Transportation

Importance of a CIVIC Conversation

Last year, your Chamber started a civic engagement program designed to expand our shared understanding of issues important to the business community.  This ongoing program, dubbed CIVIC Conversations, is presented in person on the fourth Monday of each month.  Each session is held in an informal setting at which participants are introduced to a topic of interest, presented with an objective analysis of business implications, and encouraged to share their own perspectives and expertise.

We i...

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Colorado Transportation Commission Will Fund Expansion of I-25

The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce serves as a champion for the full funding and widening of North Interstate 25 to three lanes from Fort Collins to Longmont by 2025. We are thrilled to report that we have achieved this goal!

As reported in the Denver Business Journal on Thursday, September 16, the Colorado Transportation Commission (CTC) moved Wednesday to expand a bottleneck area of I-25 north of Denver, identified as Segment 5 in the North I-25 expansion plan.

“Northern F...

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Collaboration Flying High

Your Fort Collins Area Chamber has been a key advocate for collaborative Regional Transformational projects,  including the Innovation Hub at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport - FNL. It was great to have Congressman Neguse and Governor Polis visit Aims Community College - Aviation Department to learn about this dynamic workforce and economic game changing concept. Building community is about serving as a champion, a catalyst and and convener - something we've been doing on this outstand...

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Northern Colorado Business Community and Elected Officials Laud Senate Passage of Federal Infrastructure Package; Urge Portion of $5B Colorado Allocation Direct to North I-25 Gap

Today’s passage of the $1 Trillion Infrastructure Package was a tremendous feat of compromise, appreciation of the value of infrastructure investment and economic stimulus.  Leaders from the Northern Colorado region and advocates for funding and construction of the North I-25 corridor shared their praise of the plan and desire for a portion of the Colorado dollars to complete the North I-25 Express Lanes project.

“There is no better investment in stimulating an economy than investing in ...

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Time to Pause and Reflect

It’s wonderful to have an occasional rainy day in the middle of summer.  As someone who grew up on the eastern plains of Colorado, I always appreciate moisture coming from the sky!  Rainy days inspire me to pause and reflect, even in the hustle of everyday demands.  Below is a catch-all of today’s observations.

Hats off to Chamber member and long-time volunteer Carrie Gillis! Carrie is the Real Estate Manager for a grouping of businesses here in northern Colorado and was inducted int...

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An Eye on the Long View

It’s hard to focus on far away tomorrow when today is a hot mess. The economic disruption caused by the government shutdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has us focused on the here and now. Who can think about swimming the English Channel when they’re dog paddling to keep their head above water in their backyard pool?

Even so, Chamber leaders are looking ahead five years. The Chamber is in Year 4 of the five-year strategic initiative called Northern Colorado Prospers (NCP).  NCP h...

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Four Pillars for Transportation Funding; Coronavirus Update

A frequent topic for me is funding for transportation. With the Legislature in session, we believe it should pursue a four-pillar integrated strategy including:

make a long-term commitment to transportation, especially roads, from the General Fund to the tune of $300M to $500M per year;
increase fees on electric and low-emission vehicles. They are not paying the gas tax but they are using the road. Level that up.
refer a measure to the fall ballot asking voters to consider a modest in...

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Ground Broken to Widen Another Segment of North I-25

Last Thursday, a groundbreaking ceremony was held near the northwest corner of I-25 and Highway 56 to commemorate the start of construction to widen the section on North I-25 between Highway 402 south of Loveland and Highway 56 in the Berthoud area. The Colorado Department of Transportation has designated this Segment 6. Find out more about the work on North I-25 by clicking here.

Some of the funds for this expansion were secured through the lobbying work of Fix North I-25, which was paid...

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Open House Regarding I-25 North Express Lanes Project

Sum sum summertime in Northern Colorado means lots of orange barrels on North I-25.

CDOT just announced an open house on Tuesday, August 13, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to provide information about the stretch between Berthoud and Johnstown. Construction on the express lane will begin in this stretch this fall. If your business is impacted by traveling through that part of I-25 and / or you’re just interested in what is happening with the project, consider attending. The open house will be in the Sout...

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Roads, Rail, and No Money

A significant amount of my focus is on transportation. It has been for some time. Because mobility has a huge impact on the economy, work force, and our general quality of life, it’s needed.

In this space I’ve regularly reported on the process to get North I-25 widened including the announcement last month about the Colorado Transportation Commission committing another $310M.

In the last 10 days, I’ve been in some other conversations about improving the transportation system in North...

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