DRCOG opens call for planning projects; roughly $3 million available, letters due Nov. 15

The Denver Regional Council of Governments opened a call for letters of interest on Oct. 1 for three planning set-aside programs in the 2024–2027 Transportation Improvement Program and said letters are due Nov. 15.

DRCOG staff said the three set-asides — livable centers (small-area planning), community-based transportation planning, and innovative mobility — together offer roughly $3,000,000 for planning projects during this call and that selected projects will be fully funded with "no local match, thanks to DRCOG's agreement with CDOT to use state toll credits," according to Caitlin Service, program manager for regional planning at the Denver Regional Council of Governments.

Why it matters: DRCOG will hold the federal funding, manage procurement and contracts, and execute an intergovernmental agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), reducing the administrative and compliance burden on local project sponsors. DRCOG staff said that arrangement is intended to help smaller jurisdictions and partners use federal and state transportation funds without taking on the usual reporting and match responsibilities.

Who can apply: Eligible applicants include county and municipal governments, regional agencies, transportation management organizations/associations (TMAs/TMOs), nonprofits that serve a regional transportation purpose, and state of Colorado offices and agencies. DRCOG requires that projects be located in or provide benefit to the metropolitan planning organization boundary served by DRCOG.

How to apply and timetable: Applicants must submit a single online letter-of-interest form (Formstack) and may check multiple set-asides if a project fits more than one program. Staff encouraged prospective applicants to schedule a consultation using a bookings link provided during the webinar. DRCOG staff said staff will review and score letters after the Nov. 15 deadline, forward recommendations through the Transportation Advisory Committee and Regional Transportation Committee, and present a final list to the DRCOG board in early 2026. DRCOG expects to begin consultant procurement with selected project partners in 2026; most projects are expected to run 12–24 months after contract execution.

Scoring and priorities: Across the set-asides, DRCOG will evaluate proposals on alignment with Metro Vision and the regional transportation plan, project and partner readiness, and — where relevant — connections to historically marginalized communities and equitable engagement. Additional, set-aside–specific scoring details are in the board-adopted TIP set-aside policies (DRCOG guidance).

Contacts and materials: DRCOG staff named contact points for each set-aside during the webinar (Caitlin Service for livable centers; Britney and Lauren for community-based transportation planning; Emily Lindsey for innovative mobility) and posted an overview and application links on the DRCOG website. Letters of interest are due Nov. 15.

Next steps: Applicants should contact DRCOG staff before Nov. 15 for eligibility and competitiveness guidance and can view the application questions online to prepare their submission.