The City of Colorado Springs is celebrating several major infrastructure upgrades and projects as 2023 comes to a close.
2C paving program continues to protect infrastructure citywide
2C work continued to positively impact city roadways in 2023, protecting taxpayers’ investments by repaving more than 177 lane miles, replacing over 300,000 linear feet of curb and gutter, replacing over 800,000 square feet of sidewalk, with work continuing through the end of the year. Notable projects included repaving portions of Union Boulevard, Old Ranch Road, Cresta Road, Royal Pine Drive, and Constellation Drive. Thanks to 2C operations, the City’s roadways are in the best condition in more than a decade, according to Pavement Quality Index ratings. Learn more about 2C from our video.
Major capital projects support regional growth
This past year saw the completion and beginnings of several major roadway projects, including the 30th Street Project, which supports easier access to Garden of the Gods Park, while creating improved business access located along 30th Street, Colorado Avenue, and Garden of the Gods Road. The City also launched major Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority projects to improve South Academy Boulevard (southeast Colorado Springs), Marksheffel Road (eastern Colorado Springs), and the Circle Drive bridges (central Colorado Springs). Work also continues on the Black Forest Road (northeast Colorado Springs) project.
TOPS renewal passed by voters
In April 2023, Colorado Springs’ voters passed an extension of the Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) sales and use tax for 20 years with no increase to the tax. TOPS contributes to projects in every quadrant of the city. Open space purchases, like Red Rock Canyon Open Space, are hallmarks of the program.
Stormwater investment protects key City infrastructure
Record rain fell across the city this summer, setting one-, two- and three-month rainfall records. In the past, this type of flooding would have caused major flooding and widespread damage across the city. Due to the voter-supported $50 million investment in stormwater infrastructure collected via fees from residents, the system held up exceptionally well. Most of the flooding the city experienced came from areas that had never experienced flooding and didn’t necessarily come from creeks or channels, but rather from runoff from streets, parking lots and other related infrastructure.
Mountain Metro Transit opens new operations facility, receives grant for hybrid buses
MMT opened its new Transit Operations Facility in September. The new facility includes nearly 64,000 square feet of temperature-controlled bus storage space, accommodating 72 buses. It also contains more than 8,500 square feet of office space nearly double the previous fixed-route administration building. In addition, MMT was awarded a Federal Transportation Administration grant to purchase six new hybrid electric buses. MMT hopes to have the buses by late 2024.