October 9, 2024

The Honorable Pete Buttigieg 
Secretary of Transportation
U. S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

RE: Letter of Support and Funding Commitment
City of Colorado Springs’ BIP Bridge Grant Application
Fillmore St Bridge Improvements and Trail Connections – I-25 to Monument Creek

Dear Secretary Buttigieg,

The Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) fully supports the City of Colorado Springs’ Bridge Investment Program (BIP) grant application for the Fillmore Street Bridge Improvements and Trail Connections – I-25 to Monument Creek project. These two bridges, which cross Monument Creek and the Union Pacific Railroad, carry an average of 44,000 vehicles daily and serve as a vital east-west corridor and fire evacuation route within the City.

Immediate replacement of these two bridges is needed! Severe structural issues, including spalling, shear cracks, delamination in the midspan pier cap, and deflected support bearings that require continuous monitoring. These conditions demand urgent action to ensure the safety of the traveling public.

Replacing these bridges along the critical Fillmore St corridor provides an opportunity to address other community needs and reduces or removes barriers to other transportation modes. Sidewalks can be provided on the bridges and a connection from the bridges to the Pikes Peak Greenway, a Tier I regional trail, can be provided. Additionally, adjusting span lengths can accommodate future rail uses, supporting interstate and intermodal commerce, passenger rail, and military readiness.

In support of this critical project, the PPRTA has previously allocated Emergency Bridge Funds for the local matching portion of a BIP Planning Grant to advance the Planning and Environmental Linkages study. We are prepared to provide additional local matching funds through voter-approved capital allocations for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

We respectfully urge your support for the City of Colorado Springs’ BIP Bridge Project grant application and express our sincere appreciation for your consideration of this crucial funding request.

Sincerely,

Holly Williams
PPRTA Board Chairperson