level funding and personnel limits for Colorado State Patrol.

County participants also discussed wildlife-vehicle collisions and a desire for more current prioritization data. The commissioners cited CDOT studies and countywide analyses showing that animal collisions can account for a substantial share of crashes on some corridors and said existing statewide prioritization for wildlife crossings is dated. A Routt County official urged updated collar and movement data to identify county pinch points for crossings and corridors.

Officials debated the role of a Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and the Mountain Rail Coalition on station planning and project leadership. County participants said the Mountain Rail Coalition remains a coordinating group of local governments without an established entity to manage station planning and that the RTA’s draft intergovernmental agreement and formation process must avoid repeating previous organization splits. County staff and a consultant, Bill Ray, planned further work on messaging for voters and on ensuring the formation committee and technical committee remain aligned.

County staff said they expect more detailed guidance from CDOT and the RAISE adviser, and that final decisions on who will lead particular projects — and what goes on a prospective ballot — will shape next steps.

Provenance: Transcript comments on the Brandon Circle study, RAISE grant and CDOT guidance began in the county update at 341.00 and concluded with discussion of the RTA and Mountain Rail at 1996.85.