The City of Greeley has been awarded $20.5 million in federal RAISE grants to support the Mobility Expansion for Regional Growth and Equity (MERGE) project. This funding, secured through the efforts of Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo, Senator John Hickenlooper and Senator Michael Bennett, will significantly enhance infrastructure, traffic mobility and safety within the community.
“On behalf of Greeley, I thank our congressional delegation for their support in securing substantial RAISE grant funding,” says City Manager Raymond Lee. “As one of the country’s fastest-growing cities, we are thrilled to continue our efforts to enhance our infrastructure, improving traffic mobility and safety for our community. This support, along with our voter-approved funding, is crucial for our ongoing development and the well-being of our residents.”
The RAISE grant program, authorized under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to invest in surface transportation projects with notable local or regional impact. The MERGE Project in Greeley will focus on constructing a new mobility hub between two interchanges at 35th and 47th avenues. This hub will improve regional connectivity and make it safer for pedestrians to walk between the north and south sides of Greeley.
“The MERGE project has been in the works for nearly a decade, and this kind of major infrastructure improvement requires significant funding to break ground. We’re grateful for this RAISE grant award from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which brings us one step closer to making Greeley’s roads safer by reducing congestion and improving mobility options for all travelers in our region,” says Bhooshan Karnik, chief engineer and deputy director of public works for the City of Greeley.
The MERGE project represents a significant milestone in Greeley’s infrastructure development, promising a safer, more connected future for all residents. Greeley’s ability to complete critical infrastructure projects such as this relies on additional funding from grant sources (like RAISE) and funds that the city proposes to obtain from low-interest, long-term, federal financing. A proposal is slated to go in front of voters this fall that would allow Greeley to take advantage of this federal financing without increasing or creating new taxes. Find more information about the program at greeleygov.com.