Hearing set for Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan

Colorado’s Transportation Commission will be holding a public hearing next month regarding the proposed Fiscal Year 2016 – 2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan.

The hearing will be held on April 16 at the Colorado Department of Transportation’s headquarters, located at 4201 E. Arkansas Ave. in Denver. It will be conducted in conjunction with the Commission’s monthly meeting at a time still to be determined. As part of the hearing, information regarding the STIP will be presented and public comments received

“This is another component of our short-term and long-term planning process,” said Colorado Transportation Commissioner Chairman Ed Peterson. “The STIP identifies the transportation projects CDOT plans to fund over a four-year period. It not only pinpoints specific projects but also outlines the year or years each project will be funded, based on available revenues.”

A planning and budgeting process begins with the development of long-range transportation plans. After the long-range plans are developed, the STIP is created in cooperation with local governments statewide, including the 15 Transportation Planning Regions and five Metropolitan Planning Organizations.

The STIP normally is prepared right after, or in conjunction with, the development of the long-range Statewide Transportation Plan. This allows all STIP projects to be aligned with the visions, goals and strategies in the SWP. Following a project’s inclusion in the STIP, it can be budgeted within the appropriate fiscal year.

Individuals wishing to speak at the hearing should RSVP by Mon., April 13. Those unable to attend can view a draft STIP at: www.codot.gov/business/budget/statewide-transportation-improvement-program-stip-reports-information. Comments should be submitted by April 30, 2015. Questions, comments and RSVP information should be submitted to Jamie Collins via email at [email protected], phone at 303-757-9092, or mail at: CDOT, Office of Financial Management and Budget – 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue, Room 212, Denver, CO 80222.

Information gathered from the public hearing and during the comment period is reviewed and incorporated to finalize the STIP. The plan then is submitted to the commission at its May 2015 meeting for consideration and approval. If approved, the STIP is sent to the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration for final approval. If the federal agencies consent, the STIP becomes effective on July 1, 2015.