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Passamaesa Verde project moves forward: $750,000 GOCO award, environmental work and wetlands jurisdiction remain hurdles
Summary
County staff said the Past Mesa Verde/Passamaesa Verde segment received $750,000 in GOCO funding, CDOT and FHWA coordination has restarted, and staff must complete environmental clearances—complicated by wetlands-jurisdiction questions—before bidding in late 2027 for 2028 construction.
Natural Resources staff (Speaker 5) told the board that the Passamaesa Verde (Past Mesa Verde) project has been awarded $750,000 in Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) funding and that CEDI confirmed it will cover half of a contingency piece, filling out the project budget and enabling the county to advance toward a shovel-ready design.
Staff said they recently met with the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration to restart project work and that environmental clearances remain the principal outstanding tasks. The county expressed concern about jurisdictional wetlands: staff said changes to EPA jurisdiction definitions have shifted some review responsibilities to the state (CDPHE), which can be more time-consuming than Army Corps review. Natural Resources said the county is arguing that wetlands in its area of influence should remain under Army Corps jurisdiction to streamline permitting.
Officials also noted one impacted landowner near Road 38 (the Folk Art Center) has opposed the project and that county staff have modified design elements and plan to hold special outreach meetings to reduce impacts. The project is scheduled to go to bid in late 2027 with construction in 2028, contingent on completing environmental work in 2027.
Staff did not request immediate board action at the workshop but highlighted funding, timeline constraints and the need for continued coordination with landowners and state and federal agencies.
