The City of Fort Collins is moving forward with plans to build a grade-separated crossing at the intersection of the Power Trail and Harmony Road. This long-awaited bike and pedestrian tunnel has been a top priority for the city, though securing funding has been a challenge. In January, the city received a $2.7 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program. However, an additional $3 million is still needed to fully fund the project. The city is actively pursuing grants to close this gap.
Project Goals:
- Address the missing segment of the Power Trail.
- Enhance safety and convenience for trail users.
- Minimize the number of pedestrians and cyclists crossing Harmony Road at street level.
- Deliver an aesthetically pleasing design.
Project Status:
- 2018: The City secured $800,000 from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program.
- January 2023: An additional $2.7 million grant was awarded through the FHWA Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program.
- January 2024: The City received another $3.24 million grant through CMAQ.
With these funding sources and local contributions, the project is now fully funded for construction.
The design team is finalizing construction plans, with completion targeted for summer 2024. Construction is scheduled to start no later than spring 2025.
Funding:
In 2015, voters approved a 10-year quarter-cent tax renewal under the Community Capital Improvement Program (CCIP), allocating funds for bike and pedestrian grade-separated crossings. Funding for this project combines CCIP contributions with federal Transportation Alternatives (TA) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grants.
Project Schedule:
- Feasibility Study: 2018–2019
- Preliminary Design: 2020
- Final Design: Summer 2024
- Construction: Spring 2025
More information from the city here.