Udall, Bennet Welcome Swift Release of $30 Million in Emergency Transportation Funds for Flood Recovery

Colorado Senators Pledge to Keep Pressing for Swift Release of Additional Aid, Recovery Funds

U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet welcomed the U.S. Department of Transportation’s decision today to release $30 million in disaster assistance funds to jumpstart road, highway, bridge and transit repairs following the massive flooding along the Front Range and in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The funds, issued through the department’s Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads program and the Emergency Relief program, will allow the Colorado Department of Transportation to immediately start repair work on critical roadways.

“The catastrophic flooding Colorado has endured literally washed away roads and highways along the Front Range and in the foothills,”Udall said. “Since the flooding began, I have been fighting to ensure that Colorado has the federal resources and tools to respond to and recover from this tragic disaster. These emergency transportation funds will help ensure that even as we move into winter, Coloradans will have a stable and reliable roads, bridges and highways.”

“Repairing the damage to roads and bridges from these floods is going to be one of our largest challenges,” Bennet said. “Rebuilding will take time, but these critical resources will help crews get to work right away. This is just the beginning of a long recovery effort, and we will rise to the occasion to rebuild better than before.”

This is the second round of federal emergency transportation aid Colorado has received since the flooding began. The U.S. Department of Transportation issued $5 million in “quick relief” funds on Friday, Sept. 13.

Udall and Bennet have worked since the flooding began to ensure Colorado communities and agencies have every federal resource they need to save lives, protect homes and start the recovery process. Udall and Bennet each spoke to the nation yesterday from the U.S. Senate floor to underscore not only the disaster itself, but also the resilience and strength Coloradans have shown over the past week. The lawmakers will continue to coordinate with Colorado’s Congressional delegation and federal agencies to advocate for additional federal resources for infrastructure recovery.

###