Public Comment Sought on Draft Nonattainment Enterprise 10-Year Plan by June 12

The Colorado Legislature passed SB21-260, which among other things created new enterprises that must create 10-Year Plans for investment. One of those enterprises, the Nonattainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Enterprise (NAAPME), has released a draft 10-Year Plan for public comment. Comments are due on or before June 12, 2022 to cdot_nonattainmententerprise@state.co.us. 

According to the 10-Year Plan:

The Nonattainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Enterprise (NAAPME), or Nonattainment Enterprise, is one of four new enterprises created by the Colorado General Assembly through Senate Bill 21-260. The Enterprise was established by the legislature to fund projects that help address traffic congestion and reduce the environmental and health impacts of transportation in areas of the state that are federally designated as being in nonattainment with EPA’s air quality standards. The Enterprise is housed within the Colorado Department of Transportation and managed by a Board of Directors. 

As required within statute, the Enterprise’s 10-Year plan outlines the business purpose of the enterprise and establishes the overall direction for the use of these funds through state fiscal year 2031-32. This plan was designed to be flexible to changes in fee collection and market conditions, community needs, and other issues that could affect the business purpose of the Enterprise.

Read the full plan at https://www.codot.gov/programs/planning/assets/naapme/naapme-10-year-plan-draft-public-review-1-june-2022.pdf. 

Air Quality Around the World: AQAW#2022

Image Credit: Scientific American 

Ground-level ozone, an air pollutant of particular concern in the North Front Range, is an issue in many areas around the world. Learn about what causes ozone, health impacts, and global challenges at https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ozone-pollution-grows-but-it-can-be-fixed/.

There are many ways to help tackle ground-level ozone. One way is to #justskip2. Many of us changed our routines during the COVID-19 pandemic - driving less and walking and biking more creates a positive impact on our air quality. Keep the good going by finding ways to reduce at least two personal car trips this week. Learn more at Simple Steps. Better Air.

Today is the last day of Air Quality Awareness Week (#AQAW2022). Stay safe, stay informed, and let's work together to improve our air quality!

Environmental Justice & Air Quality: #AQAW2022

Image Credit: AirNow

Air quality varies among communities, and poor air quality often impacts the most vulnerable populations. Be informed: learn about ozone trends for your county at https://coepht.colorado.gov/air-quality-data.

It's Air Quality Awareness Week (#AQAW) and today's theme is Environmental Justice & Air Quality. Learn about environmental justice efforts and in Colorado and how to get involved at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/environmental-justice.

Participatory Science & Sensors: #AQAW2022

Monitoring and reporting air quality continues to get easier for everyone! Low-cost sensors have helped to increase monitoring coverage and measure the air in your backyard. Learn more about low-cost sensors and their availability at www.epa.gov/research-states/low-cost-air-quality-sensors-webinar-archive.

It's Air Quality Awareness Week, and today's theme is participatory science & sensors. Participatory science, also known as “citizen science,” is when the public contributes to scientific knowledge and understanding by collecting data and sharing information. Sensors are one tool that community members can use to monitor the air quality in their area and help them Be Air Aware & Prepared! #AQAW2022

Asthma & Your Health: AQAW#2022

Did you know outdoor air pollution is an asthma trigger? Ground-level ozone can make it diff.icult to breathe and can have other health impacts, such as increasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Learn more about the health impacts of ozone at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/ozone-and-your-health.

Actions you can take:

• Sign up for air quality alerts at simplestepsbetterair.org or check the detailed Air Quality Index (AQI).
• Know when and where air pollution may be bad.
• Regular exercise is healthy. Check your local air quality to know when to play and when to take it a little easier.
• Schedule outdoor activities at times when the air quality is better. In the summer, this may be in the morning.
• Stay inside with the windows closed on high pollen days and when pollutants are high.
• Pay attention to asthma warning signs. If you start to see signs, limit outdoor activity.

This post brought to you by Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW), which is going on May 2-May 6. Today's theme is Asthma & Your Health.

Wildfire and Smoke: #AQAW2022

Inhaling wildfire smoke is most hazardous to the elderly, young children, and people with lung or heart 💗 illnesses or smoke allergies. Read about what symptoms to look for here: www.colorado.gov/airquality/wildfire.aspx  #AQAW2022

Today kicks off Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW) 2022. Today's topic is wildfire and smoke, which has become all too familiar for many Coloradoans. Additional resources on wildfire and smoke, such as the EPA and USFS fire and smoke map, is available at https://www.airnow.gov/aqaw/wildfires-smoke/. 

CDOT Awards Grants Statewide to Help Communities Manage Congestion and Reduce Emissions

CDOT is awarding two agencies in Northern Colorado with grant funding for transportation demand management (TDM) projects. The TDM grant program, which CDOT launched in 2021, awards funding to projects to help relieve congestion and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from driving.

Statewide, nine projects are receiving funding, with two of the projects in Northern Colorado: 

• Colorado State University-Fort Collins is receiving a $50,000 grant to fund a TDM plan for students and employees.
• The City of Fort Collins is receiving a $81,000 grant for a pilot program serving City of Fort Collins employees and low-income residents with free access to Spin, which is an e-bike and e-scooter share program.
  

Congratulations to the awardees! For more on the grant awards, see CDOT's news release.

CDOT opens applications for Revitalizing Main Streets Grants

 

Image Credit: CDOT

The Revitalizing Main Streets Grant program through the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has an additional $22.2M to fund transportation infrastructure projects across the state. Applicants are allowed to apply for up to $2M for projects which will improve safety and transform streets and street spaces, particularly for vulnerable users. Roadways eligible for the funding must be non-freeway corridors that accommodate multiple modes of transportation and can is open to either state or local roads. 

The goal of the Revitalizing Main Streets grant funding is to not only improve safety but to bolster economic recovery across the state. The first round of the Revitalizing main Streets Program Larger Safety Infrastructure Grant opportunities was awarded in August 2021, including four projects in the North Front Range. 

 Learn more about the Revitalizing Main Streets funding, including eligibility rules, selection criteria, application materials and deadlines, by visiting the Revitalizing Main Streets page on CDOT’s website. 

CDOT extends public comment period for proposed transportation air pollution reduction planning standards

The public comment period on the proposed rule revisions targeting reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from implementation of transportation plans has been extended to November 18, 2021. The comment period was originally slated to close today (October 15). The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is developing the proposed rule revisions and plans to release a revised proposal early next week.

For more information on the extension of the public comment period, see the CDOT news update.

2021 NFRMPO Call for Projects Now Open

The NFRMPO holds periodic Calls for Projects to award federal funding to transportation projects in the region. Member communities have the opportunity to apply or funding from three federal programs: Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ), Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), and Transportation Alternatives (TA). 

The 2021 Call for Project to award funding in Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 opened on Friday, October 8 following the approval of the 2021 Call for Projects Guidebook by NFRMPO Planning Council on October 7, 2021. The Call will be open through Friday, December 10. 

Details on the Call, the 2021 Call for Projects Guidebook, and project applications are available at https://nfrmpo.org/tip/call-for-projects/.