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MorningMagazine_2024-12-30 Jack Dawson
Colorado Safe Parking Initiative ends due to lack of funding
The Colorado Safe Parking Initiative is ending its services.
The program, which began in 2020, has helped many unhoused Coloradans safely park their cars and sleep inside. CSPI has also provided sanitation services at their 15 parking sites across Denver, and connected the unhoused populations to social services.
According to members of the group, federal and local budget cuts left the program without funding to continue. That’s according to CBS News Colorado.
In 2023, the Denver City Council approved $600,000 to help with the group’s expenses; however, earlier this year the Council amended the contract, taking back $400,000 and decreasing the initial contract term by one year.
Safe parking sites will remain open for the time being, but resources are limited due to the end of the initiative.
RTD offers free fare for New Years Eve
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) will offer free bus and rail service on New Year’s Eve.
Starting Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m. up until Wednesday, Jan. 1, at 7 a.m., RTD fares including the bus, MetroRide, MallRide, the light rail, the commuter rail, Access-a-Ride and FlexRide services will be free.
RTD, along with its partner Molson Coors, hope riders will use the free service to celebrate responsibly.
They’ll start charging for rides again at 7 a.m. New Year’s day.
Besides in Denver, the Molson Coors’ New Year’s Eve Free Rides program is also being offered this year in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Milwaukee, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.
Rockslide closes Highway 96 and Highway 165 junction
A rockslide closed the junction of Highway 96 and Highway 165 yesterday around 3:30 p.m.
The Colorado Department of Transportation closed CO 96 in both directions at County Road 358, 11 miles east of Silver Cliff at Mile Point 16.5 due to safety concerns.
Highway 165 is also closed in both directions between CO96 and County Road 386, located 29 miles south of Colorado City at Mile Marker 1.
CDOT determined that a geologist would need to assess the situation before travel resumes, and a multi-day closure is anticipated.
For now, alternate routes include:
-Rye to San Isabel to Mackenzie Junction via Highway 165 or
-Cañon City to Westcliffe via Oak Creek Grade (CR255) or
-Cañon City to Westcliffe via Copper Gulch (CR 215) or
-Texas Creek to Westcliffe via Highway 69
Boulder County Commissioners approve distribution of $2.1M for fuels mitigation awards
Boulder County Commissioners have approved the distribution of more than $2.1 million in funds for the Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant program.
The grants are funded by the county’s Wildfire Mitigation tax, which was approved by voters in November of 2022 – a year after the Marshall Fire.
This past calendar year, the County approved eight grants to fund wildfire mitigation organizations in Boulder, such as the Boulder Watershed Collective and the Cal-wood Education Center.
This upcoming year, the grants will also leverage $2 million from partner agencies to continue the mitigation in Boulder.
The next grant cycle will begin in April. To learn more listeners can visit the Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant page on Boulder County’s website.
Strong winds and snow expected in the Mountains
Speaking of the Marshall Fire – today is the three-year anniversary of the 2021 disaster that killed two people and destroyed roughly 1,000 structures. Today’s weather conditions appear eerily similar – however, projected winds are not as strong as they were the day that fire started.
High winds are expected across the Front Range today, creating near-critical fire weather along all of the Interstate 25 corridor.
Heavy snow is also expected across Interstate 70 with winds of up to 50 mph creating dangerous travel conditions. Gusts of this size are strong enough to bring down large healthy trees.
Heaviest wind conditions will likely remain on the west side of Denver and in the foothills, with the worst between 7 a.m. and noon. While there are currently no planned power outages in the region, winds like this can cause them to occur.
The National Weather Service says the winds should decrease this afternoon and into the early evening.
Those traveling on mountain roads should be cautious, as the wind and snow may reduce visibility significantly. DIA may also experience delays due to wind and visibility issues.
