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November 20, 2024ICYMI: Deputy Secretary Trottenberg Travels to Colorado, Marks EV Charging Progress, Joins Governor Polis to Celebrate New Mobility Hubs, Visits Transportation Projects Across the Eastern Plains
WASHINGTON, DC — Last week, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg traveled to Colorado, where she toured the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden and later joined Governor Jared Polis and other local leaders to celebrate the opening of new mobility hubs and see transportation projects across the Eastern Plains.
At NREL Deputy Secretary Trottenberg spoke with Laboratory Director Martin Keller and lab leadership about the ongoing research and development that is helping secure America’s clean energy future.
With this visit, Deputy Secretary Trottenberg celebrated the progress towards building a national EV charger network with more than 200,000 publicly available charging ports across the country. Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, the number of publicly available EV chargers has more than doubled, and approximately 1,000 new public chargers being added each week.
This progress is a testament to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the catalyzing effect it has had on private investments for EV charging infrastructure. Through programs like the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, the Administration is playing a critical role alongside private industry, to actively expand America’s EV charging network while creating good-paying union jobs.
On her second day in Colorado, Deputy Secretary Trottenberg joined Governor Jared Polis, Executive Director of Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Shoshana Lew, Loveland Mayor Pro-Tem Jon Mallo, and other local leaders to celebrate the opening of three new mobility hubs along Interstate 25, between Longmont and Loveland.
These new mobility hubs located in Centerra Loveland, Berthoud, and Firestone-Longmont will enhance transportation options along the busy I-25 corridor by connecting Coloradans and communities and reducing traffic and travel times.
The Mobility Hubs received more than $18 million in federal funds, part of the more than $806 million in federal funding supporting extensive I-25 improvements. The Biden-Harris Administration recently awarded the project a $501 loan through Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) credit program.
During this event, Deputy Secretary Trottenberg and Governor Polis highlighted the newly announced $47 million in Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant funding for the US 287 Corridor Safety Improvements project that USDOT recently announced.
The US 287 Corridor Safety Improvements project will increase safety by constructing wildlife crossings and intersection improvements, implementing centerline rumble strips, and adding an 11-mile median barrier on US 287 from the Colorado-Wyoming state border to the Boulder County line.
The project was one of 44 projects selected to receive more than $4.2 billion in funding from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda through two major discretionary grant programs, the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) grant program and the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program, both of which have historic levels of funding thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Afterwards, Deputy Secretary Trottenberg was briefed by CDOT officials on progress on other transportation projects in the area, including the construction of the Diagonal Highway CO 119 Safety, Mobility & Bikeway project which received $25 million of funding from the Biden-Harris Administration’s 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
She also visited the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel Operations Center and the active construction site of I-70 Floyd Hill Project. The project was awarded nearly $100 million through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
On her last day in Colorado, Deputy Secretary Trottenberg toured the Denver Union Station (DUS) alongside Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and rode a regional bus along East Colfax Avenue. During the ride, she received an update from the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) leaders on the East Colfax Avenue BRT Project, which broke ground earlier this month. The project, funded by nearly $150 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will provide faster, more frequent transit for residents and commuters between downtown Denver and the Colfax light rail station in Aurora, Colorado.
Deputy Secretary Trottenberg ended her trip with a briefing and tour of active construction at the Denver International Airport. There, she met with CEO of Denver International Airport Philip Washington and his leadership team to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s once-in-a-generation investments to modernize airport infrastructure and improve safety.
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