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Pitkin County wins $2 million RAISE grant for airport multimodal planning; commissioners report outreach in Washington
Summary
Pitkin County announced receipt of a $2,000,000 RAISE grant for multimodal transportation system planning at the county airport; commissioners who visited Washington, D.C., credited public support and federal engagement and said the funding will begin planning to address runway and access issues.
Pitkin County announced at its Jan. 7 work session that it received a $2,000,000 RAISE grant for fiscal year 2025 to support multimodal transportation system planning at the county airport.
Why it matters: county officials said the grant will fund planning to address runway condition, airport access and multimodal connections and that the award responds to public concerns about airport infrastructure and workforce commuting impacts.
Commissioners who traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the project said they presented evidence of strong local public support and secured letters of support from both U.S. senators. They told the board the airport is among the busier regional airports in the state and that improving multimodal access and runway condition is important for residents, seasonal workers and visitors.
Board members described the award as an initial step toward addressing runway and access challenges and emphasized that further project phases and funding will be needed for construction or major capital improvements. They also reported a related development: shortly after meetings in Washington, D.C., federal land managers indicated the U.S. Forest Service would permit hiring seasonal professional rangers, which county representatives said will help regional recreation and resource management and was raised during their federal advocacy.
No formal action to accept funds was recorded in the work session transcript. Commissioners said they would continue project coordination and planning steps with staff, federal partners and regional stakeholders.
Ending: Commissioners said they will return to the board with recommendations about next steps for planning, outreach and any required local matching funds or approvals.
