The Horizon Drive District in Grand Junction received a Revitalizing Main Streets grant award of $136,866.07 for its Horizon Drive Street Furniture Project. This project will improve active transportation infrastructure in five locations within CDOT right-of-way along the Maroon Bike Route. The project builds on successful wayfinding signage installed in Grand Junction in 2020 by installing benches with tables, shade structures, trash receptacles, bike racks, a bike fix-it station, bike air pump, a stretching station, additional wayfinding signage, and a large covered outdoor dining area to make walking a biking along Horizon Drive a more pleasant and safer experience.
“This state funding for Grand Junction will provide an even more enjoyable experience for Coloradans and tourists alike as they visit all the amazing outdoor recreation activities and beauty that Mesa County has to offer,” said Governor Polis. “Investments like this go beyond just making the Horizon Drive District a more beautiful place to spend an afternoon biking, they help our economy and businesses. I’m thrilled to see this state grant award further transform the Grand Junction area into a more cyclist friendly recreation destination.”
“CDOT is glad the wayfinding signage installed in 2020 has been positive for residents and visitors in Grand Junction and we’re eager to see how the additional infrastructure along Horizon Drive will enhance connectivity opportunities along this corridor,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “Making this community main street safer and more accessible through innovative transportation solutions will lead to a vibrant and active Horizon Drive District into the future.”
“We are grateful and very excited to be awarded this grant! The Horizon Drive District is the ‘Gateway to Grand Junction’ and contains 73% of the visitor lodging in the Grand Valley. Many visitors are here specifically to take advantage of the amazing outdoor recreational opportunities this valley offers,” said Horizon Drive District Executive Director Vara Kusal. “This grant will fund much needed infrastructure to support active transportation. These amenities will be utilized by visitors along with many of the 2300 people that work in the District. We thank the Colorado Department of Transportation for supporting multimodal transportation. ”Business owners along Horizon Drive agree. “These improvements will really bring the community together and encourage people to get outside and enjoy the scenery as well as access the local businesses,” said Horizon Drive District Board Member and Owner of Zarlingo’s Automotive Brian Burford. “As a local business owner, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone enjoy these future amenities.”
The latest awards bring the total Revitalizing Main Streets grant awards to 106 projects statewide and growing. Awarded projects span the entire state, from Denver and Boulder to Hugo and Limon to Frisco and Rifle. A full list of recipients is available here. Highlights include numerous projects facilitating safe pedestrian access to outdoor dining, improved lighting, sidewalk repair, incorporating “parklets” into streetscapes, and much more.
The Revitalizing Main Streets grants help localities improve their roadways and community infrastructure, supporting strong economic activity and public safety. The program began last summer in an effort to mitigate the negative economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis. The continuation and expansion of this program was made possible through a $30 million allocation from the state legislature in March 2021 and those funds are currently available for local government competition, with significant anticipated demand. Importantly, the passage of SB-260 further extends this highly successful program beyond the current grant cycle. Communities can apply for small grants up to $150,000 for multimodal and economic resiliency projects available on a rolling basis; large grant applications of up to $2 million closed on May 14. For more information, visit the Revitalizing Main Streets page.