First try for pedestrian overpass funding falls short

By Gary Raham
Wellington Correspondent

Wellington's new Chamber of Commerce, concerned about foot traffic between new housing developments and commercial areas split by Interstate 25 near Ronald Reagan Drive, failed in its initial effort to procure funding for a pedestrian overpass.

The chamber's community growth and development subcommittee, led by Mike Whalen, received town support for the project and submitted an application in August to the Colorado Department of Transportation. The chamber hoped to get Transportation Enhancement Funds to begin construction of a bicycle/pedestrian walkway next year. The committee also filed a second application for landscaping and improved signage at the I-25/Highway 1 interchange. Wellington's applications competed for funds with requests from Mead and the Colorado Historical Society.

The board that reviews such applications typically consists of one commissioner from Larimer, Morgan and Weld Counties and CDOT regional transportation director Carla Harding. Transportation planner Myron Hora, based in Greeley, said that he, representing CDOT, and two commissioners reviewed four project applications on Oct. 13. "We selected a bike/pedestrian trail project in Mead," he said, "which will take all this year's available money and about half of next year's."

Hora said the board was impressed with Mead's commitment to a 50 percent match of funds (rather than the minimum 20 percent match) and with the fact that the new Mead project would tie into an existing trail system. Hora also said that he spoke with Whalen about ways Wellington's application could be strengthened in the future. Another call for projects will go out next year, he said.

Whalen said that the chamber would try to work with the town when the time comes to resubmit an application. "We will need to come up with some creative funding for the overpass," he said. "We will need to do some legwork as far as location goes - possibly tying it (the overpass project) into the trail master plan."

Whalen also said that they would need to research numbers for the potential pedestrian traffic that will result from the school, grocery and other commercial businesses in the area. "We are quite encouraged with the process that took place," said Whalen, which included the acceptance of the town's application by CDOT. "Unfortunately," he added, "Mead had a better submittal."

Those with questions for the Chamber of Commerce or those who would like to get involved in community projects can check out the chamber web site at www.WellingtonColoradoChamber.com, call 568-4133 or e-mail contact@wellington-chamber.com.