Grant combats pollution, increases resident access to green space, transportation, economic opportunities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, and Mayor Mike Johnston celebrated a more than $35 million investment from the Department of Transportation (DOT), funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to reunite three of Denver’s most underserved neighborhoods.
“When Colorado built the I-70 corridor, Globeville and Elyria Swansea – diverse, working class neighborhoods – were cut off from one another and from central Denver,” said Hickenlooper. “This investment from our Inflation Reduction Act will right this wrong and reconnect them both.”
“The Reconnecting Globeville and Elyria Swansea Project will help Denver build the Bettie Cram Drive Bridge and increase access to public transit, outdoor recreation, and economic opportunity for some of Denver’s most underserved neighborhoods. These three neighborhoods have historically lacked the support and access to resources they need to thrive, and I’m grateful that this funding will help them grow while preserving local culture,” said Bennet.
“This direct investment in the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea communities will help keep neighbors connected and ensure the community remains vibrant for years to come,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “For too long, this community has been underfunded and underserved, and this new project is part of my commitment to ensure every Denver neighborhood can thrive.”
The Globeville and Elyria Swansea neighborhoods are currently separated by the South Platte River, rail lines, and interstate highways. This division limits residents’ access to public transit and to Denver’s economic and employment centers.
This DOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program (RCN) will fund a new bridge over the South Platte river to connect Globeville residents with central Denver and a new pedestrian access bridge from the National Western Center campus to an RTD light rail station.
Among these changes, the grant also will:
- Clean up the former DPS bus barn site to reduce methane emissions and provide a potential site for future affordable housing, fresh food, and childcare.
- Fund safety enhancements for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists such as a new rail crossing signal at National Western Center Drive.
- Construct a neighborhood greenway with pedestrian and bike access to trains that connect residents to downtown Denver and Denver International Airport.
The RCN grant program was established by the Hickenlooper-authored Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Last year, Hickenlooper and Bennet sent a letter to the Biden administration in support of the City of Denver’s project.
More information on the grant is available HERE.