The city of Fort Collins is getting closer to realizing a transportation project that will help reduce commuting times and traffic congestion. The U.S. Department of Transportation granted $54.5 million today to develop a five-mile stretch of the major north/south corridor.
“This will give--not every family in the area--but many families a choice,” says Federal Transit Administrator, Peter Rogoff, who was on hand for a ceremony Monday. “In order for that choice to work it needs to be reliable. This service will provide a bus every 10 minutes.”
While voters approved the Mason Street project in the late ’90s , it’s taken years to nail down funding resources for six new bus rapid transit vehicles, underpasses and stations.
The first step that Fort Collins residents will see is that Mason Street will have two-way traffic.
In 2014, a bus rapid transit system will be put in place between Fort Collins’ South Transit Center and the Downtown Transit Center. Travelers should be able to catch busses every 10 minutes at one of 12 stops between these start and end points.
The Mason Street Conversion Project will happen in several phases:
- Install necessary railroad and traffic signal equipment (Nov. 2011-June 2012
- Reconstruct railroad tracks—requires full closure to vehicles for seven days on Mason St. between Cherry and Laurel streets (July 2012)
- Finalize adjustments to signals and road striping (August 2012)
- 2013 construction continues on all elements, system testing
- May 2014 MAX BRT service begins
To find out more about summer construction plans click here.
